Arsenal came through an FA Cup replay 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 12 March will have the air of an entirely different tournament. Even so, this encounter had its uses. Nicklas Bendtner scored a hat-trick as goals flowed for a club that will have welcomed a soothing return to action.
The contribution by the Dane will stoke his already burning sense of self-worth but the outsized confidence should be met with appreciation as well as amusement. With Robin van Persie ruled out for at least four weeks Bendtner is a man of consequence. The efficiency of the whole side was reassuring. The visitors can take some satisfaction in the outcome. Orient may be members of League One but they had demonstrated their merit when drawing the first encounter.
For all the brittleness, there is still a gleam to Arsenal's football even on an occasion that became humdrum because of their early effectiveness. The loss to Birmingham City in the Carling Cup final confirmed that the one indestructible aspect of Arsène Wenger's Arsenal is their well-deserved reputation for fragility. That debacle provided a backdrop of sorts to this replay but there were to be no associations with the woe of Wembley and the first of Bendtner's goals was the 100th of the season in all competitions for an Arsenal side whose style deserves to be celebrated.
Even if he had not been affected by a string of injuries, the manager would have made radical alterations with confidence. While the FA Cup matters, Wenger was still able to think more of Saturday's Premier League game at home to Sunderland and, particularly, next Tuesday's return at Barcelona in the Champions League. Orient were breached here with just seven minutes gone.
Tomas Rosicky, who was later replaced after a blow that Wenger termed "slight concussion," got past the left of the visitors' defence and the cut-back was converted by Marouane Chamakh for his first goal since 27 November.
The ease should not have been so very surprising since Orient have won a mere three of their away games in League One. They did have purpose on the attack nonetheless and a low ball from the left by Charlie Daniels was sent wide of the near post by Alex Revell in the 13th minute.
Arsenal were not distracted and they struck once more after half an hour. Kieran Gibbs crossed from the left and Bendtner took the first of his goals by climbing to send a header into the top corner.
He next scored two minutes from the interval as he move along the edge of the penalty area, eluding the full-back Ben Chorley to put a precise shot low past the left hand of the goalkeeper Jamie Jones. With Van Persie injured, this was an excellent time for Bendtner to make the case for his continuing inclusion.
Impact was to be anticipated from Arsenal since Wenger had the means to field a largely recognisable line-up, even if it included players such as Denílson, 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 reserve side, had made his first appearance for the club in the earlier game with Orient while the English midfielder Conor Henderson was given his debut.
Arsenal were not sated by the early goals and five minutes into the second half Abou Diaby played a one-two with Chamakh before putting a low drive narrowly wide. Even so, the concentration levels could not be maintained by Wenger's players and there was a period in which Orient, with their fate sealed, began to enjoy themselves.
From Arsenal's perspective, the value of the contest lay in allowing players who have been on the margins to hone their form. Bendtner was a natural selection 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 spot-kick opportunity came after Revell had brought down Gibbs. The Dane was soon to be replaced, his mission accomplished.
An element of surprise was introduced when the substitute Gaël Clichy scored 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 therapeutic fixture for Arsenal.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 2 Mar 11
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