Wenger is pleased to be tackling Terriers at home

The Frenchman said his Arsenal side – who defeated Leeds United 3-1 in a pulsating third-round replay at Elland Road last night – had a special 'link' with the Terriers, who they played in August 2008 in a friendly to mark Huddersfield's centenary.

That bond relates to the great Herbert Chapman, who managed both clubs to groundbreaking success, and now Lee Clark's League One side have been given a blueprint by Leeds on how to rattle the Premier League title-chasers.

United, revitalised by Bradley Johnson's wonder strike, gave Arsenal cause for concern in the second half last night before Robin van Persie's header ended the hosts' bold resistance.

Wenger said: "We played at Huddersfield two years ago because there is a link between the two clubs that goes back a long, long time. And I'm glad we will be playing them at home.

"We had that in mind (last night), the fact that if we qualified we would be playing at home next in a game where we would be favourites."

Johnson's 25-yard rocket gave Leeds hope after Arsenal's neat one-touch football had the hosts chasing shadows, with Samir Nasri and Bacary Sagna plundering the goals that appeared to set Wenger's side on the road to a comfortable victory.

But the Championship side's refusal to lie down heartened manager Simon Grayson.

"We showed some good qualities and if you're going to get knocked out of the FA Cup you want it to be at the hands of one of the best teams in Europe," said the Leeds chief.

"My players deserve credit for the fact that at 2-1 Arsenal had to bring on the likes of (Cesc) Fabregas and van Persie.

"The way Arsenal started the game had us really worried. At 2-1 we had a couple of half-chances that could quite easily have been taken, but they showed what they're all about with the way they moved the ball."

Wenger was impressed by Leeds's fortitude. He said: "He (Simon) organised them well and they have a belief and a never-say-die attitude. We miss them in the Premier League and hopefully they can come back.

"We had a warning in the first game but we heeded those lessons."