Theomenal Result + Schwarzer move not a Given
8 comments August 30th, 2010
Blackburn 1 – 2 Arsenal (Walcott 20, Biram Diouf 27, Arshavin 51)
Highlights | Arsene’s reaction
I think it was Goodplaya who first coined this as a ‘swing’ fixture – the sort of game that would determine whether or not we could improve on last season. The result, therefore, has to be classed as evidence of progression.
As expected, Blackburn used every opportunity to hold our goal under siege, with Andrey Arshavin describing their tactics as, “Beat run and surround the gate”. Our gate, for the most part, stood firm. Manuel Almunia had a good game, and was ably supported by Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny, with Song and Diaby dropping back in to provide extra bodies when needed.
After withstanding an initial onslaught in which the towering Christopher Samba ought to have scored for Blackburn, our class told with a quite stunning opener. It was an instant twenty-second break, which ended with Arshavin turning to ball on to Robin van Persie, thirty yards from goal. Van Persie’s turn and pass with the outside of his left-boot was as exquisite as Theo Walcott’s burst to reach the ball was blistering. Having got there, his finish said everything about the confidence with which he’s playing: one touch, then a shot fired with such force in to the far corner that it ruptured the net. Let’s hope he can keep this form going.
It had been a slight surprise to see Robin start ahead of Chamakh, but the goal vindicated Wenger’s decision. The movement of Robin, Arshavin and Theo was mesmeric, with Walcott in particular showing that all that time studying Freddie Ljungberg’s crossfield runs is starting to pay off. Predictably, Robin departed with an injury soon after. Fortunately it’s not a serious one, and his replacement Marouane Chamakh subsequently did very well in the lone striker role.
Robin’s injury aside, the other major lowpoint was our defending for Blackburn’s goal. After an attempted Arshavin through-ball was cut out, the likes of Diaby and Van Persie didn’t chase back, allowing Samba to storm up the pitch and slip a through-ball to El-Hadji Diouf, one-on-one with Laurent Koscielny. Koscielny did well for most of the game, but in this instance he showed why I fear for him in the Premier League, losing out in a shoulder-to-shoulder battle with Diouf and allowing the Senegalese winger to race in on goal and square for his namesake Mame Biram Diouf, untracked by Gael Clichy, to tap in. Our one major defensive lapse in the match was punished.
Fortunately, in the second half we took more control of the game, with the midfield trio of Song, Diaby and Cesc beginning to dominate. Walcott’s pace gave us a constant outlet on the break, and Chamakh worked tirelessly to keep up the pressure. The reward came quickly: Bacary Sagna did very well to keep a ball in on the right flank, before accelerating away from his man and squaring to Cesc Fabregas. The captain’s shot cannoned off Theo Walcott’s back, fall at the feet of Andrey Arshavin, who squeezed home what would prove to be the winner.
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It was a big win. Seven points from nine available is a good return, and we’re very much in the leading pack after only three games.
Unsurprisingly, attention is now turning to tomorrow’s transfer deadline. The registration period slams shut at 6pm, at which point clubs will have to name their 25-man squads for now until January.
All summer we’ve waited for Arsenal to buy a goalkeeper, and unsurprisingly it’s come down to the last few hours. The number one target remains Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer – he has made his desire to play for Arsenal abundantly clear to both Arsene and Mark Hughes. There are two issues which require resolution: the fee, and Fulham’s lack of a replacement.
Arsene says our transfer activity is “dead at the moment”. It will only complete a Frankensteinic rise if Fulham are able to find a replacement for Mark Schwarzer. Hughes has identified Man City’s unsettled shotstopper Shay Given, and will try and reach an agreement for a loan move by tomorrow’s deadline.
I have to say, at this stage I’m not hopeful. It’s widely known that City would never lend us Given for fear of strengthening a rival. But by giving him to Fulham, they’d effectively be allowing us to strengthen by securing Schwarzer. It wouldn’t surprise me if they forced Given to stay and pulled the plug on this goalkeeping merrygoround.
Of course, if Schwarzer did sign, it would leave us with five goalkeepers. One would expect one or two of them to head out, most likely on loan. There were some rumours that Manuel Almunia threw his shirt and armband in to the crowd at Ewood Park. Was he saying his goodbyes?
Finally, it’s a firm “no comment” from me on Jack Wilshere’s arrest. There simply aren’t enough facts around it to make any sort of intelligent comment.
The next 24 hours could be lively. Follow me on twitter for the latest breaking news.
