Leyton Orient can register one of the biggest upsets in the history of the FA Cup should they beat Arsenal at the Emirates tonight.
It might be hard to keep Barry Hearn quiet usually but if the side he chairs makes it to the quarter final of the world’s oldest cup competition we aren’t going to be the ones spoiling his party!
What stands in the sport supremo’s way is a side that is still smarting after being thoroughly embarrassed after somehow contriving to lose the Carling Cup final this past weekend.
To compound that they have to play Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner as a front two tonight due to the injuries and this, realistically, may be the only piece of silverware they get their hands on this season. So much for a quadruple…
In the night’s other tie, two Premier League sides take each other on to see who gets to play Championship side Reading in the quarter final.
If you won the league title for spending money then Man City would have wrapped it up the past three seasons. In their case as well, this competition could be the only chance they have of a trophy.
Their opponents Aston Villa are just happy to be here and you can expect the same quasi-negative soccer that Gerard Houllier’s side plays to be present here. It’s away from home after all.
Both City and Arsenal are likely to have been cheering on their local rivals in last night’s clash between Chelsea and Man Utd and it will give Arsenal added impetus in the race for the title to know they’re only a mere 4 points behind the leaders. You wouldn’t put it past there being another night of poor officiating tonight though as a lower league side visits a higher placed one. Usually they feel obliged to do something stupid so watch this space.
