Football: FA Cup Fifth Round Replay - Arsenal 5, Leyton Orient 0
Published: 3 March, 2011
by TOM FOOT
Bendtner stakes Barca claim
ARSENE Wenger has a selection headache ahead of the Champions League clash with Barcelona on Tuesday after striker Nicklas Bendtner bagged a hat-trick.
The Arsenal boss must choose between the Dane and Marouane Chamakh after a knee ligament injury ruled out first choice Robin van Persie.
Bendtner scored a looping header, then a 20-yard curler and smashed in a penalty during the 5-0 FA Cup dismantling of Leyton Orient at the Emirates last night (Wednesday). Chamakh bagged a goal in the rout, but the match ball went to his rival frontman.
Wenger said: “Frankly, you can say Bendtner is in contention to play against Sunderland (on Saturday). That is a vital game that we are thinking about. He played well last year in Barcelona – but what is important now is that if he plays he plays well against Sunderland.”
He added: “Chamakh looked a bit burnt out after a good start to the season – but now he is back and he has scored. He has the level of confidence. So we will see.”
Wenger said an “overstretched knee” had caused ligament damage to Van Persie leaving him out for “three to four weeks” – two weeks will be during an international break. But Wenger also revealed that captain Cesc Fabregas was on course to start on Tuesday in a match Wenger said “will have an impact on the title race”.
The giants will now meet in the FA Cup quarter final at Old Trafford on Saturday after the 5-0 win over Orient that saw a debut for Englishman Conor Henderson.