Arsenal Keep Going From Strength To Strength…

I pointed out yesterday that today’s game against Blackburn Rovers would be a real test for Arsenal and the fixture didn’t disappoint. The Gunners had most things go agains them this afternoon but they responded in fantastic fashion.

Only 12 minutes into the game the villian of Premiership football that is Robbie Savage clattered Gilberto hard from behind in a well over the top challenge which he had absolutely no intention of getting the ball.

The usually ice-cool Gilberto surprisingly reacted but kicking out at Savage with a little kick which resulted in Savage collapsing as if he had been shot. The Blackburn midfielder got what he wanted and the Brazilian was sent off.

Now you might think I’m biased (obviously) and it’s probably in the rules that if you retaliate you will be sent off. But the fact is the initial challenge was much worse and I can bet you that most referees would have given both players bookings.

Would Frank Lampard or Alan Shearer be sent off in the same situation?

Exactly.

Anyway, the fact was Gilberto was off and Arsenal were down to 10 men. Arsene decided to keep 2 men upfront in Van Persie and Henry, and having 3 in midfield with Hleb and Rosicky supporting Fabregas in the middle.

Arsenal were passing the ball nicely and it didn’t seem to bother the players on the pitch that we were playing with a man down. Chances for both teams were few and far between in the first half with Arsenal defending well against an in-form Blackburn side. But on 37 minutes that all changed.

Van Persie was played through and taken down by Lucas Neill who appeared to be the last man, but only received a booking when he was lucky not to receive a red! But Henry stepped up, clipped the free kick into the area and the only Arsenal player in the area – Kolo Toure – headed the ball into the net off the post.

Arsenal were leading with 10 men at Ewood Park!

Arsenal kept the same team and formation in the second half, with Henry and Van Persie rotating their responsibilities by dropping back to help the midfield.

The Gunners despite being a man down kept the ball fantastically well at times and in particular Hleb was brilliant – hardly losing the ball and creating space with some excellent skill. This guy has really settled into the team this season and is getting better and better. His ball retention is one of the best I have seen in the league.

Fabregas was running the midfield even though he didn’t have Gilberto in support Mokoena and Savage looked pedestrian in comparison. He played some great forward passes, made some great tackles and kept the ball moving in the middle. His fantastic interplay with Henry for the second goal was outstanding.

Toure did well at the back while Senderos made one or two mistakes from a lack of concentration but luckily didn’t pay the price – with Derbyshire and Nondo having great chances in the 6 yard area. Clichy was impressive, making some great runs down the left and showed his growing confidence by easily beating players and passing the ball well. Hoyte looked good as well never afraid to run forward and coped reasonably well against Pedersen.

Van Persie and Henry were always on the periphery of the match but on 71 minutes Henry turned it on like he can and got the ball deep in the Arsenal half. With 5 men around him the Frenchman drove down the line and evaded any tackles before clipping the ball to Cesc who made the supporting run. He darted to the edge of the area to receive the pass back and coolly stroking the ball into the top corner.

A simply outstanding goal from Henry!

Arsenal were 2-0 up and cruising with a man down and against a phyiscal Blackburn side.

Henry had a great opportunity to really pile on the misery for Blackburn 8 minutes later when Rosicky played a smart cross into Henry but the captain scruffed his shot over.

But the damage had been done and not even a dirty challenge from Tugay on Cesc in the closing minutes could ruin the day for us.

Arsenal might have lost the games at Anfield and Ewood Park in previous seasons buy they have passed the North West test with flying colours.

It’s amazing what a bit of confidence can do for you isn’t it?

The great thing I’ve noticed about Arsenal recently is that they have been so clinical it is scary. In the past Arsenal would create chance after chance and missed most of them but in recent weeks Arsenal’s finishing has been phenomenal – and that for me can only mean great things.

Next weeks game at the Emirates is going to be a belter!

There’s no doubt it’s been a fantastic start to the year, but tomorrow we visit Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park for a totally different test.

The games at Anfield were sensational and have given the boys huge confidence but it’s vital that we don’t let it go to our heads. The world of football changes quicker than Henry at full speed so even though we won at Liverpool twice that doesn’t mean we can’t come crashing down at Blackburn. Liverpool try to play football so the physical aspect of the game was never really and issue.

But tomorrow it is the main focus of the match.

Blackburn Rovers know Arsenal are firing on all cylinders, and they now have even more reason to be physical and stiffle our free-flowing passing game.

To our advantage, we are the away side which plays into our counter-attacking style but it will be nothing like the Anfield ties and Arsenal have to make sure Blackburn aren’t allowed to bully us off the ball.

Everyone is excited about Arsenal now but they will need to overcome another North West away day tomorrow to prove we can compete with the phyiscal teams in the league, which is something the kids seem to have no problem doing by winning at Everton and Liverpool in the Carling Cup.

But now it’s down to the first team.

When the game is tight and scrappy it is our forwards that suffer so Henry needs a big game tomorrow. Adebayor is back in the squad tomorrow so he’ll be fight with in form Robin Van Persie for the supporting role if Wenger goes with two up top. I have a feeling Adebayor will start if he’s fit enough because it’ll be a battle out there tomorrow.

Looks like Hoyte will keep his place at right back which is good news because the kid is improving all the time and looks like to have a far better attitude than Eboue who is not only annoying the oppositions fans but Arsenal’s as well.

Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb and Rosicky look to come back into the team and Toure will either be partnered by Djourou or Senderos in defence.

The game will be nothing like the first game at the Emirates 20 days ago and the first goal will be vital!

Predictions?

Well I’ve predicted 2-1 for the last two games even though most people didn’t give us a chance for either game. And although the prediction wasn’t right we won both of the games convincingly – maybe it’s a good luck charm?

Anyway, I’m going to stick with my prediction of 2-1 from tomorrow as well!

A True Carling Cup Classic from Aliadiere & Baptista

I don’t know about you but 2007 is only 10 days in and I’m loving every minute of it! Arsenal have comprehensively beaten Charlton 4-0, and Liverpool TWICE AT ANFIELD 3-1 and 6-3 – could you have a better start to the New Year?

3 games, 3 wins, 13 goals and some absolutely mouth-watering football.

You cannot ask anything more from Arsenal at the moment – they are playing clinical and ruthless football with style and possibly more importantly they are getting results. Arsenal are also getting most of their major players back from injury and now even the fringe players like Baptista and Aliadiere are playing great football.

Why would Wenger want any new players in the transfer window?

So onto last nights game which can only be described at a fantastic advert for the sport and one of the more shocking (in a good way obviously!) matches I have seen. Yes, Liverpool played a weakened side but so did Arsenal, with only Toure and Fabregas who could be considered first team players.

But the difference in the sides was obvious to see. Arsene Wenger has always put his faith in the kids and the experience these young players have gained over the last couple of seasons in this very competition could be seen by everyone.

And last night it paid off big time.

Like Saturday, the game was a bit scrappy for the first half an hour and chances for both teams were few and far between and you knew it needed a goal to spark the game into life.

And boy did it!

on 28 minutes Kolo Toure played a straight-forward ball over the top that split the Liverpool defence right open. Jeremie Aliadiere made a great run and controlled the ball beautifully before poking the ball passed the flailing Dudek. Arsenal were 1-0 up and it was game on.

But only 40 seconds before Kolo made a fantastic interception from Craig Bellamy to prevent the ball going to Robbie Fowler who was through on goal. How the game could have been different if it wasn’t for Captain Kolo?

As expected, Liverpool came out in force looking for an equaliser and Song cynically brought down Fowler on the edge of the area. Almunia parried the freekick only for Luis Garcia to scuff his shot to Robbie Fowler who cheekily flicked the ball past the Arsenal keeper.

At this stage it was interesting to see what this young side was made of. Liverpool had just equalised and now the intimidating Anfield crowd were as loud as ever – this would be a real test now.

But on 38 minutes after Liverpool put the pressure on from a couple of corners Julio Baptista was elbowed in the face from Paletta. Baptista looked to shift the ball to Kolo Toure from the freekick but instead sent a great freekick into the bottom corner of the net and Dudek didn’t even move. A brilliant goal for The Beast and that put Arsenal in the driving seat.

At this point Aliadiere and Baptista were linking up excellently and playing some brilliant interchange football. The play between these two players was a joy to watch.

Aliadiere was running for everything and he chased a lost cause into the Liverpool corner flag and played a smart reverse ball to left back Traore who won a corner off Steve Finnan lookalike Danny Guthrie.

Fabregas sent in a dangerous corner and once Dudek missed it the ball bounced off Hyypia and the ball was deflected into the net by Song to make it 3-1!

You were thinking at this stage that 3-1 would be a great lead to take into half-time for the kids but 5 minutes into first-half stoppage time Song fed the now in-form Baptista who dazzled Liverpool with a couple of step overs before feeding Aliadiere who was played onside by the left-back. Jeremie Aliadiere kept his head and coolly played a square ball to the Brazilian who took his chance to make it 4-1 before half time and seal a dream half with a well crafted goal.

Unsurprisingly the first 10 minutes of the second half Arsenal were content to let Liverpool have the ball and catch them on the break. With Aliadiere making some excellent runs Theo Walcott – who was surprisingly quiet all night – fed the Frenchman who was brought down by Hyypia for a penalty kick. Baptista grabbed the ball looking for his hattrick but Dudek made a decent save and seemingly kept Liverpool with a fighting chance of getting something.

But the penalty save was just delaying the inevitable from Baptista who was hell bent on getting his hattrick and he did so just 4 minutes later. A great ball from Fabregas sent Aliadiere down the left hand side who easily skipped passed the pedestrian Paletta, cut inside and fed Baptista who was 20 yards from goal. He had time to pick his spot and he didn’t disappoint by making the game 5-1! What on earth was going on?!

Inevitably Arsenal let their foot off the pedal and credit to Liverpool they gave it a go and tried to come back and a sweet volley from Steven Gerrard on 68 minutes and a header from Hyypia in the 80th minute made the game 5-3. Liverpool fans were thinking of an Istanbul-type comeback but Baptista killed all hope when Aliadiere capped off a great night by chasing a lost cause to setup ‘The Beast’ for his 4th of the night.

The thoroughly entertaining match ended 6-3 and Baptista and Aliadiere in particular played excellently. The Frenchman who I’ve slated in the past finally looks like he has found his feet and might just have a future at Arsenal, and the Brazilian looks like he’s finally settled at the club which can only mean good things for Arsenal.

Overall, the young players did fanastic and you couldn’t have asked more from them. Last night was by far the best I have seen the young guns play and it is scary to think there is more to come from these players.

After an amazing Anfield double Arsene’s kids will get all the plaudits and rightly so.