Arsenal – Blackburn Match Thread

By: Martin | April 2nd, 2011
   

Lineups are in:

Arsenal: Starters: Almunia, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Arshavin, Nasri, Walcott, Van Persie Bench: Lehmann, Diaby, Fabregas, Rosicky, Eboue, Chamakh, Bendtner

Blackburn: Starters: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Emerton Jermaine Jones, Phil Jones, Nzonzi, Hoilett, Santa CruzBench: Bunn, Dunn, Rochina, Mwaruwari, Roberts, Hanley, Diouf

The big news for us is that both van Persie and Bendtner are fit, van Persie fit enough to start, apparently. And we welcome him, Theo, and Song back to the lineup. Interesting that Cesc is on the bench, though — I can only assume Wenger is still a bit concerned about his fitness, although I suspect we’ll see him come on as a substitute late on. So Theo on the right, Arshavin on the left, and Nasri presumably in the middle behind the striker. That’s still a pretty potent attacking group. Hopefully it’ll be enough to compensate for a shaky defense.

Manchester United won earlier, but Chelsea and Tottenham drew and Liverpool lost. So this is a great chance to keep pace with United and put some distance between us and the teams immediately behind us. Let’s get out there and do it.

Come on Arsenal.


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  • Sean

    Embarrassing. Wenger really has to question what is happening. Seems the effects of that Carling Cup loss are not washed away. Wonder if a losing mentality is starting to creep into the player's minds. If so, could be disastrous.

  • JG

    You know, I was thinking, if Sagna saw that his 10th cross was, once again, dealt with by Samba/Nelsen/Robinson, why didn't he stop doing that and give it to Wilshere, or Nasri, and try to work it into the box? The few times we worked it in on the ground, we had real goalscoring chances (which, of course, we dealt with by kicking it as hard as possible against a Blackburn player to get the corner), but noo, apparently the best plan was to send hoofing crosses for van Persie and Chamakh to magically head past two behemoths. We sure are great champions, eh?

  • C J05

    No good, no good!! Arsenal fans- hearts of gold, with eyes full of expectation, even in the of inevitable adversity! You have to be commended! As an avid Gooner myself I no longer hope we lift the EPL! It will only serve to justify keeping the rotten apples in the team. Maybe Thursday night football on Chnl 5 might force some proper changes. The Emirates is becoming a nursery sandpit- everyone's gunning to play us there coz there are points 2 b picked up like lost toys!

  • Look, I won...

  • FOR GODS SAKE WILSHERE (and the team), SHOOT THE BALLL.
    WHY IS IT THAT EVERY TIME WHERE IN THE PENALTY BOX, we fiddle the ball around and pass IN THE BOX , and not SHOOT.

    this is our problem EVERYTIME. we can pass ANYTIME, main thing is SHOT AND GOAL.

  • Guest

    In all honesty, I thought you deserved this one. I'll be watching the last 8 games for sure, hoping that you down Manure. There is definitely still hope for the title; all you need is a slip-up of those idiots, which doesn't seem too far from reality, taking into account how they played their first half today. Good luck, lads!

    - From an AS Roma fan.

  • Red_Warrior

    Still haven't digested that 7-1 hammering in 2007 eh?

  • milangod

    And this is how AS Roma gets hammered once again! ;)

  • Red_Warrior

    Seems like we won't get a call from Mr Peradze any time soon :)

  • Guest

    Digested and shat out already, in fact, thanks to the 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico in the first leg.

    Oh, and call me when you manage to get an entire point against Wolves ;)

  • red_believer

    Yeah it was a tremendous display by AS Roma compared to that shown by United in the second leg crushing at the Theater of Dreams right?

    Oh, and call me when you actually manage to win a single Champions League title ;)

  • JG

    Everyone (including myself) will moan about how nicely Man U get treated by the refs, but the fact remains that biased ref or not, they pick themselves up, grind their teeth, and overcome any 2 goal deficit to win games they deserve to win.
    Arsenal, playing at home against a 10-man team with virtually no attacking threat, obviously do not do that.

  • Geggen12345

    This was terrible once again and I now really doubt that these players have what it takes to win a trophy. Spineless performance!

  • AC

    This is not the Arsenal way...

  • If you can't beat Blackburn at home you don't deserve title. QED

  • Terrible, just terrible.

  • Patoux21

    They don't deserve to win any thophy, the don't deserve to be champions period.

  • SJGgumby

    Maybe true. Still pretty proud of them.

  • SJGgumby

    Need. to. hurry.

  • I really wish we didn't make every single keeper look so good.

  • Patoux21

    Clichy's shot (on goal?) was epic!

  • SJGgumby

    Seemed harsh, though it was still a dangerous play. Will take it though - let's see if we can take advantage. One less player for them to keep behind the ball.

    If we don't learn how to shoot though, not sure anything is going to make a difference.

  • I've decided to change my approach:

    Please don't win please don't win please don't win...

  • Georgedb1

    not going to be able to walk it in against bburn... someone has to shoot

  • Georgedb1

    Fabregas clocking in for duty

  • JG

    45 minutes to save our season.
    The French part of the Unholy Trio have looked ok, Almunia showing why he lost his spot to Flaps.
    Arsenal need a goal. FAST.

  • Asdflkjadf

    Isn't that what we said last week?

  • SJGgumby

    You could argue that by saving a point in the second half last game they *did* save the season - or at least prolong the period of hope.

  • ya they did prolong it to utterly disappoint us 2day...

    even now if we beat all the teams and if united do the same than we still need united to slip up....

  • Patoux21

    Sagna euh how many times will he let Blackburn players have a run to the box behind him until he covers the right side ...

  • Jesus Christ I hate Almunia.

  • Georgedb1

    He's an Arsenal player, how can you hate an Arsenal player? Wtf is he supposed to do throw up his hands and leave? He's doing his best... you wanna have beef with someone, have beef with AW for keeping him on or for playing him.

  • That an extremely illogical statement. If John Terry played for Arsenal, I'd hate him even more. Its not necessary to like a player just because he's on your squad, that's called blind faith or homerism.

    Do I hope, for the sake of our team, that he performs well...yes, yes I do, but I still cannot stand him.

  • Georgedb1

    Why do people develop animosities towards players that aren't doing well; as if lack of form or skill is the same as trying to undo the team or something? If less people thought like you then maybe there would be a little less pressure on Al and he's be able to do a little better.

  • Are you kidding me? He's never been or never will be good enough to play in an Arsenal jersey. I agree with you on blaming Wenger too, for keeping him around and not purchasing a top class keeper. But I also blame Almunia for numerous of losses or lost points, and I maybe "hate" is a strong statement (comes on the heel of him playing like shit the few times he was called on today), but I firmly stand by my statement that I cannot stand him. By the way, you don't have to personally know someone to dislike them, not sure where you dug that logic up from.

  • Georgedb1

    I'm trying to make you see that your complaints are properly directed at AW. Al may be doing badly but he's still an Arsenal man; if a player wearing an Arsenal jersey means nothing to you in terms of respect (or even cutting him some slack) then why be an Arsenal fan? Be a Nasri fan, or a Fab fan, or a RvP fan - I'm not saying dont criticize - I'm saying no matter how bad a player is, he's still our there busting his ass for the team. He doesn't deserve to be hated.

    As to your last sentence, you kind of miss the point. I emphasized that you dont know him because in order to say you hate someone shouldn't you know him a little better than a couple of football matches? Whatever, I kno people don't like our team, I just think fewer people should dislike our players, especially if they call themselves fans.

  • Georgedb1

    It was a perfectly logical statement. You cant stand Almunia? You talk like you knew him personally. All you know about him is what you've seen him do on the field. And on the field all he's ever done is try to advance the team we all love. Some players do it better than others, those that make mistakes and are not up to it don't deserve our "hate" - the person you should have issues with is AW for playing him is he is not good enough for Arsenal.

    Fact is that you don't know Almunia to say you "hate" him, you can say he isn't playing well and you'd rather someone else be goalie, but he does deserve respect for putting on the jersey and doing his best for the team. If his best is not enough then you have a problem with the manager.

    Blaming Almunia makes as about as much sense as blaming soldiers for having to go to war.

  • I will not argue with you, its pointless, but I will say that regardless of what you or anyone else says, he is not good enough to play for Arsenal. I will agree that the blame also goes on Wenger for not purchasing a top class keeper. I won't even dwelve into how Almunia decided to spout off about Arsenal players being lazy a few weeks ago...

  • Georgedb1

    In that article, all he said was that some of the players weren't giving 100% (quite possibly an exact quote), which is true and funny that its coming from him. Oddly enough, I think he can say that; not giving 100% is not his problem, the problem is that he gives 100% in my opinion, but thats not good enough. So yes, today I was upset at his poor performance, but I blame AW for not using Jens. Almunia can't help it, AW can.

  • JG

    I would really prefer if Wenger would just sub Nasri off, got to keep him ALIVE for the next 8 games!

  • I agree. That knock looked ugly and it might be best to rest a drowsy head.

  • JG

    Had Arshavin been playing in a Man U jersey he would have been given a penalty for that handball of the defender.
    Nasri's back :0

  • Nasri's head almost exploded.

  • JG

    Oh man... Nasri with a 10 foot bump on his temple and looking dazed... Cesc time?

  • JG

    So GLAD to see Songinho on the pitch, and not the Brazilian Lazy Boy Who Must Not Be Named.

  • Definitely is nice not to see that worthless chode.

  • JG

    Let's gooooooo... have a good feeling about this one.

  • FredJacob

    Have to admire ManU were two down at half time and came back a won 4-2, that what should have happened last week with out game dawn.

    Come on Arsenal aka gunners

  • I'm hearing today is Almunia's last chance to prove himself. Good thing for him this potent offense will be out dressed today.

  • Come on you Gunners!

  • sofreshnsoclean

    let's go gunners!!

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