What a difference a few days make.
Wednesday night Arsenal were celebrating the club’s finest European moment in recent history as they managed to overcome their better looking and more experienced older brother, Barcelona. Leyton Orient were another proposition completely.
Yesterday’s game against the side owned by sports supremo Barry Hearn, was more akin to the away side facing the cousin they don’t see too often and when they do it’s a harrowing experience. The game finished 1-1, a late equaliser from League One side Orient earning a replay at the Emirates. Worse than anything it means yet another fixture for Arsene Wenger’s side to cope with at a time that they’re still fighting on four different fronts.
If Wenger thinks he has problems he should take a look at the trouble Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti finds himself in. Saturday also showed what many believe is Sepp Blatter and FIFA’s latest scheme to swindle more money from the sport.
The London side were taken to penalties in an FA Cup fourth round replay after Leighton Baines’ late equaliser meant that Phil Neville could smash the winning fifth penalty home to send them into the fifth round. This is also where Blatter comes in though.
It wouldn’t be totally churlish to suggest that Mr Blatter is cooking up a scheme to charge fans more when a game enters extra time and another lump sum when it gets to penalties. I mean, why should they be allowed to stay for longer and not have to pay for the privilege. Cue English fans going over to FIFA’s HQ and bricking his windows whilst slashing his car tyres.
