[Archived] Arsenal V Blackburn Rovers 2 April 2011

[Al]

Do we have to lose Jermaine Jones. Get your wallet out Venkys we need this man.

[Bobby G]

That much was obvious on his debut. I swear half of our fans don't actually know anything about the game.

Ive been praising him from his debut. However, his switch from sitting midfielder in a midfield of 2 to one that is box to box in a midfield of 3 has taken his influence to another level.

[Stuart]

Hahaha!!! Quality.

[sambo]

Well played Rovers - unexpected point. Now we must not lose to (and preferably beat) Birmingham or today's effort will have been wasted.

Agree wholeheartedly. A win vs Birmingham would be massive.

[bigbrandjohn]

Classic

[Billy Castell]

Are Arsenal in the FA Cup?

If not, then there goes another trophyless season for the so-called 'best team in England'. Surely Wenger should be sacked soon if they want to be a real top team.

[Amo]

Are Arsenal in the FA Cup?

If not, then there goes another trophyless season for the so-called 'best team in England'. Surely Wenger should be sacked soon if they want to be a real top team.

Wenger will never be sacked. For what he's brought to the game, the football they play, etc etc.

The fact they win bugger all is immaterial.

[booth]

Interesting that Doyle is out again for Wolves and they've been tubbed.

I'm hoping we may get something at molly-nucks.

[Iceman]

Arsenal lost to United in the FA Cup

[67splitscreen]

Well done to all today, a performance that our two previous managers would have been proud of.

So Sean certainly should be.

Loved the passion towards the end when Salgado laid into Samba for giving Bendtner the free header, Olsson throwing himself at a shot that Big Col would have been proud of.

Top Top result.

[Exiled in Toronto]

Well that didn't fit the script of a demoralised, disorganised rabble who ignore the manager's instructions.

The Jones Bros will keep us up if they both stay fit and don't get red-carded - both light years ahead of any midfielders we've had for the past few years. I'm also liking Junior and the Flying Swede on the left - constant threat and our main out-ball.

[savage8]

So very proud of my team this evening - I didn't give us a prayer. Arsenal were poor but Nelly was immense, Robbo solid, JJ man of the match and Jr. was also excellent. Just give him the ball against Brum and Noblot and we'll be ok.

Watched in a pub with a bunch of @#/? Gunners moaning - the sight of the home fans with heads in hands, praying, made me feel a bit sick, and very happy.

Hopefully a happy dressing room, and lots of happy Rovers fans travelling back up North - good on you !

[RibbleValleyRover]

Wenger will never be sacked. For what he's brought to the game, the football they play, etc etc.

The fact they win bugger all is immaterial.

Probably.

Though if I was an Arsenal fan I wouldn't be so content. For all the pretty football they play and the money they are reportedly raking in from the new stadium they haven't won a trophy for almost 6 years.

You think they would sacrifice a bit of the sublime football for a bit of steel that means they win trophies?

[Eddie]

Tremendous performance and result. If we play like that for the rest of the season we wil be fine. The first half was particularly good as we managed to defend well and threaten on the break. Second half was a bit more one-sided, particularly after the red card, but that was to be expected. Thought that the red card was slightly harsh as he got the ball and didn't really take any of the man, but if you go in with two feet you are taking a big risk, so we can't complain too much.

[rookie2009]

Ive been praising him from his debut. However, his switch from sitting midfielder in a midfield of 2 to one that is box to box in a midfield of 3 has taken his influence to another level.

Exactly Bobby, he seems a different player completly when givin more of a licence to get forward and not just being asked to sit in front of the back four, phil jones comming back into the team will help him alot also i think with him more likely to do the sitting role and i thought he also was very good today which sometimes goes unnoticed when your doing alot of the closing down in front of the defence...

[sambo]

The thing is, we weren't even that lucky. We deserved a point for me, thanks to some heroic defending and some outstanding performances.

Take a bow boys, JJ was brilliant, as was Phil and Samba.

[rebelmswar]

The thing is, we weren't even that lucky. We deserved a point for me, thanks to some heroic defending and some outstanding performances.

Take a bow boys, JJ was brilliant, as was Phil and Samba.

Agree the only bad thing was Berts atrocious free kicks and corners.

[Rover & Out]

Samba and Nelsen were outstanding, good to have Jonesy back in the middle again too.

Jermaine Jones has arrived, brilliant driving force from the centre of midfield!

Emerton was average at best, works hard but nothing else, which is about par for him.

overall brilliant performance, as solid as we've looked all season.

[braddock]

I cannot believe how much positivity there is.

Makes a change.

[jimw1988]

I think jj was good for blackburn from the first game he played apart from a few dodgy tackles! i will admit that he was slightly off the pace on a few occasions too but he hadnt played a lot before!

The guy has been a revelation since he has been here! a cool head in midfield was exactly what we needed!

With jj playing it is actually possible for us to play through the centre with someone who is incredibly comfortable on the ball under pressure!

Great point today but he have to win against birmingham.

Still only 2 points away from the drop!

Its refreshing to have a small bit of optimism back again!

One more thing, anyone know whats the story with Niko. Is he ill, injured or even being pushed out???

[philipl]

Well done everybody.

Kean for finally putting out an organised football team and all the players for a magnificent effort- first for handing Arsenal's fast start, then gradually getting to even stevens with them when we had 11 and a superbly disciplined performance by the ten.

Robinson rock solid.

Samba and Nelsen were outstanding and easily the best defenders on the park. Salgado used all his experience and guile. Jermain Jones was exceptional and Nzonzi was not far behind him until he got that extremely tough red card (two Arses should have gone in the first half if that was a red).

But the stand out for me were the three youngsters.

Arsenal could not handle Hoilett when he was running with the ball

Olsson had his best match for us- really did look like a left back for once and put in a block late in the second half which was out of this world but like Junior, Arsenal struggled to live with his direct forward running.

Phil Jones- what a giant of a performance; superb reading of the game and stunning maturity from one so young.

Let's get 'em in singles!

[Kelbo]

Have to give everyone credit, the team was set up right for today and am amazed no one is raving about Hoilett, his decision making and ball retention was first class and gave Arsenal problems!!

[ROVERS]

Two cents worth of thought........ thought the 3 central players Nzonzi JJ and phil did an excellent job neutralizing arsenal CM. That is so vital! I i meant all three...... Nzonzi was actually really good today.

[Tom]

Tonight feels great but let's hope we don't undo it all next week.

Although we should have been winning against Blackpool we really battled for a point and did the same today which is great to see.

If we win next week we are just one result away from 40 points.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Great result, I'll be watching Match of the Day for the first time in a long while. Couldn't bring myself to go to the pub for todays game, my blood pressure wouldn't have stood it ! With Arsenal, Chelsea drawing and Liverpool losing the red rats have one hand on the trophy, lets hope they play a weakened side at Ewood. On a slightly negative note we need to get some creativity from somewhere for the winable games. How many games will Nzonzi get ?