Arsenal v Blackburn
May 6, 2010
Robin van Persie scores against Blackburn.
By Aashish Siwan
Blackburn 2 Arsenal 1
Van Persie 14, Dunn 43, Samba 68
Before kick off, I could not help but feel that this was just an end of season dead rubber. But then again, this was a match where victory for us would at least reduce the points gap between second and third and victory for Blackburn and they find themselves in tenth (a spot above Europa Cup finalists Fulham).
Even our history with Sam Allardyce and his teams down the years could not put this match into a different light for me. A rare Tuesday morning kick off had much to do with my mood towards this match I suspect.
With Arsenal missing Clichy, Song and Rosicky from last week, Vela and Traore were given rare league starts with Eboue slotting into midfield. Arsenal carried on with the backup centre back paring of Campbell and Silvestre and Robin van Persie started his second match in eight days as captain.
The first five minutes of the match at Ewood Park seemed like a cup final. Blackburn had a couple of free kicks just outside the Arsenal box with Pedersen forcing Fabianski into a smart save off one of his efforts.
Arsenal had a glorious opportunity to take the lead in as early as the third minute. Eboue charged through the midfield to lay on a pass to Walcott. Even though that pass to him was wayward, Walcott used his pace to place a delightful cross for Vela to tap in, only for the Mexican to put his effort wide with the goal wide open and Robinson stranded. That should have been 1-0 to the Arsenal.
After that early scare for Blackburn, it seemed like only one team turned up to play actual football. The home side played what seemed like get your keeper to hoof the ball in, get the rest of your players to barge into the Arsenal keeper and see what happens. The hosts also played what seemed like put all ten outfield players behind the ball when Arsenal attack. Not much else we could expect from Sam Allardyce’s men. The Gunners are only good at the football stuff and hence the outcome of this morning’s match.
That however is no excuse for dropping 3 point away at Ewood Park in a match where the hosts managed more attempts on goal than Arsenal. We had plenty of possession but little to make of it in the final third. We have managed to come back from being a goal or two down against Blackburn in the past and with the quality of players Wenger fielded this morning, a comeback should not have been a problem in this match as well. The influence, drive forward and creative talent of Cesc has been missed in the last few games he has been injured. This was also evident today.
It only took van Persie 13 minutes to maintain his impressive scoring run (8 in 7 matches) against Blackburn. Nasri’s corner was deflected into van Persie’s path by Sagna and the Arsenal forward made no mistake with his header. It was van Persie again who tested Robinson with a free kick bent around the wall with around half an hour gone.
Just before the first 45 ended, Fabianski did well to tip Pedersen’s free kick over the bar only for Blackburn to level from the resulting corner. Jason Robert’s attempted shot across goal from Pedersen’s corner managed to find its way to Dunn, and with the far post unmanned (which Nasri abandoned just a few seconds earlier anticipating a counter attack) Dunn made no mistake.
The second half started the same way the first did, with Arsenal having much of the possession and looking sharper. van Persie managed to get a shot away inside the Blackburn box, turning defenders as only van Persie can. The Dutchman narrowly missing the target. Pedersen received a caution soon after for a dangerous challenge on van Persie. As crude as Pedersen’s challenge was, van Persie managed to get back up on his feet and carry on.
Just before the hour mark, Pedersen found himself one on one with Fabianski, with Fabianski managing a fine save, before Pederson found himself on the receiving end of a Sol Campbell special in the Arsenal penalty box. Subsequent penalty appeals were turned down by referee Martin Atkinson. Fabianski also came up trumps when Blackburn substitute David Hoilette, who was played through by Dunn, let fly a shot destined for the top corner.
A moment of controversy arrived when van Persie again fashioned himself an attempt on goal inside the Blackburn box midway through the second half, this time turning Salgado, only for van Persie to be hauled down and be denied a clear shot on goal. The referee waived play on. It has to be said that the referee did not have the best view of the incident.
Arshavin replaced Vela on the 67th minute and the Russian’s first effort on goal was saved comfortably by Robinson. Arshavin opted for the top corner where a low hard drive to the near post would have done.
Blackburn took the lead on the 68th minute. Pedersen’s corner, which resulted from a Silvestre clearance that nearly ended up in the back of the Arsenal net, was lofted into a crowded Arsenal box. Indecision by Fabianski allowed Samba to head in an easy goal as Campbell tried his best to deal with every other Blackburn player trying to barge his way past Fabianski.
Try as they might, the Gunners were just not able to find an equaliser and match ended in Arsenal’s ninth defeat of the season and the second lead surrendered in the northwest of England in a space of two weeks.
To be fair to Blackburn, they have managed to avoid defeat at home against Liverpool, United and Chelsea this season, but then again, this was another achievable 3 points that was let slip. The travelling gooners, who had been in good voice for much of the game, would have left Ewood Park bitterly disappointed.
On a brighter note, for the first time this season, the name Johan Djourou appeared on any Arsenal competitive team list. The Swiss defender has successfully recovered from a serious knee injury he picked up while out on international duty. Kieran Gibbs was also named on the bench. Gibbs of course suffered a broken metatarsal in the champions league match away at Standard Leige, some six months ago.
In Arsenal ladies related news, the Arsenal ladies lost to Everton ladies in the F. A. Cup final this morning. The match was lost 3-2 after extra time.
Attention now turns to next Monday morning when we host Roy Hodgson’s Fulham and the Emirates will be expecting a good final day of season 09-10 and a win for the Arsenal.
Team line-ups
BLACKBURN ROVERS (4-4-1-1): Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Pedersen, Grella (Hoilett 58), Andrews Olsson, Dunn (Jones 85), Roberts
Booked: Grella, Pedersen.
ARSENAL (4-5-1): Fabianski, Sagna, Campbell, Silvestre, Traore, Walcott, Nasri, Diaby, Eboue (Eduardo 78), Vela (Arshavin 67), Van Persie
Booked: Silvestre, Campbell
