ENGLISH FA CUP FIFTH ROUND REPLAY: Arsenal 5 Leyton Orient 0:ARSENAL CAME through an FA Cup tie that will bear no resemblance to the quarter-final, even though Leyton Orient attacked when feasible and might have scored.
The encounter with Manchester United on March 12th will have the air of an entirely different tournament. Even so, this encounter had its uses. Nicklas Bendtner hit a hat-trick as goals flowed for a club that will have welcomed a soothing return to action after their League Cup final disappointment.
Orient were breached with efficiency here with just seven minutes gone. Tomas Rosicky got past the left of the visitors’ defence and the cut-back was converted by Marouane Chamakh for his first goal since November 27th.
Arsenal struck again after half an hour. Kieran Gibbs crossed from the left and Bendtner took the first of his goals by climbing above Charlie Daniels to send a header into the top corner.
The Dane next scored two minutes from the interval as he moved along the edge of the penalty area from the left, eluding full back Andrew Whing and put a precise shot low past the left hand of the goalkeeper, Jamie Jones.
Wenger had the means to field a largely recognisable line-up, even if it included players such as Denilson who have drifted to the margins of his thinking. The eye-catching aspect lay in the inclusion of two teenagers. The Spanish defender Ignasi Miquel, who captains the club’s reserves, had made his first appearance for the club in the earlier game with Orient and English midfielder Conor Henderson was given his debut here.
Russell Slade’s side had won only three of their away fixtures in League One and it had been most improbable they would ruffle Arsenal. The intention to attack was genuine and Miquel did not find events wholly inconsequential. From the viewpoint of the home support there had been sufficient entertainment to reward them for leaving home on chilly night.
Arsenal were not sated and five minutes into the second half Abou Diaby played a one-two with Chamakh before putting a low drive narrowly wide.
Bendtner, a highly confident person who seems surprised not to be an automatic selection, was a natural pick to take the penalty after 62 minutes with which he completed the second hat-trick of his Arsenal career, the first having come against Porto last season.
The opportunity came after Alex Revell had brought down Kieran Gibbs. The Dane was soon to be replaced, his mission accomplished. Life was far from ideal, however, since Rosicky had to limp off. There is, at least, some depth to the squad and an element of surprise was introduced here as the substitute Gael Clichy lodged just the second goal of his Arsenal career, putting a low drive across Jones 15 minutes from the end.
He was also to receive a booking, but this had still been a relaxing fixture for Arsenal.
- G uardian Service
ARSENAL:Almunia, Eboue, Squillaci, Miquel, Gibbs, Denilson, Diaby (Clichy 66), Rosicky (Nasri 62), Bendtner (Wilshere 66), Chamakh, Henderson. Subs Not Used:Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Arshavin. Booked: Clichy.
LEYTON ORIENT:Jones, Whing, Chorley, Forbes, Daniels, Revell (M'Poku 79), Crowe (Spring 65), Dawson, Carroll, Cox, McGleish (Tehoue 65). Subs Not Used:Butcher, Omozusi, Chambers, Cestor. Booked: Chorley, Cox.
Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Attendance:59,361
