The Soccer Blog: Arsenal - Leyton Orient Preview

Tuesday, 1 March 2011

Arsenal - Leyton Orient Preview

Arsenal – Leyton Orient Preview - The Offside - Arsenal blog

« Arsenal Need To Find A Way To Get Past Defeat | Home | Arsenal – Leyton Orient PreviewBy: Martin | March 1st, 2011
Tweet

Back in action tomorrow as we welcome Leyton Orient to the Emirates for the FA Cup 5th Round replay.

We remember what happened a week and a half ago the last time we met, of course. I thought we badly outplayed them, but we couldn’t convert so many of the chances we created, and paid the price. Given our recent spate of injuries, this replay is poorly timed in a lot of ways, as our squad is tired, injured, and could maybe use a week to clear their heads.

In another sense, though, it may be coming at just the right time. A week between the Carling Cup final and the Sunderland match would just give the players and fans a week to dwell on how we let that great opportunity to win a trophy slip away. But now, after stewing on it for a couple of days, we can immediately turn our focus to something else.

And for all the talk about letting the Carling Cup slip away, we can’t lose sight of the fact that we’re still very much alive in 3 competitions. Including the FA Cup. If we get past Orient, we’re into the quarterfinal. And we obviously got a tough draw there as we have to travel to Old Trafford to play Manchester United. And no one is saying that’s going to be easy, because it won’t be. But we’ve outplayed them there before in recent years, so it’s not out of the question for us to beat them or at least get a replay and force them to come to the Emirates, which gives us a much better chance. And if we can get past them, then it’s back to Wembley Stadium for a semifinal. I know I generally say don’t look past the next match, but I think it’s worth saying that we still have a good chance at this thing, and I don’t agree with the fatalism that seems to have set in amongst a lot of Arsenal fans when the Manchester United draw was announced.

We probably didn’t take them as seriously as we should have the first time around. Hopefully we won’t have the same problem this time around. But I honestly get the sense Orient were happy just to earn the replay, and their away record isn’t that good, so we really should have the upper hand in this one.

In team news, it’s all about injuries. Flaps, Vermaelen, and Frimpong are all out. Our recent injuries — Theo, van Persie, and Cesc — are out. Ramsey has rejoined the team, but he’s ineligible to play in this one because he wasn’t with the team during the initial match-up between the two. We’re pretty short-handed.

Here’s my best guess at a lineup:

Almunia

Eboue-Squillaci-Miquel-Gibbs

Denilson-Song

Bendtner-Rosicky-Arshavin

Chamakh

Bench: Wojo, Sagna, Clichy, Djourou, Koscielny, Diaby, Wilshere, Nasri

Basically, I think we’ll see a whole lot of changes. I actually think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start Wojo in this one, because he could probably use a game to get his head off of the mix-up between him and Koscielny on Sunday, but I suspect Wenger will go with Almunia as the “cup keeper,” because this may be the last chance he gets at match sharpness before a huge match.

I think we’ll see a bunch of changes on the back line — Eboue and Gibbs, our “cup full-backs,” will come in. Squillaci will definitely come in. And even though Koscielny and Djourou are healthy, I think Miquel will come back into the side for this one — he played well in the initial match, and I think he earned another shot.

In midfield, Denilson gets his usual shot in a domestic cup match. Diaby will start alongside him if he’s fit to start, but if not it will be one of Wilshere or Song. I went ahead and played the percentages and guessed that Diaby will be hurt based on him being pulled from the Carling Cup squad very late, but I don’t have any info on that at the moment. Rosicky will probably get another start in the Cesc role — hopefully he has better luck cracking open a League One defense than he did against Birmingham. I think he’ll be flanked by Bendtner and Arshavin, because Nasri probably needs to be rested for Sunderland and Barcelona, where he’ll play a huge role, and I don’t see anyone else who can really do the job. And Chamakh gets the start up top.

February was an interesting month for us — from the high of beating Barcelona to the low of losing a cup final to Birmingham. But the great thing about sport is that there’s always another game. And this is that “another game.” March is a massive month for us — in addition to this match, we could have an FA Cup quarterfinal, the second leg against Barcelona, as well as some crucial league matches. We’ve got some huge matches to play between now and May 22, and the season starts anew tomorrow. Let’s restart the momentum in the right direction by getting a good solid win tomorrow and getting back to winning ways.

Come on Arsenal.

************

Don’t forget to follow the Arsenal Offside on Twitter for the latest news, links, and updates

Kanye West Tweet of the Day: Boyfriends are like rush hour traffic… ALWAYS IN THE FUCKING WAY!

Some Related Stories:Leyton Orient – Arsenal PreviewLeyton Orient 1 – Arsenal 1: Arsenal Provide Comforting Reminder That We Are Still Arsenal (UPDATED with Player Ratings)Leyton Orient – Arsenal Match ThreadArsenal – Leeds (FA Cup) PreviewArsenal – Huddersfield (FA Cup) Preview; Afobe, Eastmond, Lansbury, Vela Sent Out on Loan

Category: Arsenal News, FA Cup, Fixtures, Preview

Tags: Arsenal News, FA Cup, Fixtures, Preview
Tweet « Arsenal Need To Find A Way To Get Past Defeat | Home | Darren_VAnyone else remember when David Villa said he wanted to play for Arsenal?Gigi_manOh I see now Sairax comment and your Bendtner position.
While I think he was great on the wing, some dont. Nick said he worked well with Arsha in trainings, I kind of hope for Nasri in Bentnder shoes and Nick for Chamakh. I just did not like Chamakhs face when he came in, really "I am not sure of myself" kind of face.SairaxI think Bendtner has done as well as he can on the wing. He's put in some nice crosses at times. But I would like to see him as target man.

Chamakh, I feel for the guy. He needs a goal. Any goal. Just to get his confidence up again. I'm sure he just needs a bit of a boost. He did a fantastic job for us at the beginning of the season when we really needed him and he didn't even have time to adapt, which people would do well to remember.Gigi_manYeah, I do remember watching a game where he scored twice, at the 1st and last minute, and he was rocking!
Actually, what happened? did he injured himself? or he was just stepped aside when RvP came in and it hurt his feelings?
I hope he can threat defences again, I also remember a header last season for Bordeaux, a 1-0 and he got all above all defenders to do that.
SairaxRandom stat: Cesc missed 18 Sept-19 Oct: Nasri scored 5 in 5. Cesc missed 23 Nov-13 Dec: Nasri scored 4 in 4. Nasri has only scored 5 in 20 with Cesc in team (via @BBCSport_David)

Maybe Nasri will get a few more goals now? I think Bendtner will come good with the goals as well, but like I said, I'd like to see him up front as the target man instead of Chamakh.Gigi_manWould be so beautiful, I just hope he doesn not see the stats, so he doesnt get all pressured and nervous and have stagefright.
Leave the nerves to me!!!!SairaxI'd like to see Bendtner up front and Chamakh out wide for a change, see how that workstinomuvonga mI am pretty nervous about Wednesday's game. The squad has the quality to win, but if they are nonchalant because of the opposition it could be very embarrassing.

I am a big fan of Rosicky and hope he does well on Wednesday. In the first half against Birmingham, it was a little frustrating to watch him. He seemed to be hiding from the ball and when he dropped deep to pick it up he didn't really do much with the ball. Rosicky rarely hassled and harried for the ball. The second half was much better as he moved the ball further up the field. It seems he isn't really aware that the team ticks around Cesc's position. So if the person in that position is not at their best it can adversely affect the team.

I still think Rosicky is the best person to fulfill Cesc's role, because of his vision and passing. Nasri has done very well, this season, I rarely if ever, see him pick out an incisive pass or through ball. Wilshire seems like he could play Cesc's position but I think Arsene Wenger doesn't think it's a good idea moving him from position to position. I think he wants, Wilshire to continue making the deep-lying playmaker position his own.

Up the Arsenal!SairaxWell said. Yeah, it's sad to Rosicky in this poor form. I'm not sure he should be in the Cesc position again, but rather we should stick to using him out wide if needed. Arshavin can also play in Cesc's role. He is not as defensively disciplined but he constantly is looking for that killer pass. Might be something to try especially since Nasri has played some of his best games out wide.MartinSo, injury news -- van Persie is out a minimum of 3 weeks, which means we probably won't see him until April. Nicklas Bendtner, you've been talking a big game, now it's time to see if you can back it up.

Elsewhere, Alex Song picked up an injury and will be out for this one. The official site says he is expected to be back for Barcelona, but doesn't say if he'll be back for Sunderland at the weekend. Koscielny picked up a minor hamstring problem but sounds like he will only miss this one and will be back for Saturday.

Official site also says that Diaby will start and Almunia will start in goal. I don't think any of this news has a huge impact on our lineup for this match -- I always thought Almunia was going to start this one, and Song and Koscielny weren't too likely to play unless other players were hurt. So plug in Diaby for Song in my starting lineup and I still think that's who we'll see.

It's also interesting because it opens up a spot on the bench for a non-first team player. I suspect it will be Chuks Aneke, but who knows.Gigi_manBummer, bummer, Vilmer, Vilmer, Vilmer. Any chance Wenger is bloffing to play MAnU and Barza? any...?

Id like to see Bendtner with Arsha on one side and Nasri in the other.
I think, based on facts, that these guys can make it, even in Old T and Nou Camp.
But then again they have this awful tradition of screwing up in key moments, like a stage fright...like a psychological issue or something... :P
I mean Nicklas went out to Camp Nous and put us ahead last season, but then Disastre started his show (I just hope we dont get another disastre going on now). Theo, Nasri and Nick are capable of damage.

As per this game, since its not a key game per se, maybe they will feel at ease and do fine?

sigh, sigh, sigh.tinomuvonga mIt will be very interesting to see if Miquel plays tomorrow. Arsene's interviews in January implied that he didn't really want to play him this season. When he was counting defenders he would mention Song as the fifth CB not Miquel. This game needs to be won, so I would rather Djourou played and Miquel came on late.

At lot has been said about Chuks technique so I would love to see him play, but I think it’s very unlikely. However being on the bench is good start.MartinYeah, it's just a big ask of Djourou because he's going to have to play in every game from here until May 22 if he's fit, and if he doesn't get a rest here, it's hard to see where he will get one. And if he doesn't, it's hard to see him make it to May 22 healthy. We dominated possession against Orient the first time and the defenders didn't have a lot to do. With one notable exception, what they had to do they did well. So I'm in favor of giving Miquel another start and giving Djourou a rest.Sairax*Le Sigh*ChrisThis is probably the best possible follow-on from Sunday's downer. We have a mid-week match at home in front of a (hopefully) hugely supportive crowd, a sense of revenge (not taking the Brum result out on Orient, but more finishing off what we should have done 10 days ago). A chance for those non-CC final players to really step up to the mark, show the whole team and the fans what they are made of and give the club a massive lift going into S'dland and Barca. I hope there are no unnecessary risks taken with needing to put in RvP + Cesc (haven't heard how long either of them will actually be out for) and even keep Nasri fresh, but that the likes of Denlison, Squizz, Bentner and Chamakh really step up their game for this one. Come on Arsenal ! We need a result.ChrisSky Sports just reported RvP out for 3 weeks.Gigi_manwow. I see we are all still down. I ran into a friend Arsenal fan at a funeral (yeah like if it wasnt sad enough) and he was feeling the same.
I said below that we didnt buy a proper B team, but actually is that the guys there dont seem to be up to the task: we say "oh Cesc is out" because we know nobody can fill in, and I am not sating that they should play like him, but if a guy is out, then we must have a "second" game, and thats where Wenger comes in.

We have two major games coming up, if we get past Leyton we have ManU at Old T. difficult as always. I hope Chelsea beat them today but Ancelotti has been stupid in choices lately.

I said it here, and stand by it: I am a gooner and will stick to my team, but I sure as hell hope they shut me up and win something.lady_killaforget orient , rvp and walcott, verminator def out against barca. why the same every year, why o why.Fred Jacobyea boy WHYGigi_manTell you why: because we did not buy a proper B Team back when we knew injured players are normal in 4 (FOUR, cuatro) compets.jturphyOur defense isn't our problem with injuries this year. Our back 7 have basically been the same for all of our major matches thus far, and they have, for the most part, played very well. No one said we should go out and buy a new striker or a new winger or a new Csec role player. The injuries hit us hard because they hit where we thought we had plenty of depth. The problem is our back ups (Rosicky and Chamahk in particular) have been poor for the better part of 2011.Gigi_man:) actually I did say so around here, that we should go and buy a true fox in the box, because we have a very good force in attack, but not a true 9 (well Nick is, but he misses too much).
Any way, my point is we need, definitely, a complete set of 11 players, very skilled, for when injuries come.
But I agree with you, thats why I tought it d be good to have bought some (only instead of specific ares, try to tighten up a second 11)blog comments powered by Disqus