[Archived] Arsenal V Blackburn Rovers 2 April 2011

[Presty On Tour]

So hungover, my head feels as bad as this looks.

Brilliant effort from everyone, my voice has gone and to the sold out Rovers corner, awesome!

I hope we appeal the sending off, never a red card, not even a free kick imo.

Onwards and upwards!

[TheRealTurkishDelight]

That was nice effort from Rovers.

Cheers from Turkey!

[Kamy100]

I thought that the main thing yesterday was that we played as a unit. We defended as a unit and attacked as a unit. I thought that we mixed up our football quite well, at times we were direct and at times we tried to keep hold of the ball. I saw a Rovers team full of desire and determined to get something out of the game.

We need that same desire against Birmingham next week, which will be a totally different type of game. Birmingham are a highly organised team so we will need to play the same mixture of football and hopefully we can break them down. If we can score the first goal hopefully that will push us on in the game.

The lads should have taken a lot of confidence from yesterday's game and hopefully have turned the game. The form table doesn't make pretty reading, but the likes of Wolves, West Ham and Wigan have been on fantastic runs but still haven't pulled clear of the relegation zone, hopefully we are starting to hit form and the right time and these teams will start to dip.

[Mercer]

A great result and performance.

Couldn't fault the spirit or commitment.

Need to ensure that we beat Brum now.

Nzonzi will be a miss though.

How ironic that Blackpool 2nd half and yesterday mirrored Sam's approach.

Simple question, why have we changed the manager if 'Sam's way' is the evident way forward ?!?!

[Mattyblue]

Think you know the answer to that Mercer!

[booth]

A great result and performance.

Couldn't fault the spirit or commitment.

Need to ensure that we beat Brum now.

Nzonzi will be a miss though.

How ironic that Blackpool 2nd half and yesterday mirrored Sam's approach.

Simple question, why have we changed the manager if 'Sam's way' is the evident way forward ?!?!

So we were sending long balls to Santa Cruz to lose out on all match? The only big punts up field i remember were from Robbo. Also Sam would never have Had the team passing it around like that, or putting the ball into space on the flanks.

[Inta Beaver]

Anyone else think the coverage on MOTD was a joke, I watched the game on the net and it didn't do us any justice, did MOTD show the block made by Olsson? As for the comments by the expert panel.... Don't get me started!

Great performance lads yesterday show that fight for the remaining games.

[Amo]

Anyone else think the coverage on MOTD was a joke, I watched the game on the net and it didn't do us any justice, did MOTD show the block made by Olsson? As for the comments by the expert panel.... Don't get me started!

Great performance lads yesterday show that fight for the remaining games.

MOTD is, and has been for sometime, a steaming pile of slag.

Their MO is to focus on the big clubs as much as possible and afford some token praise to the underdog before they segue to the next game.

[robbojohnno]

A great result and performance.

Couldn't fault the spirit or commitment.

Need to ensure that we beat Brum now.

Nzonzi will be a miss though.

How ironic that Blackpool 2nd half and yesterday mirrored Sam's approach.

Simple question, why have we changed the manager if 'Sam's way' is the evident way forward ?!?!

How did we play the Sam way yesterday? Sams way would have seen a defeat yesterday and we would have conceded 3+ as we never kept possession and against Arsenal it will inevitably lead to conceding. We kept hold of the ball well, had our fair share of the chances and you have to credit Kean for the turn around in the past couple of weeks! Next week is vital and a game that Sam would have got 3 points out of, COYB.

[BangkokRover]

Anyone else think the coverage on MOTD was a joke, I watched the game on the net and it didn't do us any justice, did MOTD show the block made by Olsson? As for the comments by the expert panel.... Don't get me started!

Great performance lads yesterday show that fight for the remaining games.

Most people gave up watching that crap ages ago.

The pundits are shocking

[booth]

I enjoy watching Goals on Sunday much more. MOTD is astonishingly biased for something produced by the BBC.

Only good thing is the familiar tune.

[Mercer]

How did we play the Sam way yesterday? Sams way would have seen a defeat yesterday and we would have conceded 3+ as we never kept possession and against Arsenal it will inevitably lead to conceding. We kept hold of the ball well, had our fair share of the chances and you have to credit Kean for the turn around in the past couple of weeks! Next week is vital and a game that Sam would have got 3 points out of, COYB.

Our formation was essentially 4-5-1 which Sam has mainly advocated is the way to make it difficult for teams to break us down and also to get the best out of what we've got.

When Kean started his reign, it was 4-4-2. He has changed somewhere on the road to Damascus!

Tactics also changed against Blackpool in second half, use of long throws and a more direct approach.

If Kean is learning then good but please no more shyte from Kean about entertaining football. You are not talking to Venkys now and we are not as gullible!

As Sam said, entertaining football is about getting results as replicated by this MB which has been in delirium for the last match and a half. Long may it continue !!!!!!!!!!!!

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Travelling down yesterday, we said that a 2-0 defeat would be a decent result. Instead, the team played with a passion that hasn't been seen for the past few months and got their just reward. I'm no lover of Kean, but yesterday he had the good sense to revert to a Sam style formation and flooded the midfield to frustrate Arsenal. With the players at our disposal, we look so much better when we adopt a 4-5-1 formation. I thought Robinson and the back four were outstanding yesterday and were helped by the midfield, who got through a tremendous amount of work defensively.

However, this wasn't just a defensive display and I thought we created some decent chances, particularly in the first half, on the break. Hoilett and Olsson linked up well down the left wing while Jermaine Jones made some good breaks from the centre of midfield.

I hope Kean sees some sense a reverts to playing 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 for the remainder of the season and drop the diamond formation - which IMO doesn't work with two up front.

Birmingham match - my only change would be Givet to replace the suspended Nzonzi (presuming his red card isn't overturned). This would enable us to push Olsson into left wing - Hoilett to right wing - and push Emerton into a more central role. With a midfield of Jones/Jones/Emerton - Hoilett and Olsson would be free to join the attack at will. Only possible change would be Dunn for Emerton - but personally I like the energy and pace of Emerton (especially to provide cover for Salgado.

[Inta Beaver]

Most people gave up watching that crap ages ago.

The pundits are shocking

As much as I hate it, it's still part of my weekend to come home from the pub and watch the highlights, and rant at the tv.

[Amo]

4-4-2, 4-2-4, 4-3-3. 0898 654000, free-phone double glazing? There is no one perfect formation. Tactical formations should be flexible and adjusted for the opposition. We played two up-top against WBAx2 & Liverpool and created a lot more in front of goal. However, lately, we have needed more bodies in midfield and needed them against a side like Arsenal.

[Stuart]

So we were sending long balls to Santa Cruz to lose out on all match? The only big punts up field i remember were from Robbo. Also Sam would never have Had the team passing it around like that, or putting the ball into space on the flanks.

Agreed boothy mate.

[Andy]

I hope we appeal the sending off, never a red card, not even a free kick imo.

It was a clear two-footed challenge, regardless of whether he got the ball or not.

And that, like it or not, is a red card these days.

[Commondore]

At half time v Blackpool the team reverted to the Allardyce way, continued with it yesterday and don't we look more comfortable and solid for it?

Just a few observations...

Where was MGP? Is he injured?

The performance of Emerton was dreadful.

A harsh red for N'Zonzi who appears to be returning to some sort of form. I hope this won't hurt us and I'd expect an appeal to be going in although I'd bet we don't after Steve Kean appeared to side with the decision on the BBC interview.

Why on earth did Kean take RSC off? At the time he'd been bossing the Arsenal centre halves and Roberts just brought nothing to the party.

Is Allardyce the inventor of the defensive lineup now? The only thing I recognized from his tenure was the long freekicks from Robinson. The defense stayed high and aggressive, Nelsen and Samba were at the halfway line nicking balls from van Persie and Arshavin, Jermaine Jones made sure we could actually hold on to the ball for some periods of time, and he also gave us an attacking option together with Olsson and Hoilett other than just hoofing the ball up to Santa Cruz.

To use some familiar rhetoric; This is a game we would have lost if Allardyce had still been in charge. The last few months have been a shambles in many ways, there are still massive question marks over our new management, but glorifying Allardyce past his obvious flaws because of it is both silly and pointless.

[philipl]

The most worrying aspect of that apart from our plight are the positions of WHU, Wolves and WBA.

That was my reaction too looking at that table.

Once a club slips into the bottom 3 it appears there is no getting away from it as the three Ws are finding out at present.

We will be in awful icky stick if we do slip into the bottom 3.

More performances like yesterday's should see us well clear but one game does not a season or a management team make.

[imy9]

4-5-1 with 3 players around the 6'5" mark, 3 essentially defensive central midfielders and Robbo launching longe range free kicks into the Arsenal box. If we'd stupidly tried to out football them as we would have early in Keans reign we'd have been murdered. I will grant you the fact that we had no long throw expert to utilise.

It was the way we used the 4-5-1 Theno. Jones and Nzonzi bombing forward with Hoilett in support, great to watch too, it could not be described as the Allardyce way IMO.

btw... If Samba had not collided with N'Zonzi we might be celebrating 3 points today from a goal straight out of the Allardyce 'hoofball' coaching manual.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Our formation was essentially 4-5-1 which Sam has mainly advocated is the way to make it difficult for teams to break us down and also to get the best out of what we've got.

When Kean started his reign, it was 4-4-2. He has changed somewhere on the road to Damascus!

Tactics also changed against Blackpool in second half, use of long throws and a more direct approach.

If Kean is learning then good but please no more shyte from Kean about entertaining football. You are not talking to Venkys now and we are not as gullible!

As Sam said, entertaining football is about getting results as replicated by this MB which has been in delirium for the last match and a half. Long may it continue !!!!!!!!!!!!

How well did Sam do at containing Arsenal at the Emirates??........

From what i saw yesterday it wasnt 'Allardyce football' at all. Formation may have been similar but the manner of play was different.

Our first instinct was to pass, not just launch aimless balls downfield and hope that RSC/Roberts can hold it up. Hoilett and Olsson were given license to get the ball and run with it. Of course we went route one occasionally but it wasn't our only outlet.

We kept hold of the ball far far better then any Allardyce side had done against any of the top 4 away from home. I was at Fulham and watched the Blackpool match. I like what Kean is trying to do. If we stay up I fancy a far better season next year with additional investment.

Yesterday we not only managed to play some decent football but also managed to contain a top 4 team away from home. I can't remember Allardyce's Rovers sides doing that.

[roversmum]

I enjoy watching Goals on Sunday much more. MOTD is astonishingly biased for something produced by the BBC.

Only good thing is the familiar tune.

Considering that everyone has to fork out to fund it the BBC is one of the most biased outfits around - and that's not just sport.

Our formation was essentially 4-5-1 which Sam has mainly advocated is the way to make it difficult for teams to break us down and also to get the best out of what we've got.

When Kean started his reign, it was 4-4-2. He has changed somewhere on the road to Damascus!

Tactics also changed against Blackpool in second half, use of long throws and a more direct approach.

If Kean is learning then good but please no more shyte from Kean about entertaining football. You are not talking to Venkys now and we are not as gullible!

As Sam said, entertaining football is about getting results as replicated by this MB which has been in delirium for the last match and a half. Long may it continue !!!!!!!!!!!!

I jolly well enjoyed it. More, please.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

That was my reaction too looking at that table.

Once a club slips into the bottom 3 it appears there is no getting away from it as the three Ws are finding out at present.

We will be in awful icky stick if we do slip into the bottom 3.

More performances like yesterday's should see us well clear but one game does not a season or a management team make.

I genuinely feel that our last three performances have merited 5 points and not 2.

The problem is that Kean is trying to mould his team and vision of football in March/April when results are crucial. If he had been given pre season to iron out his team and get them used to his way of playing then I think we'd have a decent team. Clearly this all boils down to the timing of Kean being given the job which was ludicrous but given that, I think he's done ok over the past month.

We have four winnable games in Brum/Bolton/Wham/Wolves and several Everton/City which we could pick up a point. Two wins and a draw should be enough. After watching the Fulham game and the game yesterday Im not nearly as worried as that form table suggests I should be.

After all, a point at the Emirates will probably do more for us then a win against Blackpool and a heavy defeat yesterday would have done.

[Stuart]

It was a clear two-footed challenge, regardless of whether he got the ball or not.

And that, like it or not, is a red card these days.

I seem to recall a two-footed challenge from an Arsenal player after N'Zonzi was sent off. Not even a yellow.

It can't be proven but I am adamant that if N'Zonzi was wearing an Arsensl shirt yesterday, he'd have got yellow. At most.

[den]

Defend well, get stuck in 'em and try/hope to get something on the break - just as we should approach every game.

I can't agree with the posters who seem to think all out attack is the way to go, because that will play into Arsenals hands. They would murder us on the break. Wenger always attacks sides verbally, who come and get stuck in. It doesn't take much to figure out why he does that.

So, unless we defend well, we've got absolutely no chance. This has to be the first priority.

Haven't read any report yet, so this is my view of the game. Apologies if I'm repeating what others have already said.

Well, for once we approached the game as we should have been doing all along. Pretty football -

Credit to Kean in picking the right team and using the right tactics. No fancy diamonds or 4-4-2's. Saying that, the team picked itself really. Some solid displays all round and all the players and management can be really proud of themselves this morning. After the first twenty minutes or so, we practically closed Arsenal out - despite Shearer giving the impression that Arsenal created a multitude of chances. Going forward, we looked quite good, with Hoilett causing them lots of problems. Oh for a real striker though, - we might have snatched a win if we'd have had one. So Credit all round for Rovers. That point might be crucial.

As for Arsenal, we caught them at a good time. It looks to me as though the Man Utd result had knocked the stuffing out of them. I said to Baz during the first half that Arsenal needed to up the pace of the game. For whatever reason though, they didn't/couldn't. If they had been on their usual game they would have won this one quite easily. So, while we did well, this, like when we played Liverpool, wasn't Arsenal anywhere near their best.

A very heartening point. If we can follow this with a win next week, we'll be close to survival.