Leeds positives in Arsenal defeat

Tuesday, 10/01/2012

by Tom Mordey, Shoot's Leeds blogger

So the ending was inevitable and left many viewers round the country wishing they’d put their mortgage on a certain Mr T. Henry to feature on the scoresheet during Leeds and Arsenal’s FA Cup clash.

But the Gunners’ performance must have left fans feeling a little exasperated. Leeds however, could come out of the clash with their heads held reasonably high.

Okay, so they didn’t create an awful lot and Luciano Becchio looked a little lost chasing long ball after long ball all night up front, but the one thing that must have pleased supporters was the defence.

To solve the problem of the notoriously leaky rearguard, Simon Grayson fielded a back four that contained Zac Thompson (19), Tom Lees (21), Darren O’Dea (24) and Aidan White (20).

Whilst O’Dea has won five Republic of Ireland caps and is only on loan from Celtic, the sight of three home-grown players holding their own on the Emirates turf was enough to send fans back into the nostalgic era of O’Leary’s babes.

White has long been touted as the next big thing to come out of the Elland Road academy, but only this season has he nailed down his first team position at left-back.

While there were a few nervy moments against first Oxlade-Chamberlain and then Theo Walcott, he defended resolutely for much of the game. His contract situation has been well publicised, with Bolton and Arsenal themselves reportedly looking into the possibility of securing his signature, and on the basis of this performance, it would be a terrible blow to the Whites’ defence if he were to leave.

Tom Lees had a fine game at centre back and did much to improve his blossoming reputation. Although he first broke into the senior side this season at right back, he excelled on loan at Bury playing at the heart of the back four and this performance will have gone a long way to convince the boss his future lies in this position. He kept Moroccan international Marouane Chamakh in his pocket all night and barely put a foot wrong.

Zac Thompson has in fact only just turned 19 and this was his fourth career appearance, playing out of position at right back. Normally a central midfielder, the youngster who signed from Everton in the summer slotted in to cover for Leeds’s growing injury list and performed admirably in keeping Andrey Arshavin at bay. His slip of concentration did allow Henry in for the winning goal but Thompson should still take credit for a tidy evening’s work.

It could be that Grayson has found the answer to his continuously leaky defence through his academy products. Lees and White look set to make themselves permanent fixtures in the back four, whilst Thompson could well feature again at right back with so many other more experienced names out for the foreseeable future. So despite a drab defeat to a former Premiership rival, the fans could go home with a smile thanks to the side’s young cavaliers. 

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