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Orient equaliser puts Arsenal's United Cup trip on hold

ENGLISH FA CUP: ARSENAL MANAGER Arsene Wenger welcomed “an exciting draw” after his side were handed a possible FA Cup quarter…

Mon Feb 21 2011 - 00:00

ENGLISH FA CUP:ARSENAL MANAGER Arsene Wenger welcomed "an exciting draw" after his side were handed a possible FA Cup quarter-final trip to Manchester United.

The Gunners found out before yesterday’s game with Leyton Orient an Old Trafford date awaited the winners – still to be determined after substitute Jonathan Tehoue’s late goal earned Orient a replay.

Wenger said: “Somebody told me the draw as we came out before the game started. It is television now which basically dictates these kind of rules but that would not be an excuse for us to draw today. Leyton Orient played a great game, but we could not finish them off. It is an interesting and an exciting draw. We will do what it takes to go through, but I had a good warning today that the home game against Leyton Orient will be difficult.”

Orient chairman Barry Hearn was simply relieved the late equaliser left no time for Wenger to turn to substitutes Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Jack Wilshere.

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“The best thing for us was that it was 1-0,” Hearn said. “Arsene was not going to put any of his main line on the bench on because he is trying to nick it.

“He was trying to get away with these blokes having a little rest. If we equalise after 70 minutes, the floodgates open . . . he brings on Fabregas and the rest and we are all in trouble.”

League Cup finalists Birmingham next meet Bolton, who beat Fulham thanks to Ivan Klasnic’s goal at Craven Cottage this afternoon. Wanderers boss Owen Coyle said: “We are delighted to be in the quarter-finals.

“Alex (McLeish, the Birmingham manager) is a friend of mine and somebody I have a lot of time for. He was my manager at Motherwell and he’ll be loving the cup this year because every draw seems to result in a home game for him!

“They are not in the other (League Cup) final by accident. Alex will look to do that in the FA Cup. We will be positive. We will look to win the game at the first time of asking. It has all the makings of a great quarter-final tie.” Stoke have a home tie against either West Ham or Burnley and Manchester City or Aston Villa will face Everton, who knocked out holders Chelsea yesterday, or Reading.

Manchester City came through their fourth-round replay against Notts County 5-0 yesterday to take their place in the draw, and manager Roberto Mancini said: “It was an important win. I think for us it (the FA Cup) is important.”