Blackburn 1 Arsenal 2: Match report and player ratings
This was a close game…
That could have gone either way. Two excellent finishes made the diffference in the end. Both were very missable but both were converted at important times. Walcott and Arshavin are two very different players, which makes our wings very nicely balanced.
Generally speaking…
I thought we deserved it. Yes, we struggled early on with the long balls (and boy were they long), but every team would to an extent. I thought we were conceding throw-ins in particular too readily against opposition who can really punish you from one.
Our opening goal…
Was a reminder of the subtlety Robin Van Persie can bring. His ball to Theo Walcott was inch perfect and really there was not a lot Blackburn could do.
Their equaliser…
Was not such a fine reflection on RVP. His half hearted attempt to track a man meant he ended up getting in the way of his teammates. Then when it came wide, Sagna was out of position and Koscielny learnt a harsh lesson. I don’t think Gael Clichy was to blame when it came into the box, though there were other occasions when he looked shaky and I really don’t think Gibbs is all that far away at all right now.
The winner…
Came courtesy of some fine attacking running from Sagna and a very decent pull back.
As for Blackburn…
I am no fan of Sam Allardyce but you have to admit his sides are always very well drilled and even when they resist the dark arts, (such as on Saturday) they’re still very hard to play against.
Another thought…
Who the hell do Stoke think they are putting in an official complaint over Wenger accusing them of rugby tactics? Whatever happened to free speech? If they don’t agree with his comments, fine, say so. But I don’t understand how it can be an issue for the authorities.
On vaguely the same note…
I am going to defend Alan Hansen over the stick he has taken over his criticism of Theo Walcott. Frankly, I don’t think he’s said anything a great many of us haven’t said previously. Watching him last season, the truth is it often looked as if football didn’t come naturally to him. We should embrace pundits who have an opinion.
Player ratings…
Almunia (7.5) did well, Sagna (8) looked really sharp, Clichy (6.5) less so. Koscielny (6.5) struggled for the goal while Vermaelen (7) looked sharp but had his own nightmare moment in the second half. Diaby (6.5) was the usual mixed bag, Song (7) was Song and Cesc (6.5) looked rusty again. Arshavin (7.5) looked livelier than against Blackpool, Theo (8) very dangerous and RVP (7) provided that pivotal pass. Sub Chamakh (7) offers more than RVP when we’re under the kosh. Rosicky (6.5) was fine and Wilshere (6.5) fluffed his lines for the second times in as many games when in front of goal but was otherwise fine.
Now we call it a game coz its very close.
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