Match Preview: Arsenal v Blackburn and Some Last Words on Arsene
Rovers v Arsenal at the Emirates
“Until football becomes a non-contact sport like basketball, then we will play within the rules.” – Sam Allardyce, Manager Blackburn Rovers.
If that’s was your introduction to what Big Sam Allardyce is all about, it would be all you need to know. The brand of football Sam espouses to would be in direct contradiction to the free-flowing ball control of Arsenal. Sam’s teams can best be summarized as gritty. And the Blackburn team with the likes of El-Hadji Diouf seem all too happy to play this style.
The Blackburn Rovers start off a grueling month of competition that sees them away to 3 of the 4 big clubs. Starting with the Arsene celebration at the Emirates, the Rovers also have away ties against Chelsea and Manchester United. Big Sam’s club is relishing the opportunity to upset the big four apple court by sneaking away with 3 points form any of these matches. But their focus is squarely on the Emirates where Sam’s teams have notoriously tied Arsenal up into fits.
They come into the Emirates after a last minute win against Aston Villa that moved them outside the relegation zone. They will be eager to stay there and try and halt Arsenal’s win streak as well as dampen the celebration of Arsene Wenger’s tenure at the helm of the club. The task will be made harder as Big Sam and his club wait to hear whether or not defensive duo Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba are match fit. They will miss the services of Vince Grella who was red carded during last week’s match.
Its fitting that when Arsenal are celebrating Arsene’s tenure as the longest serving manager in club history, that they are playing blackburn. In 1996 it was the Rovers who lost to Arsenal 2-0 in his first appearance as Arsenal manager.
Arsenal come in riding a 4 game win streak in all competitions, the last an out right domination of Greek champions, Olympiakos. The Gunners have enjoyed success over the Rovers of late , having won both ties last season 4-0 and have 19 goals in their last 6 matches against them.
The side will be bouyed by the return of Theo Walcott who has yet to play a match this season and Nicholas Bendtner who missed the mid-week Champion’s League exercise. However, as is always the case with an Arsenal side there is a new injury to report and that is to Eduardo. He went into the game against Olympiakos with a slight thigh problem. Arsene and the player knew they were taking a chance playing and he will sit this week and miss Croatia’s international qualifier against Kazakhstain.
Manuel Almunia is still out with his “chest cold” so “Don” Vito Mannone will once again feature between the sticks. The growing story to come once Fabianski and Almunia are healthy will be what does Arsenal do with these three ‘keepers. Especially with Szcznesy backstopping the reserves and growing in stature. Arsenal are set for a full fledged goalie controversy, if Mannone continues to hold form and keep balls out the back of the net. Almunia before his “illness” let in 47% of the shots he faced. With the exception of the disaster start at Standard Liege, Mannone has yet to let one in and put on a master class in goal against a tough Fulham squad.
Arsenal have yet to be shut out this season with goals in every match played. Robin Van Persie is returning to form having scored beautiful goals in both the Blackburn and Olympiakos matches. Cesc Fabregas is back to being the little general on the field, controlling the play and orchestrating the flow of Arsenal’s attack. Andrei Arshavin is Beethoven to Fabregas’ Napoleon. While he hasn’t been red hot yet in terms of scoring, he is a maestro on the field and he seemingly creates beautiful moves and goals when none existed. Throw in continually improving Tomas Rosicky and Arsenal’s attack will likely continue their scoring ways this weekend.
What will be interesting to see if the matchup between Diouf and Vermaelen/Gallas. The Arsenal duo have shown themselves to improve week to week and be pretty tough about it. Vermaelen is showing himself to be a presence the opposition should be concerned about both in defense and scoring. But El-Hadji Diouf is an altogether differnt creature and its not sure whether Vermaelen should where his strip or a rain slicker and wellies. Diouf’s antics are well documented with numerous spitting incidents occuring at almost every team he has played for. Recently the player was question by Police over allegations he spit racial epitaphs at an Everton Ball Boy. He plays with an edge albeit one that isn’t really necessary in the game.
How The Game Will Play Out:
Expect this game to be like any other game that a Sam Allardyce team plays against Arsenal. There will be some questionable tackling and some fouls that could result in red cards. Arsenal’s ability to rise above that and maintain focus on their game will be paramount. If they get unwound and focus on exacting revenge for bad tackles or bad play – ala Manchester City – then a draw or worse could be in the cards. But the Gunners have shown this season that even when their game is off and the play is hard they can win matches. This is something that has been missing in recent seasons and something it is developing as the club matures. It is why when the game comes down to it, the club should be able to remain on the attack and continue to enjoy success at the hands of Blackburn.
Injuries:
Arsenal: Eduardo, Nasri, Almunia, Djourou, Denilson, Fabianski
Blackburn: Givet, Grella (suspended), Nelson (questionable), Samba (questionable)
Probable Starting XI:
Arsenal: Mannone, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Sagna, Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Bendtner, Arshavin, Van Persie
Blackburn: Robinson, Jacobsen, Samba (if healthy), Nelsen (if healthy), Chimbonda, N’Zonzi, Andrews, Diouf, Dunn, Pedersen, Di Santo
Final Score:
Arsenal: 3
Blackburn: 0
Some Final Words About Arsene Wenger:
A lot has been printed and said about Arsene Wenger and his tenure at the Emirates. Clearly put, Arsenal are the club they are today because of the skill of this manager who was a relative unknown back in 1996 when he was snatched out of Japan. Since then he has made club history with winning the Premier League 3 times, the FA Cup 4 times, and has been a feature in European football for 12 years. His 2003-2004 club made league history with the first season without a defeat by a top flight club since Preston North End did it in 1888-89.
Arsene is not without his controversies. Whether it be his claims of “I didn’t see it” or recently putting too much faith in his current squad then dip into the transfer market to buy players. Arsene is being Arsene and doing it his way. He sees the financial stablity of his club and partnership with non gamstop casinos essential to their long term future (given the world economy he may not be wrong). He has faith in his players and believes in them as a team and as individuals. Nothing is more telling than the cascade of plaudits from current and former players. They all want or wanted to play for him because of how he treats them. Unlike some managers he doesn’t treat players with disrespect or feels the need to cajole to get them to improve. He is a mentor and a teacher of the game. He has built the careers of some of the game’s best players, even when others didn’t see the potential.
Yes, the current inability to win trophies is troublesome and even Arsene himself admitted if they win nothing this year, he will have to reconsider his youth policy. That’s telling. Some will choose to believe it or not. By all accounts it fits in with the mold of the man.
There would be no youth system academy, the Emirates would like never have materialised and we likely would never have seen the likes of Thierry Henry in the red and white strip. Like him or hate him – Arsenal would not be the club it is without him.
“When Arsene talked, it was always only a couple of key points and delivered in the most accessible way but with urgency. He made each individual feel the most important player in the team and insisted on talking to each one of us without anyone else hearing.
“Consequently his impact on players is one that stays with them for the rest of their careers.” – Arsenal Legend Martin Keown
This weekend, I’ll raise a glass to Le Professeur and look to hope that 13 isn’t an unlucky for us, for the club and for him.
Cheers – DAG!
