[size=6]Report: Arsenal 5-0 Leyton Orient[/size]

By Richard Clarke at Emirates Stadium

Nicklas Bendtner fired a hat-trick as Arsenal brushed aside Leyton Orient to set up a mouthwatering FA Cup Quarter-Final tie with Manchester United.

Arsène Wenger’s challenge for the Carling Cup may have ended in disappointing fashion but they are alive and kicking in England’s other knockout competition.

A Bendtner brace and Marouane Chamakh’s first goal since November put the home side in control in the first half. The Dane completed the second treble of his Arsenal career from the penalty spot on the hour. Then, 15 minutes from time, Gael Clichy fired home only his second goal in 255 games for the Club.

It was nothing more than we expected but, all the same, it was welcome catharsis after Sunday.

Arsenal have massive games with Sunderland and Barcelona in the next seven days. Games which, like last Sunday, could shape their season.

After tonight, they are clearly on the way back.

Having debuted Ignasi Miguel in the game at Brisbane Road, Wenger chose to give Conor Henderson a bow in the return game this evening.

The 19-year-old is a former Irish youth international and a current Reserve team regular. He took his place on the left of midfield.

In fact there were only three changes from the game at Brisbane Road. Henderson for Andrey Arshavin and Emmanuel Eboue for Bacary Sagna. Meanwhile Alex Song dropped out and Abou Diaby returned after a month out through suspension and a calf injury.

Ignasi reprised his role alongside Sebastien Squillaci at centre back. Tomas Rosicky was the only survivor from Wembley at the weekend.

In the first game, Leyton Orient, like Birmingham, had caught Arsenal late.

But in the circumstances this replay was welcome. After Sunday, Wenger’s men needed to get themselves going again as soon as possible. Manchester United’s defeat at Chelsea the previous night had put them back in control of their title bid once more. And, of course, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side also lay in wait in the last eight.

It was a bitterly cold North London night but Arsenal’s start was sparky and they quickly put themselves in front. Diaby’s early drive was charged down then, in the seventh minute, Rosicky raced to the byline and cut the ball back for Chamakh to sweep home a shot.

It was the Moroccan’s first goal since the Premier League trip to Aston Villa on November 27.

Orient responded with all the valour we had seen in the first game. Ben Chorley’s shot hit team-mate Scott McGleish in a crowded area and deflected over the bar. Then Alex Revell steered a shot wide at the near post.

Russell Slade’s side had lost only one game in four months - and you could tell why. Committed and organised, they made it hard for Arsenal, who seemed happy to soak up the visitors’ energy and make their quality tell when they could.

And, on the half-hour, they did.

Kieran Gibbs whipped in a cross to the far side of the six-yard box where Bendtner looped a header back across goal and beyond the outstretched hands of Orient keeper Jamie Jones.

Arsenal were in control. Now they just had to keep it that way in order to reach the last eight.

Meanwhile that second goal seemed to deflate Orient and a little slackness would gift the home side a third on the stroke of half-time. The visitors took a throw to Thomas Carroll on the right but he was robbed by Rosicky. The midfielder’s prod fell to Bendtner, who cut inside and blasted his cross-shot beyond Jones.

It appeared that game was now beyond his team aswell.

Within five minutes of the restart, Denilson had thumped a long shot into the chest of Jones then Diaby played a one-two with Chamakh but dragged his shot just beyond the far post.

Orient tried to respond but, on the hour, it was 4-0. Gibbs weaved inside Andrew Whing but was hauled down by Revell. Bendtner fired home his hat-trick goal from the spot.

The goal allowed Wenger to make a change. Rosicky had been brought down before the penalty incident. After it, he walked gingerly round the pitch and down the tunnel. Samir Nasri came on.

Shortly afterwards, the manager replaced Diaby and Bendtner with Jack Wilshere and Clichy.

Sixteen minutes from time, the latter would plunder a fifth. Eboue's cross was dummied by Chamakh and Clichy rifled home. It was his first goal since November 2008.

From there, Arsenal hit the button marked ‘cruise control’. Orient went close in injury time when Dean Cox thundered a shot just wide but Wilshere and Nasri spurned similar efforts in the dying minutes.

This was just what Arsenal needed. A safe, controlled victory in which the goals will have bred confidence as much as the clean-sheet at the back.

Now they must build again on this foundation.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3369904/first-team/arsenal-v-leyton-orient?tab=report

[size=6]Report: Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland[/size]

By Richard Clarke at Emirates Stadium

Arsenal missed an opportunity to put real pressure Manchester United when they could only grind out a frustrating goalless draw with Sunderland at Emirates Stadium.

This result actually inches Arsène Wenger’s side three points behind Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. But the hope this afternoon had been to be breathing down the neck of the Old Trafford outfit before they travel to rivals Liverpool on Sunday.

Sunderland started the better but Arsenal dominated the final three-quarters of a tough, tight encounter. Substitute Marouane Chamakh came closest when he thundered a header against the bar in the 75th minute.

But visiting keeper Simon Mignolet saved well from Samir Nasri’s second-half free-kick. Meanwhile Andrey Arshavin might have been awarded a penalty and ‘scored’ after being controversially flagged offside.

Sunderland went close through Danny Wellbeck and Jordan Henderson. But their game-plan this afternoon was to hassle and harry Arsenal out of their stride while keeping matters miserly at the back.

It was frustrating fare but it did the job. Arsenal lacked a certain cutting edge this afternoon but their endeavour cannot be questioned.

This is a bump on the road to the Premier League title but hardly a breakdown. Manchester United’s response will be critical and Wenger’s men can ill-afford to dwell on what might have been.

They must simply dust themselves down and carry on.

Wenger made eight changes from the thumping 5-0 win over Leyton Orient in midweek. The FA Cup tie had started the process of recovery after that horrible Carling Cup defeat the previous weekend. But any other treatment would have to be running repairs.

This was the first of three massive games in three competitions over the course of the next eight days and the manager had been crystal clear in belief that this one was the most important.

In terms of the team, only Abou Diaby, Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner remained from the Orient game. Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Jack Wilshere, Johan Djourou, Arshavin and Gael Clichy all returned. Laurent Koscielny was passed fit after a hamstring injury. Nasri was captain.

Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) and Alex Song (knee) were out today but remain hopeful for Barcelona. Robin van Persie (knee) and Theo Walcott (ankle) will be missing for a few weeks more.

However, perhaps the biggest news was the return of Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman had been on the bench in January but, since then, he had enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Cardiff.

Arsenal came into this game trying to the close the gap at the top. Meanwhile Sunderland were trying to arrest a run of four straight defeats.

But it was the visitors who started the better.

In the second minute, Henderson’s low right-wing cross was nearly converted by Steed Malbranque at the near post. Shortly afterwards a Sunderland corner was half-cleared to Phil Bardsley, who rifled a shot wide.

After 10 minutes, Arsenal finally woke up. Clichy curled a low cross inches beyond the outstretched leg of Bendtner. Nasri collected the rebound and fired into the chest of Mignolet.

But Sunderland were still playing with a confidence that belied their recent results. Stephane Sessegnon’s drive forced a flying save from Szczesny and then Malbranque was denied by Djourou at the near post.

However, as the game wore on, Arsenal gradually gained control. Just before the half-hour, Arshavin raced onto a lofted through-ball from Wilshere but a combination of Titus Bramble and Mignolet cleared up the danger.

Ten minutes from half-time, Nasri weaved his way to the byline but, when he tried to cut back the ball, Bardlsey blocked at the near post. When the corner came over, Djourou’s flick fell nicely for Bendtner but his point-blank bicycle kick was straight at Mignolet.

Arsenal were starting to come on strong now. In the 40th minute, Wilshere chipped Bendtner into space on the right. The Dane fired a dipping volley inches over the bar from an acute angle.

It had been a frustrating half but at least the home side had ended it in the ascendancy.

After the restart, they tried to impose themselves in the same way but Sunderland had their sleeves rolled up this afternoon.

The first 15 minutes was a scrappy affair with few chances but decent pressure from both sides.

Unsurprisingly, Wenger decided to make changes. Chamakh replaced Denilson and went up front. Bendtner dropped wide and Nasri came into central midfield.

The Moroccan was immediately involved. He escaped down the right and cut the ball back from Arshavin, who shot was beaten away by Mignolet.

Time was ticking on and Arsenal needed a goal. In the 72nd minute, Sessegnon’s foul on Koscielny gave them an opportunity just outside the area. Nasri’s free-kick was beaten away by the Sunderland stopper.

Three minutes later, they would come even closer. Wilshere drifted a ball to the far post and Chamakh crashed a header against the bar.

Back-to-back opportunities injected a momentum into Arsenal’s game. The crowd now sensed this was the moment. Just before Tomas Rosicky replaced Diaby, Sagna fired over at the far post.

As we entered the final 10 minutes, Arsenal had a massive chance. Arshavin raced through in the left-hand channel with Bramble in pursuit. The Englishman was tangling with the Russian all the way and, as he stumbled, pushed the Arsenal striker who shanked his shot wide.

It could have been a goal, it could have been a penalty. In the end it was neither.

Sunderland’s attacking had been limited in the second half but they would fashion two quick efforts. Substitute Wellbeck swiveled and sent a sharp shot towards the far post. Szczesny pushed it wide. From the corner, the keeper used his chest to block a shot from Henderson.

When the final whistle went, Arsenal were deflated, Sunderland delighted.

That tells the story of the game.

This was a deeply disappointing draw but this Premier League story will have a few more plot-twists before May.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3284562/first-team/arsenal-v-sunderland?tab=report

[size=6]Van Persie in squad to face Barcelona[/size]

Robin van Persie has been added to the Arsenal squad for their Champions League clash with Barcelona.

The Dutch forward was substituted during the Carling Cup Final on February 27 after suffering a knee injury. But he trained with his team-mates at London Colney on Monday and has travelled to Spain.

Arsène Wenger has named a 19-man squad. This will be cut to 18 ahead of Tuesday's game at the Nou Camp.

Arsenal squad: Almunia, Szczesny, Djourou, Clichy, Eboue, Gibbs, Koscielny, Sagna, Squillaci, Fabregas, Arshavin, Wilshere, Rosicky, Nasri, Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, Chamakh, Van Persie
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/van-persie-in-squad-to-face-barcelona

You shifty prick Wenger. Can't be surprised though, after all he did the same thing before the first leg, all but ruling out Nasri only for him to start and play the full 90. RvP travelling means he is more than likely to feature on the bench at the very least as long as he comes through the fitness test ok which he should.

Was pumped before, but the thought of RvP going up against that makeshift Barca defence is mouth watering.

19 shots on to 0. Holy Jesus. And only 59% pass completion.

RVP or no RVP, that's still poor

:lol: Jack can't help himself

"Arsenal fans great as always! Sorry about the result,good luck to Barca,great team! Oh yeah and the ref was good aswell...."

he should have said that he could take down their reserves ;)

ref completely fucked the game... ridiculous send off, Arsenal were poor with the ball but the ref didn't read the game, like c'mon your sending off a lad for that? continental soft cocks

and btw how shit was our captain tonight, really let us down

I'm sick of people laying into him. Yeah he didn't have a great game and was at fault for the first goal, but what do people expect him to do when we have no possession.