FA Cup Preview: Leyton Orient vs. Arsenal FC

Lower league Leyton Orient will play host tomorrow to Arsenal FC in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The O's have had a rough week after West Ham was awarded the Olympic Stadium. Leyton Orient isn’t far from there, and the O's chairman Barry Hearn is worried for the future of his club.  

Arsenal's last two rounds have been much closer than any Gunner fan, or even Arsene Wenger, may have wished for. Arsenal had to play two games in the third round against Leeds United, and in the fourth round, they played to a tight 2-1 victory over Huddelsfield Town.

Although Leyton Orient has only been in the top level of English Football one time, the most famous matchup between the two was in 1978 when Arsenal won 3-0 in the FA Cup.

Arsenal is going into this match with confidence at a high after an important 2-1 victory at the Emirates against Barcelona mid-week. Wenger will most certainly try to make sure that his squad does not under estimate a Leyton Orient team that is coming in with confidence of their own.

The O's have not lost in 11 matches and have scored 10 goals in just three previous matches.

With Arsenal still being involved in four different competitions, Wenger is surely going to rest some of his starters. It is more than certain that Robin Van Persie, Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri will be rested, but fortunately, Arsenal is healthy and has solid options off the bench.

Coming into the starting XI will surely be Andrei Arshavin, Tomas Rosicky, Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner. This will not only be an opportunity to rotate the squad, but surely, players like Rosicky and Chamakh can surely use the playing time.

Leyton Orient has knocked out Droylsden, Norwich and Swansea out of the FA Cup to find themselves playing at Brisbane Road against Arsenal. 

What to Expect:

Clearly, Arsenal goes into this matchup clear favorites, but complacency could cost them big. They have been somewhat complacent in the previous two rounds, and it could have been fatal for Wenger's squad. Leyton Orient will surely sit back and try to absorb the pressure and try to hit Arsenal on the counter attack.