Arsene Wenger sprung a surprise with 10 changes from the starting lineup that beat the mighty Barcelona. The most notable being the debut given to our 18 yr old reserve team captain and Barcelona born Ignasi Miquel. Almunia returns between the sticks with Squillaci, Sagna, Denilson, Gibbs, Rosicky Bendtner, and Chamakh and Arshavin. Leyton Orient had been promised by their Chairman Barry Hearne a trip to Las Vegas if they beat Arsenal. The opening exchanges were predictable, with lots of energy from the East London team, and an uncomfortable period of trying to get their passing game together. Ignasi settled very quickly and soon Arsenal began to stroke the ball around despite the rough surface of the Matchroom stadium. The atmosphere was a true cup tie with the Orient fans in loud voice. Chamakh had two early chances which were too weak to beat Jamie Jones. The main threat from Leyton Orient would be from set pieces, and Orient’s best chance came from a fierce chance in the shape of a rising shot from the left full back Charlie Daniels.
Orient’s game plan was simple, playing the counter attacking ball over the top. Most attempts found the Leyton line offside. Referee Kevin Friend had very little to do as the tie was well mannered. Despite the threat of smaller teams using aggressive tactics, Leyton Orient tried to play football leaving the Arsenal players with plenty of space within which to work. The game was a dull affair with Arsenal having the majority of possession with the usual suspects squandering passes and allowing Orient to keep a toe hold in the match after 30 minutes. Bendtner shot wide again to ironic cheers and it seemed that the Premier League team were incapable of breaking down the rudimentary Orient defence. Chamakh missed a very good chance on 35 minutes with a lovely low driven in cross from the left flank by Gibbs. The Moroccan seemed to be overstretched and unable to make good contact.
Leyton Orient had the majority of set pieces but failed to capitalise on the Gunners lack lustre performance. It was embarrassing to realise that Arsenal had not really stretched the Leyton Orient defence or threatened to beat Jamie Jones in goal in the first 45 minutes. The game should have been out of sight by now with Arsenal having over 70% possession. The first half petered out to a predictable boring draw. The league one side were comfortably still alive and very much kicking, whilst for the gunners, the away support had to endure a depressing down after the high midweek of Barcelona. If Arsene Wenger had any doubts and needed convincing which players might be moved on this summer, he was being given ample food for thought with quite amazingly poor displays by some players.
Half time Leyton Orient 0 Arsenal 0
The second half saw the prospect of the front line players like Nasri and Fabregas being called into the fray if the game were to remain goalless after 20 minutes. Little seemed like changing until eventually after 53 minutes after Bendtner crossed a simple ball into the box. Rosicky scored with a well directed header into the Orient net.
Leyton Orient 0 Arsenal 1 Rosicky 53’
This appeared to wake up the Orient team, and they tried to counter with more effort. D enilson collected the first yellow card of the game with a cynical challenge in midfield. Song was comfortably our best player, and it was his retentive skills which gave the Arsenal team composure. After 63 minutes the 37 yr old veteran striker Scott McGleish was substituted by French substitute Jonathan Tehoue. On four previous encounters Arsenal had never been beaten by Orient and as the game dragged on the inevitable seemed ever more likely as the Leyton players tired and gaps began to open up. A lovely pull back by Arshavin was met by a point blank header from Rosicky which was parried by Jones. Tehoue showed his pace and crossed a lovely ball into Revel who side footed the ball just wide of Almunia’s far post.
The Gunners performance in this second half was more assured with a higher tempo and less balls being given away. In defence Ignasi made an excellent first team debut withstanding the pressure of the Orient attacks with assured touches. Bendtner’s game improved playing in a wide right position stretching the Orient defence. Arshavin toiled but continued to provide the inspiration for further scoring opportunities. Orient’s Andrew Whing clattered into the back of Marouane Chamakh’s legs earning him a yellow card. 82 minutes in and Orient managed to almost knocked out Squillaci whose head blocked a fierce drive from 8 yards out after meeting another squared ball from the pacy Tehoue. Claims for a penalty from this incident were more than a little hopeful. Leyton Orient had managed eight attempts on goal with two on target as compared with almost double the number by the Gunners. Late on Arshavin hit the base of the far post with an excellent shot from the right side of the box.
Finally on 88 minutes Leyton Orient earned themselves a replay after Tehoue waltzed between the Arsenal defenders to score with a low drive under the body of Almunia.
Leyton Orient 1 Arsenal 1 Tehoue 88’
What should have been an easy finish for Arsenal turned into a tense torrid four minutes of extra time. Whilst Football is a game of two halves, at the moment Arsenal seem to be a club of two teams, one sublime, the other frustratingly ordinary.
Full time Leyton Orient 1 Arsenal 1
These teams will meet again in 10 days time to decide who will earn the right to face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the sixth round.
Teams: Leyton Orient – Jones, Daniels, Forbes, Chorley, Whing, Cox, Crowe, Dawson, Smith, Revell, McGleish.
Arsenal – Almunia, Gibbs, Squillaci, Miquel, Sagna, Denilson, Song, Rosicky, Arshavin, Bendtner, Chamakh.
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