Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 02 March 2011 12:37

This game couldn't have come at a better time for Arsenal, well that is if we are able to beat Leyton Orient who grabbed a late equaliser against us last week.

The Arsenal squad would have felt pretty low at the final whistle on Sunday, but hopefully Arsene has had a good word with all his players and the Wembley disaster can be put out of their minds and refocus on the rest of the season.

Many of our players will have a much needed rest before a very important game on the weekend against Sunderland. The full width of the squad will be used now as a few of our players have picked up injuries. Wenger will be trying to change as many players as possible so I wouldn't be surprised to see a completely new back five, along with at least two changes in midfield, as Abou Diaby is set to start after missing a place on the bench at Wembley.

I expect both Chamakh and Bendtner to play after coming on as second half substitutes but the third forward player will be quite interesting as our choices are likely to be between Sami Nasri and Andrey Arshavin.

Aaron Ramsey will not be able to play as he was not at the club during the first game so that is a big shame. A shame for the lad and a shame for Arsenal. He would have slotted in nicely in the advanced midfield position with Diaby and Denilson behind him. If we manage to get past Leyton Orient then he may get his chance at Old Trafford. That is the carrot dangling in front of the players, a good performance tonight could be worth a trip to Old Trafford and a chance to avenge our earlier defeat.

It will be very interesting to see who is given the creative midfield position as Tomas Rosicky played the full 90 minutes against Brum and also the full match in the first game against the O's 7 days earlier.

Tomas Rosicky had massive shoes to fill on Sunday and did not fulfil that expectation. He seems to have lost that spark and that cutting edge that the captain provides. He did not have a particularly bad game but in the position that he played in, he just was not decisive enough when it mattered.

With Cesc out injured and Nasri likely to be rested, I would imagine that Rosicky may get another chance to prove his worth before the weekend.

Apparently Alex Song and Laurent Koscielny are injured so they will not be involved in the squad. Certainly Song was not at his true level on the weekend and we need to have him back controlling the midfield as he has done so often this season.

With Robin Van Persie being cruelly sidelined for at least 3 weeks, it is down to both Bendtner and Chamakh to step up and show that they are able to continue the Dutchman's great work in recent weeks. I hope both of them get on the scoresheet if they both start the game. It is important that they get their confidence up and get up to full sharpness. We are going to need plenty from them in the next few weeks.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up

One to watch: Abou Diaby

Abou Diaby is back at the right time. In fact we could have done with him a few days earlier. With Cesc and Song out, the leggy Frenchman could be a very important player from here on in. Hopefully he has been sharpening up in training since he was declared fit, his power and drive will be needed in the side as Song will not be available. With Denilson likely to play alongside him, you would expect Diaby to have plenty of licence to get forward into the Orient penalty box.

Mean Lean's Match Prediction:

Arsenal 3 (Diaby, Bendtner [2]) Leyton Orient 0

I want the team to use this match as preparation for our upcoming games. That means, starting quickly and defending from the front. Complacency would be criminal, especially after what has happened in the last few days. We have to show the correct hunger and desire to pick the squad up. A strong performance can lift the squad whilst a first gear showing could still leave doubts in players minds.

Chelsea's result last night has lifted my mood slightly from the weekend and another good win tonight in front of our fans could get the side back on the straight and narrow in a very important month for the team.

Time to get back on track Arsenal, victory please.

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Comments (6)

• 02-Mar-2011 13:29 | | Mr H
  

  That result last night really puts the media's reaction to our loss on Sunday into perspective. Although we missed a golden opportunity to end our trophy drought, the result on Sunday wasn't the end of our season. Many of the reports I read were making it out as if we'd been knocked out of all four competitions.
  
  Well.... Last night was a great reminder of just how close we are to winning the EPL, which in comparison to the Carling Cup is the one we really want.
  
  Tonight, or this afternoon for me, will be very important to shrug off that defeat and once again give a fringe players a chance to work together. I have mixed feelings about Rosicky. I really hope he can shake off the funk he is in, he is a great player who has simply lost his mojo. The fact that Wenger keeps giving him opportunities leads me to believe he still has the faith of the manager, unlike poor Eddie in his final days.
  
  Lets get this match out the way and get some revenge at OT.
  
  
  Come on you Gunners!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 02-Mar-2011 14:13 | | MeanLean
  

  Exactly Mr H,
  
  It is like losing the CC means that we will be without a trophy for all eternity, We have a good chance in the league and still have two more cups to go for.
  
  Let us save the cheering or crying until May. Plenty of footy left.

• 02-Mar-2011 15:04 | | SinghaSong  - Exactly Mr Lean
  

  Up the Arse!!!

• 02-Mar-2011 15:04 | | dkgooner
  

  Well - let's just hope that whoever they are, they do us proud and get through to the next round. They certainly ought to be able to if they approach it positively and with determination. No complacency please.
  If we can get past United at OT (a BIG if, but a possibility if we can get some players back), then there will be another Wembley appearance looming.
  
  Funny to see Fergie complaining about last night's referee being Chelsea biased, when it's the same guy who added on the famous six minutes' injury time against City when MU won in the final seconds. Have to agree with him though about David Luiz - very lucky to stay on the pitch. Mind you, Vidic could have gone two minutes earlier for a tackle which Atkinson chose to just have a word with him about, then the dumb cluck goes and does it again. Can't blame the ref for that one Alex!

• 02-Mar-2011 15:30 | | Man United Killa  - Time to press the trigger
  

  Today,we have to show Leyton Orient what we are made of.Hopefully we can kill off the game off in 90 minutes.My only prayer is that we do not concede.God knows we need lots of confidence now and a clean sheet will do wonders for our team.I hope Sczeny makes a long pass that turns out to be an assist. and I hope Koscielny scores a goal today.
  Today is a good day to be trigger happy....Gunners gonna be Gunning

• 02-Mar-2011 16:52 | | luis zelaya
  

  it was nice seeing utd getting the short side of the stick for once, oh and how they moan, the cunts...
  it was nice seeing cashley booed in his own stadium, he's still a gun ner!
  i'm loving this sideshow bob guy, he kicked rooney no less than five times, but was very smart about it, very cynical too. the penalty was something to behold, not really as if he tripped on a banana peal, but more like he fainted out of not having a good breakfast and being weak at that moment, oh karma, karma. i was laughing all the way at the end, when drogba started wasting time, it was beautiful seeing them so powerless.
  let's win against sunderland. come on you gunners!!

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