Anyone who says that the FA Cup has lost its aura needs only to look back at Arsenal’s campaign to see that the oldest knockout competition in the world still has its shine.
Though, more often than not, we were the ones suffering from its romance.
After being drawn at home against lower league opposition in rounds three and four, Arsenal fans could have been forgiven for expecting a comfortable passage through to the latter stages. That was simply not the case.
Twice Arsène Wenger was forced to thrust Cesc Fabregas into action from the bench with both Leeds and Huddersfield threatening to cause giant killings and twice the captain was Arsenal’s salvation.
He would tuck away two last-gasp penalties to spare any potential blushes. Even so, Leeds earned a fully-deserved replay and, once the Championship side were seen off at Elland Road, Huddersfield could count themselves unfortunate not to repeat the feat of their Yorkshire neighbours.
Wenger insisted the visit of the Terriers was of equal importance to the impending clash with Barcelona. It would prove to be just as difficult.
The great Herbert Chapman’s ‘other club’ were roared on by 9,000 travelling fans packed into the Clock End and the League Two club defied the 40-odd places that separated the two teams in the football ladder.
Alan Lee cancelled out Nicklas Bendtner’s opener and with five minutes left on the clock it looked like Arsenal would be making another trip north. But Fabregas was on the spot after Theo Walcott had been felled and Arsenal were in the Fifth Round… just.
The draw paired them with another side from the third tier of English football and another side with a connection to the red half of north London. Leyton Orient boasted former Academy product Ben Chorley among their ranks but it was to be a current member of the youth system who turned heads with his impressive showing.
Spanish centre half Ignasi Miquel’s impeccable debut was a one of few positives as a below-par Arsenal were taken to another replay thanks to a 1-1 draw at the Matchroom Stadium. A Bendtner hat-trick ensured the job was completed at Emirates Stadium to book a tasty Quarter-Final trip to Manchester United.
Wenger’s side had the majority of possession and twice the number of shots than their opponents at Old Trafford but bowed out days after succumbing to Barcelona in the Champions League.
Source: Giuseppe Muro, Arsenal.com on 2 Jun 11
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