Can Blackburn stop Arsenal?
Game: Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal
Venue: Ewood Park
Competition: Carling Cup Quarterfinal
Date: Tuesday, 18 December
Kickoff: 2000 GMT
Blackburn v Arsenal preview
If their last meeting is anything to go by, this game will have plenty of kicks, scrapes and cards, and the result will be a close affair.
Blackburn go into this game in a mini-slump, losing 5-3 away to Wigan, 0-1 home to West Ham and 0-4 home to Aston Villa in their last four Premier League games. I’m not sure how much of an advantage it is to beat Newcastle 3-1 (the 4th game) when you’re playing at home, although it’s worth noting that in that game Newcastle scored first. In fact, Wigan were off to 3-0 before Blackburn got a goal last Saturday.
Tough times for Mark Hughes, although the warrior side of him will relish this quarterfinal contest - not only will his side be up against a second string Arsenal team but in recent times Blackburn have been able to raise their game to go toe to toe with Arsenal and Hughes will be hoping for more of that today.
The current crop of Arsenal players are infused with a fighting spirit that has rarely been associated with Arsenal teams in recent seasons and even if the big names are rested from this Carling Cup fixture you can expect Arsenal players to fight for every ball and not to give any quarter to their opponents.
Having said that, a second-string side and with Arsenal taking only 1 point from their last two away games, there is a good chance that Blackburn can push for a result in their favor (as long as Wenger rests the big guns).
- Blackburn need to shore up their midfield and defence
- Ref, Friedel and Wenger help Blackburn earn a replay against Arsenal
- Blackburn 1-1 Arsenal: Handbags and Lehmann have to go
- Blackburn 2007/2008 Home & Away Kits
- How can Blackburn improve this summer?
Discussion - 3 Responses
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They may be reserves but, the midfield and forwards are well covered- it is at the back and at set pieces, especially left back where we could be in trouble against a much bigger side. This will be a tough one to win. Hughes has started to make comments about refs ahead of this game suggesting that he will be trying to bully these kids- and rely on the support of the ref- Hughes comments are pathetic his team was undone at Wigan by poor defensive tactics ,throughout the game not by the ref. If we can get enough of the ball in midfield to attack them we could stand a chance.
A good win for us. I hope Hughes shuts up now & i hope we destroy them with our REAL first team come the new year. This game proves that Arsenal can win the nasty matches while still playing beautifully.
Good game. Defence was a bit unstable, but Fabiansky played well. Midfield was the revelation with Song, Denilson, Randall playing well with Diaby. Eduardo has the goods, only thing he needs is a little more belief to deliver in the big games. He is a really cool finisher. As for Bendtner he is surely one of the most promising forwards in the world. He is big, fast, has good ball control, good finishing ability and above all is blessed with good vision. He looks like he may better Adebayor as the single ‘big’ striker. The potential is infinite Fellow Gooners……………