Leeds look for cup shock at Arsenal

Leeds United boss Simon Grayson believes his side can pull off an FA Cup shock and defeat Arsenal on Monday.

The final match of the third round sees Leeds, who are eighth in the Championship, on the road to Arsenal in a repeat of last year’s match at the same stage of the competition.

On that occasion, Arsenal needed a Cesc Fabregas penalty in the dying stages to force a 1-1 draw and although Arsene Wenger’s side won the replay 3-1, Grayson thinks his side can spring a surprise at the Emirates Stadium.

“There is always one shock in the FA Cup third round, why can’t it be Leeds beating Arsenal?” Grayson told Sky Sports.

“We know what we need to do. We are going there as underdogs but we will go there to enjoy the occasion and the game but do ourselves justice as well.”

“It is an opportunity for the players to go and play against some of the best players in the country, if not Europe and it gives the profile of the club a big lift again.”

Grayson said his side have nothing to lose and concedes they will learn from last season’s matches.

“It is a no-lose situation in terms of the game,” he said.

“We won’t be going gung ho because Arsenal on their day can destroy any team. We will have a game plan and stick to it, pass the ball and hopefully create chances.”

“I think Arsenal are a different team and we are a different team but you have to learn from the experience of going there and how well we coped with the situation.”

“Last year we got so close, to concede a penalty late in the game after we played ever so well hurt. We have got to go with the same sort of confidence and ability and anything could happen.”

Leeds will be hoping to repeat their FA Cup upset at Manchester United in the third round of the competition two years ago.

But they will be wary of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry, who is making his Gunners comeback in the same match.

Henry scored four in his last match against Leeds and Grayson is aware of his potential impact, saying ‘he could make anything happen’.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s German defender Per Mertesacker knows his side will be up for a battle against Leeds but says confidence is the key.

“(Lower-league teams) can fight, run and play good football, but you have to be very confident from the first moment (against them),” Mertesacker said.

“Confident that you are part of the Premier League and the Champions League. The FA Cup in Germany is very famous and it is very good to be part of it – it is a great feeling. Hopefully we will go through the next few rounds.