Arsenal's Reiss Nelson scored early in the second half to secure a 1-0 win over battling Championship leaders Leeds United in the FA Cup third round at The Emirates on Monday.

Nelson put a near full-strength home side ahead in the 55th minute, scrappily side-footing the ball home after the Leeds defence was caught out by a cross from Alexandre Lacazette.

Leeds had taken the game to Arsenal straight from the whistle, pushing forward and blasting 11 shots on goal to the home side's one in the first 25 minutes alone.

Arsenal by contrast looked a shadow of the side who beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Premier League on New Year's Day.

But the hosts looked like a different team in the second half, with Lacazette whipping an early free-kick off the bar and David Luiz going close before Nelson made the breakthrough.

Both sides fielded second-string goalkeepers and Arsenal were missing striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang due to illness, but otherwise the line-ups were strong.

Arsenal, who have won the world's oldest cup competition a record 13 times – but lost to Leeds in the 1972 final – will visit Bournemouth in the fourth round. (Reuters)