EPL Match Day 30: Arsenal v Blackburn: Match Preview

Ahh, we’re back. After two long weeks of international dullness we come back to the glistening glare of the English Premier League. For Arsenal that means only one thing – a singular focus on making a run on the title.

For Arsenal moreso than any other team, the international break came at a good time. It has allowed Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, and Theo Walcott to get fit. All three influential players should feature in the squad against visting Blackburn.  Additionally, Arsenal are bouyed by the fact that none of their players got a serious injury while away playing for their countries. Robin Van Persie got a knee in the thigh but the word immediately after the game was he was fine and should be available for the club.

While their closest opposition have a long haul ahead of them, Arsenal only have one competition left to focus on. Prior to the international break the Gunners went through the worst two weeks of play in recent memory. That seems a pretty big thing to say considering the club are still the only club in the Premier League to have NOT lost a match in the league since the start of the new year. But it was a bad two weeks of that there is no doubt.

After gifting the Carling Cup to Birmingham, the team whimpered out of the Champion’s league to Barcelona and then they could barely muster an answer for hot-shot ageing keeper Van Der Saar as Arsenal lost in the FA Cup to Manchester United. That means there is no more talk of a quadruple, triple or double – it all comes down to one singular focus – the league.

Arsenal do not have the “distractions” (albeit it nice ones) of other competitions to take their eye off the competitions and they can focus in on  the task of trying to reel in Manchester United who still have plenty of games to play as they run for three pices of silverware.

This run in should be bouyed by the return of  the group of players that make up what fans term as Theo Van NasriGas. When this collective group of players are on the pitch they are one of the most dynamic attacks in the league. To me, the most important player in this group is Robin Van Persie. He has shown on his international stint, that his form is not fleeting as he scored twice – 1 each in of the two matches. He is, to me, at least the best in-form striker in the EPL right now. He is taking every chance and when you do that one goes in. Some are pretty, some are duck ugly and some are just somewhere in between. But when he is in and around the box he gets them on target. It is what we scream all the time with players like Bendtner, Chamakh, even Cesc and sometimes Nasri – shooot the damn ball.  Good things happen when you do that. Robin Van Persie is a good example of that.

The team obviously though will be weakened at the back and a good solid attacking effort will be key to keeping a struggling Blackburn off the board. Johann Djourou is likely to be back before the end of the season as his shoulder injury did not require any surgery. That being said he has been our best defencive player and will be missed for this match. That leaves Laurent Koscielny who has shown much improvement from to game and has impressed the likes of Martin Keown and Tony Adams.  To me that speaks volumes about his devleopment. It is likely that Sebastien Squillaci will be his partner as I don’t think Wenger is going to gamble on Ignassi Miquel – though Blackburn at home may not be a bad match to get some time in.  Still it is likely to be the former French internationl who partners Kosicleny. The key question is – can Seba actually stay focused for the full match and not gift entry into the penalty area.

Speaking of concentrating for a full 90 minutes – it remains to be seen how effective Manuel Almunia can be. Coming in for the injured Woijiech Szczesny (yes I think I did spell his first name wrong), Almunia hasn’t been the answer – gifting West Brom an easy goal. But Almunia is it. I don’t think Lehmann gets any play. I think he was sub-par in his reserve match against Wigan on Tuesday. But where Lehmann makes up against Almunia is heart, desire and attitude – three things I think the Spainaird lacks – not to mention skill. I know it’s pretty harsh criticizing Almunia and I am always the optimist but there are certain facts about him you cannot deny.

So this is it – 9 games remain. The title run is clearly in their hands. They hold a game in hand over United with less difficult matches than the Manchester side. IF they do the business – they will end the drought. If not, expect another summer of discontent.

How the Match Should Play Out:
Gone is Sam Allardyce from Blackburn. They no longer play the get-a-boot-in style. They are struggling to maintain form and I personally think that even with our weakness at the back, the attacking options we have – now all healthy – will be too much for Blackburn. As long as we don’t gift opportunities at the back, Arsenal are going to run away with this at a cantor.

Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Robin Van Persie. As I mentioned – is there a striker in the EPL who is enjoying better form than he? If Arsenal continue their run for the title and either win it or make it close it will be because of RvP. And if that’s the case I see him nipping everyone to PFA player of the year. When healthy – there are few better.

Probable Starting XI:

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal:  Denilson (toe) Ramsey (groin) Djourou (shoulder) Fabianksi (shoulder) Szczesny (finger) Vermaelen (achilles)   Frimpong (knee)

Blackburn: Givet (Suspension -1)  Andrews (groin) Dunn (hip) Grella (Achilles)

Last Meeting (Carling Cup):
Arsenal: 2
Blackburn: 1

Current Form:
Arsenal: DDWWD
Blackburn: DLLDL

Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 2.0
Blackburn (away):1.3

Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): .8
Blackburn (away): 2.5

Goal Differential:
Arsenal: 30
Blackburn: -12

Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Van Persie 15 (11 league)  Nasri 14 (9 league)

Blackburn: Kalinic 6 (5 league) Mame Diouf 6 (3 league)

Match Officials:
Referee: Phil Dowd
Assistant Referees: Dean Mohareb & Ceri Richards
Fourth Official: Anthony Taylor

Broadcast Information:
US: FSC 12:30 PM EST

UK: ESPN UK  1730 GMT

GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!! www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 3

Blackburn: 1

Kalinic: 6 goals (5 league); Mame Diouf: 6 goals (3 league)

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Well, silly season is two months aways or so but it is upon us early and frantically. Arsenal are being linked to every Tomas, Richard or Henry who can play goal kepper or central back. The most interesting rumours are around whether or not one of these three top class keepers will join us – Maarten Steklenberg, Gigi Buffon, or Wolfsburg’s Diego Benaglio.  Let’s get used to it – between now and August 31 we will linked to all the goalkeepers and central backs in Europe. Why Maarten and Gigi is interesting because in each case they are their direct representative has said theyt want to or would come to Arsenal.

I am discounting Benaglio, at 27 he is too long-term a prospect and Wenger would not anyone to impede young Szczesny. That is why Gigi and Maarten are the choices I’d want the club to go after. In both cases the young pole could do well to learn from these two world class keepers who still have some gas in the tank.  Gigi’s case is very interesting – when Juve went to Serie B he had a clause inserted in his contract that lets him basically move from the team without a fee for his sale. So even though his weekly salary is enormous it would cost £0 to get him. Steklenberg of Ajax wants to come and has said if he moves to the EPL it would be to Arsenal.

In both cases this is interesting. What remains to be seen is does Wenger cut loose Fabianksi and Almunia. Manny seems certain to go but if you are grooming Szczesny with Gigi and Steklenberg than Fabianksi is excess baggage and you could use Mannone and Shea as your longer term back ups.  Also there is just no indication that Wenger would buy a player like either of these. So basically while I’d love a move for any of them, I think there is some unknown elder statesman keeper out there that we sign – oh wait we already have. Welcome back Jens.

Finally, I’d like to comment on the FA’s campaign to eradicate what I’d like to term “ref rage.” Which is essentially when players crowd around a ref calling for a penalty or pissed off at a call and basically gang up on him. On the surface this plan to get rid of it seems like a good idea except for one glaring problem – who’s going to get rid of the refs who day in and day out get the big calls wrong. More times this season than any I can remember big games have been affected by atrocious calls by the referee. If you want to stamp our ref rage, you equally as must do something about the state of the refs themselves. The two combined might actually go along way towards actually making the RESPECT campaign something worhwhile.

Anyway that’s it for now. See you on the flip side.

Stay Goonerish!!!

[donate]