In the 2006-7 season Blackburn came to the Grove and scored in the third minute. Arsenal went on to win the game 6-2.
Yesterday Blackburn scored in the fourth minute and the result was exactly the same. I don’t think it’d be unfair to say Arsenal might have scored more too, in what was probably their best attacking display of the season. Cesc Fabregas was the Catalan Midas, everything he touched turned to goal. His performance was simply outstanding, following on from a great display against Olympiacos he put in the kind of shift which shows why this Arsenal team needs to built around him.
It comes on the back of a couple of relatively poor performances at the start of the season. Those who speculated his imminent departure to Barcelona was little more than a formality because he didn’t smile when scoring a meaningless icing on the icing on the cake goal against Wigan were eating humble pie when he spoke after the game. The captain said:
There’s always speculation I don’t like it here but I am committed to this club 100 per cent. It’s my seventh season and it’s hard to hear people say they think I’m not committed enough. It was a good time to show them I really love this club.
He kissed the badge and I liked it. He can kiss whatever he wants when he plays like that because it was as complete a midfield performance as you’re ever likely to see.
After Blackburn’s early goal, a flukey header from Nzonzi which caught Mannone a bit flat-footed, we got back into it. Thomas Vermaelen surged forward, got knocked over, got up, kept going and when he received a pass from Cesc he cut inside and let fly with that left foot of his to make it 1-1. The Belgian has made such an impact in such a short time and remains our leading scorer.
Arsenal began to test Paul Robinson knowing full well how much he likes to concede goals against Arsenal. We all know the record, it’s something like 56 goals in the last 16 games, after yesterday it’s 14 in the last 3, but it was Blackburn who scored next. We were caught on the break after a Diouf ball out of defence, Spacehopper head Dunn got it at the far post and his shot took a deflection off Gallas which wrong footed Mannone and Blackburn were ahead.
The lead only lasted three minutes though. Again Cesc was the architect. Picking up a pass from Diaby he slid the perfect ball through to Robin van Persie who slammed it home with his left foot. Three minutes later we were in front, after the ball broke to him Cesc played a very similar pass to put Andrei Arshavin through and the Russian finished with his left foot. Three goals, three left footed strikes and at half-time it was 3-2.
The second half began very strangely I thought. It was like we were playing in slow motion. There was one bizarre moment when about three of our players were standing around the ball in our area hacking away it yet not clearing it and Blackburn can feel rightly aggrieved they weren’t awarded a penalty when Spacehopper head was taken down by Thomas Vermaelen. The ref waved play on and afterwards Walrusdyce was less than impressed calling it a ‘turning point’. He also claimed Vermaelen should have had a red card which is ridiculous. Yes it was a penalty but no more than that. He might stop to consider the turning point was the moment when he brought Spacehopper head off as he was clearly their best and most dangerous player on the day.
Anyway, even if it had been awarded you can be sure Arsenal would have won the game. The attacking play we produced was scintillating. Tomas Rosicky fired one just wide and he’s getting better and better with every game. Robin van Persie might have had a second when Cesc’s pinpoint ball over the Blackburn defence found him right in front of goal but he couldn’t connect after controlling it.
It was only right that Cesc got on the scoresheet and when Rosicky lobbed a ball back over his head the Blackburn defence stood off and Cesc guided a beautiful volley into the top corner with his left foot. No less than he deserved and it was a sublime finish, despite what David Platt said on Sky.
In the 69th minute the manager brought on Theo Walcott for his first appearance of the season. Within a couple of minutes we’d scored. With Blackburn pressuring Gallas cleared to Cesc, he got it to Arshavin, who took the ball from our half, drove into theirs, played it square to Cesc who had continued his run, he touched it to Theo who finished first time into the bottom corner. A brilliant counter-attacking goal, started by Cesc, who kept going to provide the assist. The finish from Theo was mature as well and it bodes well.
Aaron Ramsey and Nicklas Bendtner came on for Cesc and Arshavin and it was the big Dane who got the sixth. Cutting in from the left he ran across goal and let fly with a rocket of a shot that went in off the post. After the week he’s had it was good to see him finish it in that kind of style. There were other chances too, Theo had one glorious opportunity, Diaby put one just wide with his left foot and I’m sure I’m forgetting others.
Blackburn had their moments it has to be said, hitting the post, but you just got the feeling that whatever they did (that didn’t consist of Robinson hoofing long balls into our box), we were capable of ten times more. A truly outstanding attacking performance. Yes, there were some scary moments at the back and perhaps they warrant discussion but that can wait. We’ve got a whole Interlull to fill, don’t forget.
You do get the feeling though that if we can get a better grip on things defensively we’ll be in clover because this is a team that when it clicks going forward is capable of scoring against anyone. We’ve now got 24 goals in 7 league games. In all competitions we’ve scored 36. And the way the goals are being shared around the team is hugely encouraging. We’re not reliant on one or two players to get them. That we had six different scorers yesterday tells the story. It’s brilliant stuff to watch but without trying to bring anybody down I’d like to see us a bit tighter at the back.
However, let us not dwell on that. Sam Allardyce came to town and got spanked and that is a rather fine way to begin any week. Afterwards Arsene Wenger said:
When we are confident we have a flow that looks like the goals could come at any moment from anywhere. There are some strengths coming out of this team and we have to add some discipline defensively because we struggled a little bit defensively today. We looked always like we know we will score goals
And on Cesc:
A team goes always naturally through its strong points, the way of the game. So it goes, therefore, through Fabregas.
And it bears repeating how important this young man is to this Arsenal side. The new formation is certainly allowing him the freedom to show what he can do as the playmaker in this side. Like many others I felt he was wasted last season being asked to play, at times, as a second striker. Yesterday showed what he’s capable of when we’re set up like this. Four assists, one goal and let’s not forget the two headers at the back post he might have scored from.
What’s also clear is that he has, this season, better options than last. You can be as good as you want but if you don’t have players ahead of you whose movement and ability allows you to make the passes then you’re going to struggle. Arshavin and Rosicky are both such clever players, always moving, making space for themselves or others to receive it, and I think Robin van Persie is getting to grips with the centre-forward position now. We’ve seen the progress he’s made in the last few games. Not only because he’s getting on the scoresheet but some of his touches in and around the box were fantastic. One backheeled pass to Bendtner to create a great chance the pick of the bunch.
So, overall lots to be happy about. We sit 4th in the table, winning our game in hand would leave us a point off United and three off leaders Chelsea so things are looking a lot healthier than they were after the defeat at Man City.
Sadly though we’re now heading into another Interlull. Our next game isn’t until Saturday week, Birmingham at home, so until then we have to keep our fingers crossed that none of the lads get crocked whilst away with their countries. Theo Walcott has rather surprisingly not been called up the England squad while Robin van Persie won’t play for Holland on Saturday as Mrs v P is about to have a little v P. He may return for their midweek game, if they have one, I suppose.
And that’ll be about that. Have a good one.
