Arsenal end Leyton Orient’s FA Cup journey, but manager Russel Slade satisfied
Leyton Orient’s FA Cup journey came to an end as Arsenal qualified for the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup, beating the League One side in the FA Cup replay, played on Wednesday, March 2, 2011. Arsenal hammered 5 goals past Orient and on aggregate, it was a 6-1 win for Arsene Wenger’s side after playing out a 1-1 draw in the 1st leg.
Orient’s manager, Russell Slade has expressed his satisfaction over his team’s FA Cup journey and insists that The O’s will carry on the hard work and try to raise themselves up after the loss.
Slade did seem disappointed with the loss, as would have been the case with any other manager but considering his team’s ‘underdog’ status, the manager was satisfied over the fact that his side were at least able to force a replay against a very strong Arsenal team.
Slade was overjoyed with the support his team got from the fans and expects the same bunch of fans to strengthen their support that could help The O’s in their League One campaign. The manager showed confidence in his side and stressed that they will bounce back from the defeat and would take the FA Cup campaign as a source of inspiration.
"We were just under 9,000 tonight, but they were absolutely magnificent. They have enjoyed the journey too and they stayed right behind the team right until the last minute and that has been appreciated by myself and the players." Slade added.
Leyton are currently fighting for a play-off position in League One that could earn them a place for Championship football in the next 2011-12 season.
Russell also hailed the performance of Arsene Wenger’s side and wished them success in the next stages of the tournament. The manager expressed his disappointment over the Gunner’s loss to Birmingham City in the final of the Carling Cup but was all praises for the Arsenal fans after the positive reaction they showed despite their loss in the finals. The loss meant that Arsenal’s six year trophy drought continues.
"I hope I get the same response Mr Wenger got from Arsenal having lost in the Carling Cup final. I went to the game on Sunday and it was a huge disappointment for them not get some silverware but he got a fantastic response tonight and that's the sort of response I'll be looking for on Saturday against Notts County," the manager stated.
Arsenal, on the other hand, will now take on the current Premier League leaders, Manchester United in the quarter-final of the FA Cup. The Gunners will also travel to Camp Nou to take on the Spanish giants http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38605, in the 2nd leg of the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 on Tuesday, March 8, leading the tie by a 2-1 margin.
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