Arsenal Stumble On Leyton Local Train

Have you ever walked on a cloud? Sitting in the TGV is like walking on a cloud. Well, sitting on a cloud rather, without getting wet. Look at the velvety floor carpets, better than most people’s beds. Look at the stretch windows, spotlessly looking out to a blithe, green landscape. Look at the chandeliers above, the caviar on your plate, the wine in your glass, the gold-plated commodes and the giant talking hand. Wait, what?

Hand: That’s right. Come here.

No, don’t pick me up. I want to stay in the TGV, where are you taking me? Fuck, it’s cold. Wh-what is this brown abomination in front of us?

Hand: It’s a local train. ‘Football is a great leveller’ and all that. Have fun.

No, NO! I want my TGV. There are far too many people here; I can’t even see the seats. Do NOT push me, sir. What do you mean, my mom? Woah, the hand support is up there, not down here.

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Er- sorry for the incoherent ramblings, but the Leyton Orient match was just further proof of football’s sine curve like nature. Three days after the head-swelling euphoria of the victory over Barcelona, we travelled to Brisbane Road and the rough-and-tumble of League One football. This was every bit the local train to Barcelona’s TGV (no disrespect to TGVs or local trains or Leyton Orient or Barcelona) and just as it appeared as if we had held on to the support railings with enough enthusiasm, we got pushed out of the train at the stop before our destination.

The team was almost unrecognizable from midweek, with only Alex Song retaining his place in an otherwise distinctly second-string lineup. Although lots of people would feel that second-string is a harsh term to use for Arshavin, and some people would feel the same for Bendtner (himself being the first in line). Ignasi Miquel got his first senior start for the club alongside Seb Squillaci, Denilson occupied midfield with all his side-passing expertise and Chamakh started up front.

By the time I finally got a decent stream working (customary middle finger to Sony Pix), fifteen minutes had elapsed, but admittedly not much action had. We were seeing an unbelievable amount of the ball, the pass counter read Arsenal: 213 Leyton Orient: 39 after 30 minutes or so. But although most of the possession was neat and tidy, not a lot of it was incisive or threatening. The Leyton players held their shape really well and both their centre backs were having top games. The only chances I remember from an uneventful first half were a couple of tame Chamakh efforts, an Arshavin snapshot and another golden opportunity for Chamakh which he skewed wide.

The first ten minutes of the second half didn’t really signal any huge change in the tactics or mentality of either team, with us still giving them a lesson in passing the ball from left to right, and them still content on defending in two lines of four in front of the keeper. The goal, when it did come, came out of nothing. Bendtner collected Sagna’s cross-shot, moved around in the box a bit and then crossed it in for Rosicky to head in from the edge of the area. That was his first goal in 43 games, and first headed goal for all of eternity I think. So we had the lead, and Leyton had to come out of their shells and attack now.

The remainder of the game was definitely more open, with Arsenal still hogging the majority of the ball. They had a couple of semi-breaks that came to nothing, we had a great chance to make it two-nil which their keeper saved (I think the universe would have imploded had Rosicky scored twice in a single game) and still looked by and large in control of proceedings. Leyton Orient had assembled no attacks of note all match, and when the people at the computer centre kicked me out unceremoniously with five minutes of the match still to go, the only reason I felt they might equalize was because I’m a superstitious and paranoid wreck.

Paranoid wrecks are right in in this world. Go figure.

Player wise, I don’t think we can have too many complaints. This was the second string, as established earlier in the review, and expecting them to perform like the first eleven when they don’t get as many chances would be slightly unfair. We can only expect them to work hard, and on the whole they did that. Bendtner, Chamakh and Arshavin were busy throughout the ninety minutes, Sagna was reliable as ever, Denilson needs to improve his tackling technique quickly, Rosicky was quiet apart from the goal and Miquel and Gibbs were fine apart from the time when they were caught out for their goal. As for Almunia, he attracts the smallest hint of frustration and a great deal of pity. It would be churlish to lay the blame squarely on him for the goal, but he’s doing himself no favours by making these mistakes. Maybe he just wants more playing time. If so, well played Manuel.

In the bigger scheme of things, this result doesn’t really do us a lot of damage, apart from piling on an already congested fixture list. We got pushed out at the stop before our destination, so we’ll just have to walk from here, but walking’s tiring. Winning would obviously have been better, but you’d have to think the second string will do the job at home. They’re lower league opposition away from home, we’ll cream them…like we did Huddersfield.

Speaking of lower league opposition, which team are we facing in the next round?

Oh.

Note: This post also appeared on BigFourZa