Arsenal v. Samba and some chickens

By: Brenton | September 16th, 2011

Right? Am I right or am I right? Or am I right.

Samba causes us problems

I’m actually not going to write much about Samba. I’m glad we didn’t get him in the summer, as I think he’s wildly overrated. Mertesacker is a far better pick-up for us.

Tomorrow (early morning for some of us), Arsenal are away to Blackburn in yet another match in which every tiny move will be assessed as an indication of how our season is going, how our new players are gelling, what our chances for making that last Champions League spot, and how likely it is that Wenger will be with us next summer. It’s getting annoying, and it’s a bit unfair, but there you have it. Where was the outcry when United drew on Wednesday? But we’re the club in crisis…

Enough of that; to the task at hand:

Blackburn
Position: 20th, 0-1-3 (1 point, -4 goal differential)
Last game: 1-1 draw away to Fulham
Last meeting: 0-0 draw last April (a game we needed to and should have won… guh)

A slightly disappointing game on Tuesday for us sets up what should be a winnable game tomorrow, against opponents that have struggled for points already this season. (Of course, that could describe us as well, so…)

They’re last overall after four matches, with just one point, and only 3 goals scored (same as us!). But Blackburn actually played quite well in their last match, a deserved 1-1 draw away to Fulham, and while they may try to hunker down and scratch out a draw, they do have some attacking talent that we have to be aware of. And of course they’ll be a handful on set pieces.

ESPN are highlighting Junior Hoilett for them, and he’s tricky and fast, but up against Sagna I expect we’ll be okay. Ruben Rochina is another dangerous player, and he scored a peach of a goal last week against Fulham.

Arsenal
Position: 12th, 1-1-2 (4 points, -7 goal differential)
Last game: 1-1 draw away to Dortmund

Our squad should look similar to the one that faced Dortmund.

Szcz is our solid #1, Sagna, Mertesacker and Koscielny are obvious starters, and Wenger seems to trust Gibbs.

Song is back from suspension and an automatic starter in the holding role, and had a monster of a game in Germany.

Arteta should start, and absent the injured Rosicky, Ramsey and Wilshere, Benayoun will likely start as well.

Gervinho is also back from suspension, and if he starts should have a better time against Michel Salgado than he did against Dortmund’s highly competent and organized defenders.

The big question will be whether Walcott or Arshavin start. I would prefer Arshavin’s trickiness over Walcott’s pace, because despite their lack of speed, the Blackburn defence will not play a high line, so there won’t be much room for Walcott to exploit with his pace.

And of course up front we have RvP.

We haven't really been in a 4-2-3-1 this season

Bench: Fabianski, Djourou, Frimpong, Santos, Rosicky, Walcott, Chamakh,

We need to win this game. After this we have a Carling Cup match against Shrewsbury, then a league match against Bolton. A win tomorrow followed by a win in the Cup and another league win will put us on some pretty solid ground, and should ease the criticisms.

Come on you Gunners!

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Category: Arsenal News

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Gigi_man

Santana used to say: Samba pa ti!
Nice title.
Not much to say, but...fingers crossed, a wish of win in our gunners' sleep,
Go gunners!!!!!!!
Orion

Santana? Is their a limit to your musical tastes' awesomeness?
Gigi_man

haha Thx! I guess my limit is like Arsenal's limit of "floppy things heading into a defeat" (ouch that I even hurt me...)
After this game I feel like playing Fade to Black and dedicating it to....
FredJacob

Check this video out -- Blackburn vs Arsenal Pre-Match Press Conference http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
FredJacob

let go gunners
Kas123

Hoping for a good game tomorrow, but especially from Gervinho, Arteta, and Benayoun. I know that the set-up isn't set in stone, but I'd love to see Arshavin playing where you have Benayoun playing. Over the last couple of weeks his creativity in the center has helped out a lot. Also, is Park injured? I didn't seem him in your bench. Will there be a live chat tomorrow? I know, so many questions. Anyway, go you Gunners.
brenton

Hmmm. Overlooked Park, with the possibility of Rosicky returning to the bench. You could probably switch those two, or take Frimpong out and put Park in.
Darren_V

Park was bought to replace Bendtner and to give a different option up front. He will play soon enough
FredJacob

I think Park would play @ the Carling Cup on Tuesday
Homey_Mills

I think there will be a live blog with JG running it. I don't think Park is injured. I wonder if he's ahead of Chamakh or not at this point.
Regarding Arshavin, tons of fans have argued he should play in the middle. But since Wenger has never done it, I doubt we'll see it this week.
Kas123

No disrespect to Chamakh, but if Park wasn't ahead of him on our roster at the very start, what the hell did we buy the guy for? I mean, right now Chamakh is on the shit list, so where would that put Park? Anyway, It's a bad idea for Arshavin to play on the wing because he doesn't have the pace to get down the flank like Walcott does, and he seems to play his less than best games in that position. If he's gonna play on the wing, I would rather see Walcott starting ahead of him.
Homey_Mills

Agreed on all points. I wasn't saying I support Chamakh over Park. Just saying it may be the case. I've been known to disagree with Wenger at times in the past.
Darren_V

I'm not a fan of the change in midfield so far
Orion

I heard a Chinese proverb the other day. It went something like "One cannot replace a Cesc very easily". Can't help but agree. Okay, it wasn't a Chinese proverb, it was this guy at the discount store and we were chatting about the Arsenal. But I know you get what I'm saying.