Wenger confident Arshavin will soon be back to his best

ARSENE WENGER maintains it will not be long before Arsenal fans again see the best of Andrey Arshavin.

The Russian midfielder was handed his first start in three matches for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie against npower Championship side Leeds, which ended 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium after captain Cesc Fabregas fired in a last-minute penalty.

The outcome, however, could have been so different had Arshavin converted a golden opportunity to put the Gunners ahead on 11 minutes after he was played clean through on goal by Tomas Rosicky.

But in what would turn out to be a sign of things to come, Leeds keeper Kasper Schmeichel made a smart save and Arsenal were left frustrated.

Arshavin, and also Nicklas Bendtner, found themselves jeered by some sections of the home crowd after time and again promising moves broke down.

Wenger, though, has every confidence Arshavin will soon display the top-class football he is capable of on a regular basis.

“The fans were frustrated. That comes from when you don’t win,” the Arsenal manager said.

“The fans are demanding.

“We were not consistent technically and so they picked on our inconsistencies.

“It is not through a lack of desire with Arshavin. He wants to do well.

“He took one touch too many with his first chance and the keeper did well to save another shot he had.”

After weathering an early storm, Leeds went ahead from the penalty spot through Robert Snodgrass at the start of the second half when Denilson upended Max Gradel.

Indeed, the Championship side could have doubled their lead but for a fine reaction save from Wojciech Szczesny from Luciano Becchio’s point-blank header.

Eventually, though, Arsenal pressure was rewarded when substitute Theo Walcott was tugged back by Ben Parker.

Fabregas, who was also brought off the bench, stepped up to fire the penalty past Schmeichel.

The Leeds keeper also denied Denilson with a brilliant one-handed save to ensure the Yorkshire side earned a replay.

Afterwards Walcott apologised for diving to try to win just moments before being fouled for the penalty Fabregas scored.

The 21-year-old said: “I want to apologise to the managers because I actually dived. I was trying to win the penalty.

“I said to one of their players ‘would you have done it?’ and he said he probably would have.

“I am not the sort of player to do it, but I own up to it and apologise. It is something I don’t want to see in my game.’’

There is little respite for Arsenal as they head to Ipswich on Wednesday night for the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.

Wenger admits if Sebastien Squillaci’s hamstring problem fails to clear up quickly, then, given Thomas Vermaelen is still not yet match fit, he will have to move in the transfer market.

“If we only have two centre-backs then that cannot work with the number of centre-backs we have,” the Arsenal manager said.

“If Squillaci has a problem then we must quickly go out for a player.”

For his part, Schmeichel is hoping a hostile Elland Road atmosphere can help his Leeds side dump Arsenal out of the FA Cup when the two sides meet in a third-round replay.

He said: “With the players we’ve got, I think we should be confident against anybody, especially at Elland Road. The atmosphere we can create there is very intimidating.

“Arsenal will be used to playing in that sort of atmosphere, but we’ll be confident.’’