Ten changes, with only Alex Song surviving as a starter from the starting eleven against FC Barcelona told its own story yesterday evening at Brisbane Road (“Matchroom Stadium”? Do me a favour).
Catalan youngster Ignaci Miguel was also given his first team debut having been on the bench a couple of times. A somewhat disjointed first half ended goalless. Both teams already knew whom they would face if they won through on the day, the sixth round draw having taken place immediately before kick-off in the East End. A trip to Old Trafford lies in wait for the winners of the replay at the Grove on Wednesday week.
About the only people with a smile on their face at Arsenal when the final whistle blew will have been our finance director. The replay will bring in more lolly and will represent the seventh home FA Cup/European game for Gold season ticket holders. Orient are of course delirious and who can blame them? I thought they merited a draw for hanging in there. Our performance was as disjointed as I’d feared when I heard the team announcement. You can’t make nine outfield changes and expect it to be otherwise. I understand why some changes had to be made but ten?
Tomáš Rosický’s headed goal from Nicklas Bendtner’s cross (I know, that sounds strange, doesn’t it?) looked like it was going to be enough to put us through, especially when Andrey Arshavin shaved the post late on. Orient came up with an equaliser too late to counter however. We’ll do it all against next week at home now. I sincerely hope that Orient’s financial windfall – which I don’t begrudge them for one minute – doesn’t include the £180,000 fifth round winner’s prize money from the FA! Assuming a full house next week the O’s should clear the best end of £1 million from the replay as the game is all but certain to attract live television coverage, plus their share of the gate, radio fees and television highlights fees.
We could have done without an extra game of course. I’d much, much rather that than be out of the FA Cup however. A trip to Old Trafford if we do get past Orient will make it no easy task to reach the semi-finals but Arsčne Wenger owes the Gooner Nation one in the Cup there after our supine surrender in the fifth round there in 2008. Before we worry about that however we need to completely forget the Cup and concentrate on the visit of Stoke City in the League on Wednesday night. Brisbane Road has taken the wind out of our sails a little after the euphoria of last week’s win over Barcelona. We need a win and three points to restore momentum.
On the field we should learn the lessons of yesterday evening that all opponents must be fully respected and that great seasons are constructed one game at a time. Nothing else should be occupying the minds of the coaching staff and players than three points against the Potters.
Off the field however the club administrators need to be doing some “what if” planning on the fixtures front. Getting to the Carling Cup Final has meant our away game at Spurs due to have been played this coming Saturday is awaiting a new slot. Just for the purposes of contingency planning only, let’s assume that we beat Orient and United after a replay, get through the FA Cup semi-finals and beat Barcelona, progressing through the Champions League quarter-finals to reach the last four of that competition.
The week of Friday 25 March-Wed 30 March is reserved for international matches. England is away to Wales in Cardiff in the European Championship qualifiers. That week is therefore out for any re-arranged fixtures. However the previous midweek would be possible as FIFA regulations require players to be released for competitive internationals four days before the game (including game day) for matches in the same confederation and five days before a game for matches outside Europe. Of our current squad given that a) Carlos Vela is on loan at the Baggies (and currently serving a national team ban anyway); and b) Denilson has yet to become part of the Brazil national squad and Brazil has no competitive games until the Copa América in Argentina next year, only Marouane Chamakh and Alex Song will travel to games outside Europe if selected by Morocco and Cameroon.
Cameroon is away to Senegal in Dakar on Friday 25 March. Morocco is due to play away to Algeria in Algiers on Sunday 27 March. We will therefore lose the services of Alex Song from Monday 21 March. Marouane Chamakh will be available until Tuesday 22 March. The balance our European international players will need to be released on from Tuesday 22 March onwards for those playing on Friday – France, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain are all player on Friday so the players will have to be away by the Tuesday, pretty much ruling that midweek out.
The next midweek without fixtures currently is Wednesday 16 March, the weekend after we would play at Old Trafford if we beat Orient in the replay. The real headache comes if we do beat Orient and have to replay at the Grove. The midweek of Wednesday 23 March would appear to be out. Normally replays take place around ten days after the original game. Either we’re going to have revert to the old midweek following the tie or look for another possible date.
On the working assumption that we make it to the FA Cup Final and at least to the semi-finals of the Champions League we’ll have to find slots for home League games against Liverpool and Aston Villa which are currently scheduled for the weekends of the FA Cup semi-final and final.
Leaving out the week before the international break, there are only the following midweek slots available that I can see to fit in potentially four games:
Wed 16 March
Wed 20 April
Wed 11 May
Wed 18 May
The real logistical headache – never mind the strain on the players – is where do we fit in a replay if we beat Orient and draw at Old Trafford?
On the field the players and coaching staff need to focus on the games as they come one at a time. Off the field the administration needs to be planning for every contingency.
More on this later in the week. Meanwhile, let’s focus on three points against Stoke on Wednesday night.
Keep the faith!
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