English FA CUP
2011-02-20 - Leyton Orient vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English FA Cup
Sunday 20 February 2011 - Kickoff 4:30pm
This game is live on TV
Leyton Orient
Is it just me, or has the 5th Round of the FA Cup put together a number of David v Goliath ties? Leyton Orient are yet another side from the lower Leagues that will be taking on a big Premier League side, although they at least have the backing of their home support in this game.
Barry Hearn has been looking forward to a legal fight with a Premier League club in the form of West Ham and the decision to give the Hammers the Olympic Stadium after 2012, and now his team has a battle on the pitch against another London Premier League club. Orient are 8-4-2 at Brisbane Road this season, scoring 28 goals and conceding 13. They are 1-1-1 at home in the 2 major Cup competitions so far, including a 0-2 defeat to West Brom.
The team should have a little bit of confidence in their ability to spring a surprise here after losing just 1 of their last 20 games in all competitions, and being unbeaten in their last 11. Leyton Orient have also beaten 2 teams from higher divisions this season, both from the Championship, and they are unbeaten in 14 games at Brisbane Road.
Matthew Spring is a major doubt for Orient having already missed 2 games with a calf injury. Adam Chambers is also likely to miss the biggest game of the season for the home side.
Arsenal
The whole of the Arsenal family should be on cloud 9 after their impressive come from behind win over Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The confidence was clear in Arsene Wenger's press conference today where he talked about winning all 4 trophies Arsenal are competing in this season. Now they have a chance to get into the 6th Round of this competition for only the 2nd time in the last 6 seasons since they last won a trophy.
The Gunners remain in the hunt for the Premier League trophy this season and will have one eye on the home game with Stoke City on Wednesday that could put them just 1 point behind Manchester United, albeit having played a game more. Arsenal are 7-4-2 away from home in the League this season, scoring 27 goals and conceding 15. They are 3-1-3 in away games in cup games this season, and while 2 of those losses came in the Champions League, the Gunners did suffer a shock 1-0 loss at Championship side Ipswich in the Carling Cup.
The win over Barcelona extended Arsenal's good form to 9 games unbeaten and they have now won 8 of those games. Arsenal have suffered just 1 defeat from their last 6 away games, that in the aforementioned game at Portman Road, and they have scored at least 3 goals in each of their last 3 away games.
Johan Djourou is out of this game as Arsenal look to rotate their squad with the Stoke game in mind. Bacary Sagna is back from suspension but Abou Diaby still is to complete his own ban. I would not be surprised to see the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshire and Alex Song being rested after their exertions against Barcelona.
This could give the chance for Marouane Chamakh, Nicolas Bendtner, Denilson and Tomas Rosicky the chance to claim places for themselves.
Head to Head
Arsenal and Leyton Orient have met 10 times in their history but there are no recent games to look at.
The Gunners have won all 4 FA Cup meetings between the sides, but the most recent of these was in 1978.
Prediction
Leyton Orient should be completely up for this game as they look to continue their good form. I would not be surprised if there are a few players, staff and fans that are hoping Arsenal are not as focused on this game as it is sandwiched between Barcelona and Stoke City, games that are far more important to their season. Orient have also been strong at Brisbane Road and will not give up their 14 game unbeaten run easily.
Arsene Wenger has had the luxury of rotating players throughout the FA Cup campaign so far and are yet to face a top-flight club. However, the last 2 rounds proved to be tough for the fringe players at the club that were given a chance and the loss at Ipswich should make 1.3 backers a little wary.
Obviously Arsenal are the most likely winners in this game, but I am going to back them in a slightly different manner. I expect Leyton Orient will make the first half a tough affair for Arsenal, and we have already seen their fringe players struggle to get into games in the FA Cup this season against lesser teams.
For that reason, I think there might be something in backing the draw at half time, with Arsenal being the eventual winners as their class and superior fitness tells in the final 30 minutes.
Obviously keep an eye on team news in case the Arsenal team is stronger than I am anticipating, but I think a much changed team will struggle in the first half and then pull the win.
The Pick :
Leyton Orient 0-2 Arsenal
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Draw HT-Arsenal FT @ 4.5 BetFred (1 UNIT)Follow me on Twitter @DavindaAulak- the direct link is below
