1 March 2011
Three Fifth Round games of the FA Cup will be played this midweek, with six teams competing for the three remaining places in the Sixth Round (quarterfinals).
All eyes will be on Arsenal on Wednesday evening when they host minnows Lleyton Orient in a replay at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners surprisingly failed to defeat their fellow Londoners in their cup tie at Brisbane Road last month, but the general consensus is that they will have too much firepower for the League One (third tier) side at their home ground.
However, Arsenal need to send a statement of intent after their shock defeat to Birmingham City in the Carling Cup final on Sunday. It represented their best chance to break a lengthy trophy drought but an awful mix-up between defender Laurent Koscielny and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny allowed Nigerian Obafemi Martins to score a late winner for the Blues.
Orient showed great tenacity in fighting back to draw 1-1 with the Gunners in the first match and, with the prize for winning this replay a money-spinning trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, the minnows will be determined to put up another strong showing.
Everton, after their dramatic penalty shootout victory of FA Cup champions Chelsea in the last round, face an altogether difference challenge from Championship (second tier) side Reading. The Toffees, though, have home advantage and will be expecting to progress into the next round.
Should they do so, their reward will be an all-Premier League clash against either Manchester City or Aston Villa, who meet at Eastlands on Wednesday night. Citys recent form has been disappointing and Villas resurgence since the controversial arrival of striker Darren Bent could make this a very interesting cup tie.
FA Cup Fifth Round fixtures:
Tuesday, March 01
Everton v Reading
Wednesday, March 02
Manchester City v Aston Villa
Arsenal v Lleyton Orient
