Arsenal needed a late Cesc Fabregas penalty to knock League One Huddersfield Town out of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.
The Premier League giants went ahead thanks to a Peter Clarke own-goal, but were then reduced to ten men when Sebastien Squillaci was sent off for a professional foul.
Midway through the second period, Alan Lee’s header drew Huddersfield level, only for Arsenal to edge the fourth round tie after Fabregas had netted from the spot.
Andrey Arshavin drove an early chance well over the bar, before Nicklas Bendtner tapped wide from five yards, as Arsenal dominated, with Arshavin then striking the outside of a post.
Huddersfield, though, could have punished the Gunners’ wastefulness, had Kevin Kilbane and Lee made better use of a breakaway.
Arsenal, however, broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, when Bendtner was played in by Samir Nasri and beat Town ‘keeper Ian Bennett thanks to a heavy deflection off Clarke.
Huddersfield came within inches of equalising almost immediately, as Squillaci’s slight touch prevented Lee from levelling following Anthony Pilkington's low cross.
Pilkington then headed narrowly wide from a looping Joey Gudjonsson ball into the box, and the visitors were given further hope prior to the break when Squillaci saw red for blocking off Jack Hunt, who appeared to be on his way to goal thanks to a fine dribble.
Arshavin fired wide at the beginning of the second half after being found by a brilliant pass by Tomas Rosicky, who had replaced the injured Nasri in the first half.
At the other end, Arshavin’s sliding challenge prevented a likely equaliser by Gudjonsson, a header from Jamie McCombe went narrowly wide and another header, the second from Lee, was brilliantly kept out by Manuel Almunia.
The equaliser finally arrived after 66 minutes, when Lee climbed highest to head home Pilkington's out-swinging corner.
Bendtner wasted a trio of chances to restore Arsenal’s lead, with Arshavin also dangerous, as the Gunners turned up the heat.
The hosts went back into the ascendency with four minutes of normal time to go when Jamie McCombe bundled Bendtner over eight yards from goal, allowing Fabregas to coolly score from the penalty spot.
The closest Huddersfield came to levelling again was from a Gary Roberts free-kick, which was narrowly too high.