Wenger dismisses leadership doubts as Arsenal outclass Leeds

According to reports of a TV interview in Brazil, Denilson had said that skipper Cesc Fabregas is not "a born leader", but Wenger questioned that translation and said his captain was "an outstanding leader".

Speaking after Arsenal's 3-1 win at Elland Road, Wenger said: "That once again is coming back from Brazil and is not at all the spirit of the comment that was made.

"Either you have bad translators in England or good translators with a bad spirit.

"They [Denilson and Fabregas] are two very good friends and have a lot of respect for each other.

"Cesc Fabregas is our captain and Robin van Persie our vice-captain and we have many leaders in our team and we are very happy with our captain.

"We have a shared leadership in our team but I believe Fabregas is an outstanding leader, especially when you consider he's 23 years old, with personality and character and van Persie as well.

"I believe what is important in the way we want to play football is that everyone takes responsibility."

Arsenal triumphed at Elland Road thanks to goals from Samir Nasri, his 14th of an impressive season so far, Bacary Sagna and substitute Van Persie.

Wenger added: "The team goes from strength to strength and we have shown again we are hungry."

Bradley Johnson had given Leeds some hope against the club where he began his career as a schoolboy with a stunning long-range strike to make it 2-1, but the Gunners held firm.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson admitted his side had been outclassed, but by one of the best teams in football.

He said: "We showed some good qualities and if you are going to get knocked out of the FA Cup, you might as well have it done by one of the best teams in Europe, if not the world.

"They showed what they were all about, the way they started the game was quite worrying for us.

"But we got the goal which galvanised us; Bradley shoots like that in training and most of them end up in Wetherby, but he hit that one so sweetly and it was a goal worthy of winning a match."

Grayson insisted Leeds' desire to reach the Premier League should keep the side together, despite interest in some of his players from top-flight clubs.

He added: "Hopefully the ambition of the players can be fulfilled here, we are not a selling club and don't need to sell anybody.

"This has whetted the appetite for players to face these sorts of teams on a weekly basis and I believe we have come out of the two games with a lot of credit."