Arsenal (h) 19.08.2007 - Preview

[ABBEY]

good feeling ...2-0 rovers...samba/derbs

[philipl]

I like this Arsenal preview. In fact there seem to be a lot of worried Gunners on t'internet this morning.

Come on Rovers, let's live up to all their worst fears.

PS Loving the SGE v RFW verbals. As I said to a bunch of Cockney reds who are convinced they have lost the title already (talk about glory hunters...) the Manchester derby today is the first interesting once since Dennis Law's back heel.

[Exiled_Rover]

I'm not confident about getting a result in this game. It doesn't seem like we're anywhere near something resembling good form and we're facing a very talented l'Arse team at Ewood today. I'd be delighted with a draw.

[Roar of the Rover]

Blackburn End Lower sold out. Good news.

[budha]

From the official site:

ROVERS: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen ©, Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Savage, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, Derbyshire. Subs: Brown (GK), Ooijer, Tugay, McCarthy, Roberts.

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Sagna, Fabregas, Toure, Eduardo, Gallas ©, van Persie, Hleb, Flamni, Clichy, Walcott. Subs: Almunia (GK), Senderos, Denilson, Song, Bendtner.

Good changes. Emerton is back and Derbyshire instead of Roberts with Santa Cruz up front. McCarthy on the bench and Arsenal's Eduardo makes his debut.

[Eddie]

This is probably the first and last time for a long while, but is it just me or is our bench stronger? Denilson and Bendtner are great talents and Song looks a good prospect as well, but this season I'd certainly rather have our lot coming on.

[Cocker]

Benni off the bench to score the winner - 1-0 rovers

[Ricky]

Thought exactly the same about our bench to be honest. Looks strong doesnt it.

[brfc fan]

Just seen SSN. Looks a bit empty there.

Looking forward to seeing if Santa can make it 3 in 3.

[Oakland]

1 - 0

Santa Cruuuuz

[Oakland]

oh-my-god.

Van Persie 0 - 1

[Derby Blue]

1-0 arse, shocking defending....

[James No. 7]

We haven't strung some passes together for a while now. It's been all Arsenal since a few minutes before the goal.

[brfc fan]

The reporter on SSN is in the bloody Darwen End so you can hear the Arsenal fans!

[James No. 7]

We need to stop with the silly, avoidable fouls. It is stopping the flow of the game and really affecting our ability to score.

EDIT: Nelsen off the post!

[Oakland]

Nelsen hits post!!!

[brfc fan]

We hit the woodwork! Oh come on!

[brfc fan]

If we're not careful we'll lose someone soon.

[Finch]

where is everyone watching this from?

[brfc fan]

where is everyone watching this from?

I'm not, I'm watching SSN and reading min by min updates on BBC website.

[James No. 7]

...

[Philly Rover ®]

The Sky Sports commentary doesn't sound too promising:

42 - Little service Santa Cruz and Derbyshire have not been able to get into the game as yet, but it does not help that Blackburn's midfielders are providing terrible final balls. Dunn is the latest to send a pass harmlessly out for a goal-kick.

[brfc fan]

It looks packed, I suppose that's a positive.

[James No. 7]

The Sky Sports commentary doesn't sound too promising:

Retaining possession is probably the number one problem, but that's just as true too.

[brfc fan]

From BBC updates:-

1549: Robbie Savage is running around like the proverbial headless chicken and has just got the most predictable yellow card of the day.