It’s time for some people’s version of the first benchmark of the season.
Some of you who have posted recently see it this way – how a scrappy win against a bunch of thugs in a thug-den wasn’t enough of a test to see what this gelling organism of a developing giant-once-again is really made of.
Fair enough.
However, have you heard the media? Of course you have, and you don’t pay the lot of ‘em any mind – for good reason. We’re gonna finish out of the top 4, maybe even out of Europe. For christy’s sake, they are STILL characterizing this team as one lamenting the loss of Thierry Henry; one wandering in the darkness trying to find their car keys.
WTF?
Listen further to what they are not saying directly. It’s not really that the 4th of the Top Four is going to get replaced, thus forming a new Top Four.
No. It’s as if there is now really only a Top Three. And they are relishing in it. You can taste their anticipation of a Spurs making 4th, or maybe an Everton, or some other mirage on the horizon.
Well then, the gauntlet has been thrown down for all to see – and for all of us to embrace.
You see, I believe we have found the car keys. They are right here in front of us. It is a squad that believes they can win anything. You can see it in them.
It’s precious – the feeling of no fear, of full confidence, and a willingness to have perseverance with patience.
I love this new, fully fresh position we’re in. I sense our boys do as well.
So, our fixtures are becoming Arsenal Against Our Match Opponent – Plus Everybody Else.
It’s Arsenal Against the World.
Oh, right. I almost forgot. The loss at Ewood Park on a Wednesday night’s 5th-round replay eliminating us from last season’s FA Cup still stings, just like Benni McCarthy’s wonder-shot from the left wing near the end stung the back of our net.
Yes - proof that we can’t handle a physical side with a game plan of parking the bus in the box waiting for a counterattack.
Bollocks. Bring it on.
75 Responses to “Blackburn Rovers ET AL. v. Arsenal”
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August 17th, 2007 at 8:08 am
It will be a tough game, one of the toughest away game this season, but I believe in this team and I think we are able to get a win on Sunday. Maybe they are our boggie team, but RvP is their boggie player, he has scored I don’t know how many times against them, some were really spectacular goals and I expect that tradition to continue. Draw would be good, but we should aim on a win, coz the boys have quality to do that.
August 17th, 2007 at 8:33 am
“It’s precious – the feeling of no fear, of full confidence, and a willingness to have perseverance with patience.
I love this new, fully fresh position we’re in. I sense our boys do as well.”
I agree, sometimes not knowing what to expect out of the team is exciting. Even though it is less stressful to have them win easy games, it is a bit more exciting watching them be resilient and finishing each game.
Being such a young team, it seems each game will give them a bit more of an identity. It will be interesting to see them grow, once the rust is off, and the crisp passing and flow of the game is better. Even though we all don’t want to see a lose, I will definately be watching them to see how they react to one. I feel good about a win on Sunday. ARSENAL!!
By the way, are they showing the game on Fox Soccer, my guide didn’t show it as playing, but the Fox Soccer website shows the schedule and says its on delay at 2:30 pm. Can anyone confirm?
August 17th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Happy Birthday William Gallas. Lead this team to many wins, starting from Sunday
August 17th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Of course it depends on the performance, but there is no shame in losing this game. Blackburn can do anybody and this is a 50-50. I will just be annoyed if we play within ourselves or shoot ourselves in the foot. When players like Gamst have the ball, it sometimes comes down to pure luck. We have to get the early blow in or we will get caught again on our downtime.
August 17th, 2007 at 9:22 am
I love this article, very well written. Particular the part Thompson Gunner mentioned - for the media, and the world perhaps, there is really only a “TOP 3″ at the moment.
‘Cos when they suggested Spurs’ gonna break into top 4, u can be sure they were not talking about Man U, Chelsea or Liverpool being squeezed out. It gotta be the usual suspect - Arsenal. They are young, their “main man” has gone, and they hadn’t splashed the cash around. The red and white sky is fallen apart.
Well, whatever. We are going to prove them wrong are we? Alternatively, we could also sulk our way from August to May. Choice is all up to us now.
August 17th, 2007 at 9:24 am
If Arsenal have pretensions of winning the league then defeat is unacceptable. I don’t have pretensions of winning the league, but am fascinated how the defence will cope with its first true test of the season - Blackburn can be tough opposition even though a mid-table side.
For me it’s more in the performance than the result. I feel good about Van Persie playing as he seems to enjoy Blackburn - I wish Gilberto was back. We could lose the game in midfield if Flamini and Rosicky don’t get their act together.
August 17th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Mazza, there will be shame in losing this game………we should not have that attitude. A win up there is necessay for us to realistically challenge, poit-wise and psychologically.
I am very much looking forward to this game for several reasons:
1. This is one of the games where we can show how much better we really are from the “wanna be’s” (Everton, Blackburn, Reading, Totties). No disrespect to MH and co. He has quietly assembled a very good team that I believe will be in Europe next year, but we are better than them and need to show it and I think we will do just that. But make no mistake, B’burn are a very good footballing side; they have strength, grit and some flair with the likes of Bennie, Matty, Gamst, Bentley, and Santa Cruz is a very smart addition. We need to closely mark him. Hard to say how the England national team shenanigans will effect Bentley: it could energize him or have the opposite effect.
I have personally always liked Samba; he is very very good. May be some of you will disagree with that.
2. This game is in August and not in January.
3. A win here will make people raise their eyebrows and take note of us; the very ingredient we had during the invincible season. I am not saying this is an invincible team, just that it will solidify our confidence further.
4. B’burn are NOT our bogey team. We did the double over them last year (once with ten men). Yes, we lost in the FA cup to a wonder goal (when were tired and the squad was stretched), but have generally crushed them. If anything RvP is their bogey man.
5. I want to see Eduardo play. He will be a surprise to them.
I hate predicting these things, but I am hoping for a 3-1 win.
August 17th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Looks like Eboue is out; I don’t want to see Hleb in Right MF; would rather see Walcott have a go at them.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Eboue’s out..Mozart’s out. I’m not sure RVP will start this one. I think he will come on as a sub or will get subbed after 60-65.
Blackburn are a good solid side…make no mistake about it and they are not just kickers. Mccarthy, Pedersen, Nonda, Bentley, Tugay(still there??)..very decent players and what about Savage?? So if we can nick this one…its will be a very good result…and a great booster.
Biggun makes an excellent point about the game being in August. Its one less trip to the north west during the winter. Cannot be anything but good. let us see and hope Edurado fits in nicely.
Blackburn 1-2 Arsenal
August 17th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Out for the match: Rosicky, Eboue, Diaby, Adebayor and Gilberto. So, maybe we’ll stick with a 4-4-1-1 with Eduardo and Theo on the wings? Or play 4-4-2 with Hleb and Theo on the wings? Either way, our only forward/midfield sub options will be Bendtner, Denilson and Song.
It’s hard not to think that we’re a bit thin overall. Sure, it’s only one match, but this is what happens during the course of a season. We don’t (and won’t) have many options when more than one attacking player goes down.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:34 am
I reckon Wenger will line up with 4-5-1 again - with Hleb behind Van Persie, but playing Walcott instead of Eboue. I don’t see him starting with Eduardo, it’s not the Wenger way.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:35 am
If those players are out then Hleb will play left, and yeah, Eduardo will have to start up front with Van Persie.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:15 am
It’s a big weekend in the EPL - Blackburn vs Arsenal, Man City vs Man Utd and Liverpool vs Chelsea. Arsenal and Liverpool have a lot to prove and Man Utd have their backs to the wall. I’ll be glued to the TV on Sunday.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:36 am
This match will test our depth. Eboue, Diaby, Gilberto, Rosicky (again!) and Ade are out. Leaves very little options. I am surprised nobody mentioned Bendtner. I would prefer him to Walcott. Another option would be Flamini + Denilson + Cesc in a 4-5-1. If we win with so many players out, it will be an incredible achievement.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Can’t wait for the Robbie Savage hack job drinking game to begin… feel free substitute with Dunne or Tugay
August 17th, 2007 at 11:48 am
I’m thinking we will look (something) like this:
Lehmann
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Walcott Flamini Fabregas Eduardo
Hleb
v. Persie
May be????
August 17th, 2007 at 11:53 am
I tipped in the summer Man City will finish 5th, stand by that view. Not merely because of their decent start, Sven is never as poor a manager as English fans made him of. Like him or not, this man knows his stuff.
If City manages to get something out of the Manchester derby, I wouldn’t say United is over, but u bet all those football pundits are waiting eagerly for this result so the next day they can make a meal out of it!
Just learned that Santa Cruz only cost Blackburn 3.3 mil! Potentially I think he will be one of the buy of the season, at least in terms of value for money. 3.3 mil? Can’t even buy a left foot of Darren Bent! Just hope he ain’t gonna to prove me right this weekend!
Liverpool Vs Chelsea….. A Liverpool win will also make the journalists’ day! They will start talking about a Liverpool Revolution Part XXXIII….
I do perfer Liverpool to be the pace setters than Chelsea though. As being on the top of the table early in the league may not be a good thing, the pressure will mount and it takes a very gutsy side to stay up there.
I won’t worry about Liverpool as much as Chelsea to be the pace setter. Should Chelsea win 3 out of 3, it would be difficult for other teams to catch them up. They know how to use the momentum and had enough experience to hang in there.
how about Spurs Vs Derby? I predicted during the summer Martin Jol will get sacked. Though it’s unlikely to see it happening Vs Derby. still, nobody knows anything in football. anything can happen!
August 17th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
how abt a little prediction involving the “New Big 4″ this weekend?!
Liverpool Vs Chelsea (Liverpool Win)
Mourinho is trying to prove he can play attacking football as well. But let’s face it - this is not his strength. They won 2 so far, but both of them were close win. That “thou shalt not score past Chelsea” type of fear factor seems to be gone. And Liverpool is no Birmingham. Particular at this is Anfield!
Spurs Vs Derby (Spurs Win)
They have been bad. But can’t possibly be that bad that not be able to beat the probably poorest side in the Premiership this season, particular at HOME.
Man City Vs Man Utd (Man City Win)
Just a gut feeling. City always was a threat to United when playing at home in a Manchester derby. United’s biggest problem is not without Rooney or Ronaldo. It’s without a target man. So if there is any chance for City to stick one over their deadiest rivals, there is no better chance than now.
August 17th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Liverpool vs Chelsea 0:0
Spurs vs Derby 3:1
Man City vs Man Utd 1:1
August 17th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Rosicky just may as well retire. He’s no good to anyone the way he’s going now. Suppose it’s another groin injury.
August 17th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
so your saying Rosicky is going to be our Robbie Fowler?… should we start calling him Sick Note?
August 17th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
We might get kicked slightly less this time. Andy Todd moved to Derby.
I think Flamini and Fabs will be in the middle. Hleb will start but get moved to a wing, with Theo on the other. RvP will start, and Bendtner and Eduardo will both play, not sure who will start.
I think its a good game for big banger Bendtner to be in, and I think we need two of Fabs Rosicky and Hleb to really have our creativity going.
Gunners-Rovers 2:1
Liverpool-Chelsea 1:1
ManCity-ManUre 1:2
Spurs-Derby 3:3
August 17th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Lehmann
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Walcott Denilson Fabregas Flamini
Hleb Van Persie
That is the team I expect Wenger to go with unless he wants to risk Da Silva instead of Walcott or Flamini. I fully expect Bendtner to get a good run-out (30 min) as well as his height will be useful.
We are missing Gilberto, Diaby and Rosicky who might have played alongside Fabregas as the midfield. I also think Adebayor would have played this game up front. It is hard to pick an Arsenal first team except by considering the opponents and I think we are missing at least four from the ideal team to play Blackburn. That said, a win here, or a performance, would be huge, especially with so many out.
It is amazing that Man U and Chelsea are getting so much press about the players they are missing but no mention of the fact that we started the season without our number two and three striker as well as numbers two, three and four central midfielders. By not complaining and making a fuss, Wenger builds team spirit by showing there is room for everyone (even Flamini and Song) in a winning team and that the abscence of any one player will not stop the team.
August 17th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Pool 2:1
August 17th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
3 points to Arsenal and an early bath for that footballer-wannabe Savage. That will make my weekend.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
le’ts NOT get ahead of ourselves here. Two games and two wins have given us hope and a glimpse of the new team that’s fighting together. All very promising but still to say we are now just going to go on with the confidence is silly. Remember as much as the kids are currently feeling the chemistry here, kids are also prone to put their heads down a bit too easily after a shock defeat or a small slump. The question is not whether we’ll hit the slumps this season, but rather whether the kids can cope and overcome any dips during this season and play consistent enough to challenge for the title?
I still remember the “out of 3 competitions in 10 days” slump that we suffered. That was last season of course but to say that something similar won’t happen is too early to say.
For the Rovers game, I expect us to fight hard and finish off chances we create regardless of any physical tactic throw at us. I think mentally the kids are stronger this season, and should be able to cope better with these types of away games. Let’s hope our optimism is correct!
August 18th, 2007 at 12:30 am
ManU, Chelsea and Arsenal games to end 1-1.
Spurs to win 2-0.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:10 am
That’ll do just fine Nipuna
though I’d love us to get a win.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:18 am
Best Quote of the Day:
“I came to Boro for shopping” - Mido….. after signed for Boro from Spurs.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:29 am
Of course, I would love us to win. If we win with this side, it will be an amazing achievement. This game is a big test of our strength in depth.
August 18th, 2007 at 5:01 am
lol@Andez: Maybe he should have signed for Roy Keane’s Sunderland and asked Keane to go shopping with him. That would have been fun
August 18th, 2007 at 5:29 am
LDE, talking about Mido, he’s an interesting player. He did very well the first season when he was on-loan with Spurs. Dropped down the pecking order since Berbertov’s arrival. It could be a steal for Boro. Southgate probably has learned that why Arsenal gave up Jeremie “I-never-got-a-fair-chance-at-Arsenal” Aliadiere now, Mido will be likely to get plenty of chance.
It will be interesting if Mido ends up scoring more goals than Darren Bent! Though it may not seem likely, afterall Bent is playing for a big 4 club. Still, you never know. Afterall, there aren’t really that many shopping malls for Mido and his WAG to shop at Middlesbrough than London right? He may have a bit more time focusing on his shooting instead.
August 18th, 2007 at 7:23 am
If Yakubu stays with Boro, Aliadiere may have to wait for his fair chance.
August 18th, 2007 at 7:43 am
Poor old Ali….wherever he goes he doesnt perform…has he screwed up at Boro as well? Read somewhere he goofed in front of the goal again..then again its still very early in the season..Mido is a decent player..yeah I remember his first season he was the only one scoring goals..but he’s a bigtime c*nt and has a huge ego..which isnt all bad but I’m not so sure he fits in anywhere ….anyway if Dudu doesnt start 2morro then we’re playing 4-4-1-1 again with Hleb in the hole.. its working well as for now and it maybe the best formation for us coz it gives our talented midfield space to shine..but RVP is having to drop deeper and deeper coz of this.. now if only Mozart can start scoring…and stop getting injured…
U know what Andez…I like Darren Bent…he’s very decent striker..but the pressure at Spurs becasue of the 16million tag may not help him at all…
August 18th, 2007 at 11:01 am
By the way, Tony Warner, the heroic Fulham Gk vs us, had made two clangers in successive games vs Bolton and Boro. How come these GKs do well only against us?
August 18th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Good question! Particular @ Emirates, lot of ‘keepers play like Schmeichel!! weird.
August 18th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
We should win tomorrow. We’re simply better than Blackburn. But I doubt we’ll have a 0-0 scoreline. This is an important match for Blackburn as well. They’ll be wanting to test themselves against Arsenal. Bentley will always have a point to prove against Arsenal and more so with being left out of the England team. Samba is a beast. But like I said, we should win.
Keepers do well against Arsenal because our shooting is poor. It’s been poor for years. We create chances and kick the ball right to the keeper or where he can make easy saves. But if you put a player like Crespo on the end of those chances then they’ll set a new goal scoring record. Problem is many of our strikers have been converted from midfield players to strikers and lack that natural ability to finish.
That being said, I believe Eduardo is a natural and instinctive goal scorer. We’ll see how he does.
August 18th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Samba, a beast? You got to be kidding me. Man, he can’t even run properly with his weird feet. I hope we play with two strikers, that way RvP will show them what a real beast looks like. If Samba is a beast, Kolo is King Kong. lol
August 19th, 2007 at 3:22 am
Okay so wants to bet that Brad Friedel will have another cracker against us??
. Oh and whatever Samba is or is not.. Kolo is kIng Kong and the king and emperor and … u get the picture..
BTW Who’s Fergie gonna play on top against City? He’s got to play 4-5-1 now or is Saha fit enough to start? Tevez on top in a 4-5-1 is going to be as ineffective as Rooney or RVP on top in a 4-5-1. That said formations are a useless thing to discuss IMO. Here’s wishing Pool beat CHelsea and City whop Man United .. I still remember that 4-1 thrashing they gave Man United during SWP’s heydays. How I’d love for it to happen again….
August 19th, 2007 at 4:34 am
Tevez could fill in there as an out-n-out striker and do a good job from time to time, but in a long run I believe without a true out n out striker they may suffer a bit.
I wrote this long ago saying they should have bought a out n out striker rather than Tevez. Not by suggesting Rooney and Tevez can’t play together. They can fill Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo at the same time and still be effective, but they still need that someone inside the box to convert the cross from their wing play.
playing Rooney or Tevez there is ok, but by doing so they are not playing to their strength. As United’s strength is always on their wing play. Now they have a team more like Arsenal last season, lot of skillful attacking players, yet no fox in the box. As their penetrate move from the middle is not as good as us, and wing play with no target man to receive the cross, they may be forced to rely more and more on outside shooting, or individual brilliance. That’s a low % game.
August 19th, 2007 at 8:08 am
City 1 - Utd 0 .. Geovanni scores… will be good if they can hold on….anyone watching the game…I’m following it online…how is ManU playing? from the likesof it they are apparently tearing City apart…sort of mirrors last years Arsenal…
August 19th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Half time in the Manchester derby. Two observations
1. Micah Richards can be the CB we want. Young, strong, pacy and good in the air. We could have signed him instead of Sagna. Made him first choice RB and backup CB. Then, Wenger could have sorted out between Senderos and Djourou.
2. Only 2.5 games, but are ManU the new Arsenal? Dominating possession and shots, but not scoring goals.
August 19th, 2007 at 8:36 am
I think Sagna has been doing very well, particular consider he only just joined. As for Micah Richards, forget about him, even if he’s the new Maldini, we simply can’t afford him. Guess how much City would want for him? If West Borm wants 10 mil for Curtis Davis, a player we heard a lot, but bet none of us watched them more than 10 matches, as he only played a few games in the Premiership…. how much u think City would want for Richards? 15 mil at least I reckon.
It’s like Pederson, sometimes even when u got the cash, u might not always get the man. At least I don’t see why City would wanna let go of M.Richards in the near future, not as if they are short of cash themselves.
August 19th, 2007 at 8:49 am
That is, unless Richards’ WAG wants to go shopping in London of course! Even so, I suspect the Chelsea area is a more glamour place to go shopping than North London…..
August 19th, 2007 at 8:54 am
On the Richards front, I remember reading he has 2 years left on his contract. He will be much cheaper this year than now… If he wants to come to Arsenal, he can impact that path.
August 19th, 2007 at 9:14 am
The WAG’s have received great publicity thanks to Roy Keane .. lol 85″ still 1-0 to Man City .. hope they hold on…
August 19th, 2007 at 9:17 am
and Richards is married???? already???? … sheesh … I reckon if at all we have to get him it will be on a BOSMAN .. else we will not be able to afford him..not now or next year…guranteed…
August 19th, 2007 at 9:17 am
More importantly, the game is on…Starting XI as many predicted. Who will come on first- Bendtner or Denilson? My vote is for Denilson but you never know. 4-4-2 away I like it. Come on Arsenal!!
August 19th, 2007 at 9:25 am
United lose 1-0. Great chance for us .. RVP has scored apparently.
August 19th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Blackburn predictably kicking Arsenal all over the pitch. Thankfully we have a strong referee. Hopefully it will carry on like this cos Blackburn are shooting themselves in the head.
August 19th, 2007 at 9:58 am
There are some players who’s dirty, some who are cheats, but not too many are dirty + cheat at the same time, Robbie Savage is definitely one of them. His personal mission seems just to get opponent send-off. He’s not really that bad a player, don’t know why he has to go for all those nonsense.
August 19th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Fiesty first half performance. Arsenal have handled the physical side quite well.
Eduardo could have scored with his first touch. Looks I cursed the opposition GK. Freidel makes a mistake. Credit to Eduardo and Cesc for persisting. RvP scores yet again.
Gallas’ injury is cause for concern. What I like about Sagna is that he is a no messing GK. Clear the danger first and then talk.
August 19th, 2007 at 10:04 am
i don’t remember when was the last time United failed to win their first 3 matches of the season. The next game Spurs Vs United will be very interesting!! A draw please!
August 19th, 2007 at 10:28 am
How is Eduardo looking so far? Did the Gallas injury look bad? Come on you Gunners!
August 19th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Utd are at home against Spurs.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:00 am
I would take a 1-1 draw prior to the match, but conceding a goal in such a manner makes it tough to take.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Happy with the point, but disappointed with the way we conceded. Lehmann is surely under pressure now.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:02 am
If Gallas injury keeps him out for a bit, it will tests Wenger resolve on keeping Gilberto out for the month. Initially thought Song would be considered 3rd choice in that scenario but perhaps it will be Sagna. Flamini and Hoyte options at RB if Eboue not fit. 1-0 ‘pool at the half with yellow the favorite color of the day apparently.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Sounds that we scrapped all the way through and conceded thanks to a Lehmann howler again. Hmmm.. sad very sad…but there are positive signs obviously…we would have lost this last season…
Ahh now lets see … where are the doom mongers? Since we drew now we’re going to get relegated and are acrap team with zero penetration . Look at United..they got Carlos Tevez…a quality “PROVEN” centre forward…oh..wait….
Andez…positives?? Negatives is Jens spilling the shot and Theo having an apparently anonymous performance….I didnt catch the game …can someone tell me how we actually played…
August 19th, 2007 at 11:07 am
It wasn’t a bad display but the midfield is weak - Fabregas, Walcott, Hleb just didn’t control the midfield at all. In fact, Blackburn dominated the second half. Flamini worked hard and was probably the best midfielder, but he offers no creativity. This is ample proof of why Arsenal are a year away from seriously competing for anything.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:07 am
seems like the players were ready and fought hard against blackburn’s physical style so i’m happy with the performance. However, it seems that our weakness thus far this season has been good old Jens. Two mistake in two games, and we were fortunate to have scored late otherwise we’d be dropping 4 points in 2 games instead of just 2. We should have had 6 points to keep pace with the others but mistakes like this will cost us dearly over the season. Lehman makes some incredible saves but may have forgotten about the basics? I hope Fabianski is ready to step up REAL soon…
August 19th, 2007 at 11:09 am
ps. Lehmann might have spilled it - he had a very good game apart from that blunder - but Friedel spilled it for our goal too.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:10 am
2 points lost. Blackburn were piling on the pressure from the start of the 2nd half and I thot our boys did well to cope with the high balls. I think Lehmann must have been in 2 minds when trying to stop Dunn’s shot - punch it or catch it. Didn’t do either and the ball went in off his hands. First the howler against Fulham and now this. A hard fought game and not to garner all 3 points bcos of a rookie-like mistake - thats tough to take. Sagna was immensed - I can see why Wenger wanted him at right back. Not sure why Cesc took the freekick instead of RvP after Nielsen got sent off. With RvP, I think there is a better chance of scoring. Bendtler had a late chance with a shot at goal but too many bodies in front of him forced his shot wide.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:11 am
So whats the problem Danny? Why are we not going to compete? Lack of creativity or Lack of steel? Can you elaborate on “didnt control”? Surely all four arent expected to create or tackle all the time? Thats why you have Gilberto/Flamini to work hard…but I didnt watch teh game so I’ll leave it there … and we would have won had it not been for that goof up by Jens…
August 19th, 2007 at 11:16 am
I said, lack of steel. We should be taking the game to them not the other way round. It’s all well and good saying we would have won had Lehmann not blundered, but Friedel’s blunder was just as bad so Arsenal was just as lucky to score.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Last season, only twice did we score first and not win, both vs Chelsea. Was hoping, we could hold on for a win. In the 2nd half, Blackburn were better. If only, we had held on till Nelsen was sent off.
Bendtner should have come on at 60 mins. He is becoming an impact player. Walcott had a quiet game. I expected him to skin Warnock alive.
We REALLY need another wide player. PLEASE.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Okay so it cancels out .. 0-0. draw. End of story. ManU dropped points today…would you say they are no title challengers? They are in 16th place with their worst start in fuck knoze how long…you still bet on them coming back. Why not us? because we went to Ewood Park with a host of injuries ..lost our captain for fuck knows how long…matched them physically…which is something we wouldnt have done before…did not create(accepted) and conceded due to a goalkeeping error..we got an away draw at a tough tough place…a place where we hate going…thats not so bad ..really..considering teh starts some of the other teams have had…
August 19th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Walcott was pretty dreadful to be honest, looked like a wimpy little kid out there, and intelligence wise he’s typically British. Now Gallas is injured, as predicted, Wenger needs to buy a centre-back before a left winger.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:25 am
i really hate lehmann. since 2004 i have never really rated him.
he is repeatedly doing his utmost to destroy confidence of a young and fragile team…..and he is 38 for crying out loud.
whether we deserved to win or not was irrelevant. but he just ruined our chance of putting some real pressure at the top. i hope almunia and fabianski are warming up as i write.
a lot of you are fans of this guy….but i have never been and never will be…….i will always remember him as the guy who was our worst player in our invicible season, the guy who stopped us winning the CL, the guy who causes half of our aerial vulnerability. git!
i feel gutted.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Arsenal did NOT match them physically, they lost the physical battle. Any team can kick back, but Blackburn dominated the midfield - especially in the second half as Arsenal’s kids just ran out of steam. We’re talking winning the title here, for me Arsenal is too young and inexperienced still.
We will do a lot better than last year, but we should be performing better against mid-table dross like Blackburn.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:29 am
I think any goalkeeper who plays in an unbeaten team like he did has to be world class - Lehmann will always make gaffs, but he’s still a top keeper. I like him a lot, but he is 38, this can’t be doing his confidence much good. Trouble is, I don’t fully trust Almunia and know nothing of Fabianski.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:36 am
I agree with DannyT - I think the boys tired in the 2nd half. Arsene mustn’t let the Seaman mistake happen again its time to either start giving one of the other keepers a chance or buy a good out and out replacement.
That said I’m taking a look at the Chelski-pool game and God knows (even with Lehman) if we can do better than today again mid-table teams we’ve got a good shot… what I’m looking at right now is hit - and - run football. May Chelski drop points. Amen win :))
August 19th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Speaking of next games, we are hosting the table-topping, all-game-winning and no-goal-conceding Man City next.
August 19th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
As for Micah Richards, 15M for a young and good defender who can play CB and RB and who can be with Arsenal for many many years (he is a self-professed Arsenal fan) is a good investment.
Arsene seems to have reserved all his defenders transfer kitty for RBs. Between 6M for Lauren and 7M for Sagna, everything spent on defenders was loose change.
August 19th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Just finished watching the game on FSC. Where is Lehmann’s head? 2 games where he had moments of distraction! This one cost us 2 pts. and would have given us a psychological edge esp. having a game in hand. Thought the back 4 did fine- only 2 or 3 moments that they gave the initiative away. Sagna looks great- heads away aerial balls often, and cuts out a lot of crosses and won’t be bullied or overpowered like Eboue. CMs did a better job today too. Despite the yellow cards we got I thought composure was good though Fabregas, Flamini, and van Persie all seemed close to losing too much of their cool. Watching the team gives me the feeling there is more to come…