Let’s get it on… Well, let Arsenal get it on…
Blackburn away is the next stop for the boys in red & white and it’s time to get groove-riding up the Premier league table. No time for half hearted performances, it’s time for a 110%, to the ball first, winning the second ball type of performance. In our last game, Dortmund put us under tremendous pressure and were first to every ball. We need to do the same thing to Blackburn and if we do, we will definitely go on to win the game. We have the ability, we have the skill, but in recent seasons what we have lacked is the desire, grit and commitment.
Well, from what I’ve seen in the last two games, there is a new level of grit – a new level of determination and perhaps, a new desire – Arteta, Mertersacker and Ramsey stand out as players who really want to make an impression this season and we all know what we’ll get from Vermaelen, Wilshere and Van Persie. New signing Gervinho looks quite promising too, but perhaps a little inconsistent, but on the whole, the squad is good enough to beat the likes of Blackburn.
Team news sees Ramsey return to the squad, with long term absentees, Vermaelen, Diaby and Wilshere missing… the predictive line up could well be:
Szcznesy
Sagna – Mertersacker – Koscielny – Gibbs
Arteta – Song
Walcott – Ramsey – Gervinho
Van Persie
With a bench of Fabianski, Djourou, Santos, Frimpong, Benayoun, Arshavin, Chamakh and Park
Arteta has now played two games in a row and I expect him to get better with every game, so against Blackburn, I expect to see him start really taking control of the game. Blackburn aren’t the same Blackburn that they were under Mark Hughes or Sam Allardyce and that could play into our hands. They don’t have Phil Jones anymore – who was their stand out player last season. Arsene spoke about the test we face, and said:
“I’m not sure that Blackburn is the team now that goes for high balls,” he said. “It’s more Stoke where you get this kind of typical old-fashioned English test. Blackburn have gone more different but it’s a big test for us. It’s a massive test for us. First of all you know if you want to play a good role in the Premier League, the way you go from the Champions League to the Premier League is important. And playing away from home after a Champions League game is vital as well.”
Of course it is – we’ve had a minimal amount of time to recover, but that’s what is expected of you in the modern day. Van Persie likes Blackburn and if I’m correct, he has scored more against Blackburn than any other team – so let’s get behind the team and hopefully we’ll Van Persie will bag a hat-trick…
And don’t forget it’s a 12.45pm kick off…!
