The Egomaniac Returns

Arsenal 1-0 Leeds

It was like he'd never been away. If there was a trademark Thierry Henry goal, that was it. And it was pretty close to a trademark Thierry Henry celebration, too- the bellowing, the chest-beating, and the refusal to allow team mates to share in his moment.

Thierry Henry is an Arsenal legend, no doubt. He will probably remain the club's record goalscorer for a long, long time and it's hard to think of many prolific goal getters in recent decades who have been as thrilling as the Frenchman.

But, although his goal against Leeds was an uncanny impression of his own younger self, the truth is that Henry is long past anything approaching his best, and the extent to which he can help Arsenal now is questionable.

Much will rely on his willingness to play second fiddle on a stage where he was once undisputed king. He has been careful to project humility in his remarks, but his showy celebration last night suggests that his egotistical side is still present.

The fact that Henry probably can still make a difference to this team is more an indictment of the squad than a tribute to his powers. Beyond Van Persie, there has been a painful lack of firepower. Marouane Chamakh's play has lost the conviction that initially made him look a shrewd signing. He never looked much of a finisher but his workrate, aggression and awareness of those around him have all regressed so that it is almost a relief he is departing for the African Nations Cup. The signing of Park Chu Young seems a disaster, as he is not considered worthy of any playing time.

Gervinho and Walcott are infuriating in different ways. The Ivorian in has a habit of looking the most dangerous player on the pitch until it comes to the rather important business of shooting for goal or playing a telling pass. Walcott can finish and can provide accuracy in the final third but when he is up against a good full back, he is too often shunted onto the periphery of the game, sometimes to the point that Arsenal may as well be playing with ten men.

In short, the fact that the return of Thierry Henry can be seen as some kind of solution only suggests the magnitude of Arsenal's problems up front. These are problems that will remain after Chamakh and Gervinho return and after Henry goes back to America. And the alarm bells will be deafening if Van Persie succumbs to injury at any point, which hardly seems impossible.

Henry's cameo against Leeds was brilliant, but the serious business between now and May is in the league, not the FA Cup. And Arsenal need more than an ageing legend to secure that top four spot.

Leeds 1-3 Arsenal: the Quadruple Dream Lives On

Wenger put out a strong team. Sagna back, looking fresh, demolished the Leeds left.

Nasri's well-taken goal settled any early nerves. Set up by Arshavin- busy early on, faded later. Maybe the lesson of the night overall was: if Fabregas does not play, Nasri must. He looks as important this season as the captain was last.

Chances came and went. Then Sagna got a deserved goal. He won the ball in his own half, bombed on. Bendtner miscontrolled in the box (!) and the hurried clearance fell to the Frenchman, whose shot had too much power for the otherwise excellent Schmeichel.

If that looked spectacular, better was to follow. At the wrong end.

Leeds had inconsequntial-looking possession in midfield when the ball was shuffled sideways to Bradley Johnson. His left-foot strike was as good as you'll see, rocketed right into the top corner of the net, and suddenly, without ever making a real chance, Leeds were back in the game.

The end of the first half and the start of the second held some hairy moments for Arsenal. After the break, Leeds started to press very high and disrupt Arsenal's passing. But by the time they had tired it was still 2-1. Sub David Somma missed their best chance, with his first touch.

Van Persie and Fabregas came on. The former killed the game with a back post header from Bendtner's measured cross. The latter annoyed the Leeds players by tippy-tappying around midfield and generally taking the piss. Took a few kicks for his troubles.

The fact that this win, which ought to be expected, has been so well-received shows the level of mistrust that goes with supporting Arsenal these days. But it bodes pretty well nonetheless, because as much as I obsess over the perceived inability to beat major rivals, what has threatened to derail Arsenal's season is the tendency to underestimate lesser sides.

The attitude against Leeds was right. So was the result. For talented teams, one usually follows the other.

Time for the Squad to Step Up

Leeds away and the question most are pondering is how good of a side Arsene Wenger will field. On paper, Arsenal's squad looks pretty strong. What the recent games against lower division opposition have shown is that there remains a mini-gulf in quality between Arsenal's "first" and "second" sides. A clear divide between the main men and the back up.

Despite his technical deficiencies, Walcott's work rate and the threat of his roaring pace means he has usurped Arshavin in the front three. Van Persie looks like coming back into form. Nasri has had a fantastic season. Behind them, the trio of Fabregas, Song and Wilshere are undeniably first choice. With Vermaelen out until March (at least) and Squillaci looking unconvincing, Koscielny and Djourou is now the clear preferred centre back pairing.

After an utterly abject showing by the team that faced Ipswich, following the lethargy on display against Leeds, and before that the league draw at Wigan, doubts have surfaced as to whether Arsenal can make extensive changes against even inferior sides and still win.

But the second string likes of Bendtner and Chamakh and Arshavin should be given another chance to prove their worth in the game at Elland Road. If they are not capable of exerting their superiority against this kind of team, you have to question their worth to a club of Arsenal's standing. With a League Cup final still, hopefully, on the horizon, the boss is likely to prioritise the Premiership over the FA Cup. The game at the weekend is at home to Wigan, which may seem soft enough, but Arsenal have already been punished too many times for taking games lightly, and Wenger won't want to lose more ground in the title race.

Two interrelated problems hang over the rest of the campaign. With Vermaelen's return date uncertain, much relies on the fitness of Djourou, who has a rotten record in that regard.

And Alex Song is Arsenal's only convincing defensive midfielder.

Arsene Wenger may be averse to spending what he perceives as silly money on short term solutions but he might end up looking silly if a couple of injuries (hardly inconceivable when you consider Arsenal's recent record) mean that Alex Song has to be moved back to centre half, thus weakening the midfield.

It's worth remembering that after a January of transfer inactivity last season, Arsenal faced big games against United and Chelsea with Arshavin at centre forward. Then, in the Barcelona tie, Thomas Vermaelen had to be partnerred by first, Alex Song in the first leg, and then at the Nou Camp, Mikael Silvestre (snigger)...

Sol Campbell was the stopgap signing then, and although the veteran acquitted himself with dignity and committment, his manager patently didn't even trust him to face Barcelona. If there is to be a signing this time, let's hope it's a more impressive one.

Leeds: A Tale of Two Penalties

Iffy home form raises its ugly head again: Arsenal 1-1 Leeds

The Emirates is far from a fortress this season. There have been defeats against West Brom and Newcastle; the turning of a 2-0 lead into a 3-2 loss against Spurs; and a general air of tension even in ultimately successful games.

Arsenal's second team, though better on paper than many of our previous second teams, lacks leadership and spark and Leeds presented them with some problems.

Their previously leaky defence was good enough to comfortably repel most of Arsenal's attacks until they tired late on and the home side's pressure finally told in the shape of Fabregas's penalty.

Worrying that Arsenal again managed to concede despite playing practically the whole game in the opposition half. Denilson is no longer a first team pick so it is disappointing that he continues to show lethargy when he does get a chance. Leeds' broke down the left, but the attack was slowed down and the Brazilian should have been busting a gut to close the space occupied by Max Gradel. Instead he jogged back, and the Ivorian easily sidestepped his clumsy challenge- definite penalty.

Snodgrass blasted the penalty under Szczesny and Arsenal were on the brink of their first 3rd round exit under Wenger.

Again, the introduction of Theo Walcott made a difference. By the last ten minutes or so, Leeds were simply too tired to deal with his pace. He ran onto Arshavin's scooped through ball but only fired straight into Schmeichel's arms. Then he dived without reward. Then he was tugged back in the box before the keeper saved his effort and a penalty was rightly given- and the scores levelled in the 90th minute.

Arsenal had three chances to win it. Denilson's blast from the edge of the box was brilliantly tipped wide. Bendtner shanked horribly with his left foot from the captain's long through ball. And Walcott could only fire a short-range effort into the side netting at the death.

Leeds probably deserved their replay but Arsene Wenger won't appreciate the extra game.