Arsenal V Blackburn Rovers

 

Arsenal V Blackburn Rovers

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 4 February 2012 – 13:00 GMT

Venue: Emirates Stadium

 

Preview

Two teams in urgent need of a win will seek out comfort in each other this weekend, as Arsenal, without a win in four Premier League games, take on third from bottom Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with the Lancashire club bidding to repeat their four-goal heroics in last September’s seven-goal thriller between the two sides.

It was one of the most remarkable, memorable games in Premier League history – Blackburn 4-3 Arsenal; 17 September, 2011. A seven-goal spectacle that the underdogs somehow edged. You’ll get mammoth odds on a repeat (500/1 for Blackburn 4-3), with the Gunners overwhelming favourites to reverse that scoreline (3/10 on an Arsenal victory) – emphatically so, too. Whether they do remains to be seen, as they haven’t shown an awful lot of late to suggest they’re even capable of dishing out a spanking.

Arsene Wenger would settle for just a win right now, let alone a convincing one. Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at Bolton was, believe it or not, Arsenal’s first Premier League point of 2012; previously, they had suffered defeat on visits to Fulham (2-1) and Swansea (3-2) as well as at home to Manchester United (1-2). So that point did at least put the brakes on their three-match losing streak in the league, although they remain without a win in four, since edging out QPR at home 1-0 on 31 December, 2011.

Worrying times then for the Gunners, who have slipped to seventh, five-points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, after going over a month without a league win – they are, however, into the fifth-round of the FA Cup following January scalps of Leeds (1-0) and Aston Villa (3-2). So it’s imperative the North Londoners get back to winning ways as soon as possible, and who better to face than struggling Blackburn?

Only Bolton (15) and Wigan (14) have slumped to more defeats this season than Blackburn (13), who went down 2-0 on Wednesday at home to Newcastle to leave the Lancashire club two-points adrift of safety in 18TH. However, Rovers are unbeaten in three top-flight matches away from home, a run which even includes their shock 3-2 victory at Old Trafford over Manchester United on 31 December, 2011.

Worryingly though, manager Steve Kean did not strengthen sufficiently during the January transfer window, bringing in only Bradley Orr and Anthony Modeste (on loan from Bordeaux). And, if anything, the dressing room has lost its most influential player, with club captain Chris Samba yet to feature in the first-team since handing in a written transfer request last month.

 

Match Pointers

Last PL Meeting: Blackburn 4-3 Arsenal (17 September, 2011); a remarkable contest that left everyone speechless at full-time. The Gunners had taken the lead twice through goals from Gervinho and Mikel Arteta, before Blackburn stormed back with four goals of their own, two from Yakubu, to secure a memorable 4-3 triumph.

- Arsenal are unbeaten in eight home Premier League games versus Blackburn (W7 D1 L0), whose last victory in this fixture (at Arsenal) was a 2-1 win on 26 October, 2002.

- Blackburn have failed to score on six of their last eight visits to Arsenal in the league.

Arsenal

- The Gunners (League Position: 7TH; Form: WLLLD) ended a run of three straight league defeats with a 0-0 draw at Bolton in midweek, though they have now registered one solitary point from their last four matches.

- Arsenal have scored precisely one goal in each of their previous five Premier League home games – four of which were netted in the second-half.

- At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal have won seven and lost twice in the Premier League this season (W7 D2 L2).

Blackburn

- Wednesday’s 2-0 home loss to Newcastle meant Blackburn (League Position: 18TH, Form: WLWDL) remained in the relegation zone, two-points off safety.

- Just two teams (Norwich & Wigan) have conceded more away goals than Rovers (23 from 11 away PL matches).

- Away from home, Blackburn have won only one of eleven (W1 D6 L4).

- Blackburn are unbeaten in the English capital this season, drawing 1-1 at both Fulham and QPR.

 

Betting

Prediction: Arsenal to WIN @ 3/10 (Bet365)

I would love to oppose Arsenal in the form they are in, especially at the odds, but that would mean putting some form of faith in a Blackburn team destined for relegation. Yes they did beat Manchester United at Old Trafford a few weeks ago, but that was a significantly weakened United team shorn of Wayne Rooney and the like. You could even argue that playing away from home is also a positive for Steve Kean and his players, considering the fractious relationship between the team and it’s home supporters. Even so, I cannot bring myself to back anything other than a home win.

Arsenal have been very disappointing in 2012, even in the FA Cup. So many are failing to produce, particularly in the attacking third of the pitch. I never thought they’d miss Gervinho as much as they have, simple because Theo Walcott has been extremely poor. However, Walcott and the rest of his attacking chums have a shot at redemption here, attacking a Blackburn defence that concedes on average two goals a game. I’m expecting them to score a few here, something they haven’t done for a while at home in the league.

Value Bet: Aaron Ramsey to Score @ 3/1 (Ladbrokes)

Following my own logic that Arsenal will score a few, it could pay to back someone other than Robin Van Persie netting at the Emirates, whom accounts for four of Arsenal’s last six league goals. Theo Walcott recently scored at Swansea so he’s no longer due; Wenger may opt to rest Oxlade-Chamberlain and go with Henry, who is far too shore to be backing; so it leaves me with the midfielders. Both Mikel Arteta (7/2) and Aaron Ramsey are handsomely priced, yet it is Ramsey who finds himself on the end of more scoring opportunities who appeals more at 3/1.

 

Match Odds

Arsenal – 3/10 (Bet365)

Draw – 9/2 (PaddyPower)

Blackburn – 12/1 (BetVictor)

 

Arsenal V Blackburn

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 2 April – 17:30 (GMT)
Venue: Emirates Stadium
TV Coverage: ESPN

 

Arsenal

League Position: 2nd
League Form: DWWDD

With Manchester United tackling an in-form West Ham this weekend but having also the distraction of a UEFA Champions League Last-8 tie with Chelsea on Wednesday, Arsenal could be primed and ready to capitalise on a favourable weekend schedule which sees both their title-rivals, Chelsea and United, make awkward trips to Stoke and West Ham respectively as they toy with Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates.

Over nine-years since they last came unstuck in this very fixture, Arsenal will go in search of their eighth consecutive league win over Blackburn Rovers at home in a match they can now ill-afford to relinquish a single point from. The reason why is due to their lacklustre displays against Sunderland and West Brom just before the international, the Gunners drawing with both outfits and, as a result, allowed United to tip-toe five-points clear at the Premier League summit.

All isn’t lost though, as Arsenal have played one league game fewer than Sir Alex’s men, whom they’ve still to play in London before the season reaches its climax. Furthermore, although rather begrudgingly, they no longer have the distraction of any other cup competitions meaning their full attention and focus will be lavished on the league from now on, not that you would have noticed judging by how they fared a few weeks back.

Arsenal fans will also be pleased to hear, elated in fact, that Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott are all set to return to the first-team as Arsenal aim to blow away their visitors this weekend and put an end to a two-match drawing sequence. Meanwhile Robin Van Persie, who has been prolific for Arsenal in a season which has seen him hampered by injuries, should shrug off a knock he sustained while on international duty with Holland. And could there even be an appearance from 41-year-old goalkeeper Jens Lehmann?

 

Blackburn

League Position: 13th
League Form: LDLLD

Having extended their drought without winning a league fixture to six with a 2-2 draw with Blackpool two weeks ago, Blackburn have slid down the table at a frightening rate of knots. Rovers have collected a miserly two points from their last six league games and now find themselves 13th in the table, a deceiving position when you consider that all that separates them from relegation occupants Wolves is just a solitary point. All the fans are asking for at the minute is a glimmer of hope. Supporters are unlikely to get their wish as next up is Arsenal, and a fixture they haven’t come out on top in since 2002.

Steve Kean, who himself has become a man under spotlight amid rumours that the club’s owners, Venky’s, are growing tired of the team’s poor results and declining form, is the man left with the unenviable task of turning the club’s ailing fortunes around.

On their last visit to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, Blackburn shipped six en route to a 6-2 reverse, although they did have the lead twice in that encounter. If that wasn’t disheartening enough, ever since their last away triumph over the Gunners in a Premier League fixture, having lost all seven away clashes since, they have conceded 25 goals yet plundered just four in return. And there is every chance of history repeating itself on Saturday, what with Steve Kean’s men defending as comically as they were before the international break handed them a fortnight reprieve.

During this six-match barren spell of theirs, a total of 13 goals were conceded. Wigan and Aston Villa both mustered four-goals-a-piece against a travelling Blackburn side in February alone. A little ironic seeing as scoring hasn’t really been a problem of late, not that on-loan Roque Santa Cruz has helped himself. So it really is worrying times if you’re unfortunate enough to be a Blackburn Rovers supporter, as there’s no sign yet of that silver linen.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Blackburn 1-2 Arsenal
2009/2010: Blackburn 2-1 Arsenal
2009/2010: Arsenal 6-2 Blackburn
2008/2009: Arsenal 4-0 Blackburn
2008/2009: Blackburn 0-4 Arsenal
2007/2008: Arsenal 2-0 Blackburn
2007/2008: Blackburn 1-1 Arsenal
2006/2007: Blackburn 0-2 Arsenal
2006/2007: Arsenal 6-2 Blackburn

Premier League

Arsenal wins: 18
Blackburn wins: 7
Draws: 6

 

Betting

Match Prediction: Arsenal to WIN – 1.29 PaddyPower

Although Arsenal can no longer look forward to any more finals this season, every league game from this moment on will virtually become a final. The Gunners, after allowing United to go five-points clear at the top of the table, can no longer afford any more slip-ups and really shouldn’t encounter too many problems in dispatching of an ailing Blackburn this weekend.

Rovers have now gone six matches without a win, four of those were defeats, and while Arsenal were lousy and lethargic a fortnight ago when rescuing a point at The Hawthorns, the return of so many attacking assets should ensure they register maximum points from a fixture which, if their application is spot on and the endeavour is there, could provide them with a few goals, which could prove useful in the long-run.

Value Bet: Arsenal to Score 4 or More Goals – 3.75 PaddyPower

Driving home the point now, Arsenal scored six in last season’s corresponding fixture, 18 altogether from the previous four. The return of Fabregas and Walcott will add so much more dimensions to the Arsenal attack, with Cesc’s vision and awareness and Theo’s pace likely to cause a Blackburn defence which has shipped 11 goals in its last three away matches wishing they hadn’t bothered turning up.

 

Match Odds:

Arsenal – 1.29 PaddyPower
Draw – 6.50 VictorChandler
Blackburn – 13.00 SkyBet

More information:
Football tips for today

 

 

English Premiership 2009/2010

 

 

Arsenal V Blackburn Rovers

 

 

Kick-off: Sunday 4^th October – 13:30 GMT

Venue: The Emirates

TV Coverage: Sky Sports

 

 

Arsenal

 

League Position: 5th

Recent Form: WLLWW

 

  

Arsenal have put their recent woes and defeats against both Manchester outfits to one side as they have now gone on to record back-to-back wins since suffering back-to-back defeats against both Man Utd & Man City. Victories over Wigan Athletic (4-0) & now Fulham (0-1), has seen Arsenal regain some of the form & momentum that might have been lost after that patchy spell in Manchester, but it does appear that the Arsenal of old is back, or is it?

 

 

Arsenal have a lot to thank for their third choice keeper’s display against Fulham, as Vito Mannone put in a stunning goalkeeping display, one that earned him man of the match and most of the plaudits, in a game completely dominated by Fulham, from start to finish. Robin Van Persie took the limelight, though, as he scored on a rare attacking venture for Arsenal in that game when he slickly guided the ball into the bottom corner to hand Arsenal their fourth victory of the season, at the expense of a Fulham side who will feel heavily aggrieved.

 

 

Arsenal do still look a real handful when they do go on the attack but their defending on the day, against Fulham, left a lot to behold. Fulham carved out several glorious opportunities with ease, only to see an inform Vito Mannone standing in their way. Were it not for Mannone that day, Arsenal could and probably should have lost that game. However, Arsene Wenger can now put that game to bed as his group of youngsters did get the result they set out for, and that’s all that matters in this day and age, especially with the top six sides in the table so closely grouped together now.

 

Arsene Wenger will need to get his defence in order before the arrival of Blackburn but they have been blessed with a pretty easy fixture on paper. It’s been six years since Rovers last recorded a rare win on Arsenal soil, with the Gunners winning six of the previous seven encounters in London. Rovers have been far from prolific in the final third so, as long as Arsenal attackers don’t get complacent in front of goal, Arsenal should comfortably outscore and beat Blackburn at The Emirates.

 

 

Blackburn Rovers

 

League Position: 15th

Recent Form: LDWLW

 

  

A rare win for Blackburn this season was enough to lift Rovers away from the relegation zone, four points clear in fact, but if they don’t follow that big win up with at least another point then Blackburn cold find themselves embracing the red zone once again. Goals from Christopher Samba & David Dunn was enough to give Sam Allardyce and the ten men of Blackburn all three points, and it was just their second win of the new season. Rovers had previously lost three out of five games so the win was a welcome relief.

  

However, Blackburn didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory with their performance on Saturday. It’s imperative that teams like Blackburn make their home stadium a fortress and Blackburn are slowly starting to achieve that, although, slow sluggish starts at home won’t help their cause. Rovers have picked up seven points at home this season, the source of all of their points thus far in the league, but, were it not for Villa getting complacent after scoring an early goal within 3 minutes, Blackburn could have been staring down the barrel of a second home defeat.

 

Sam Allardyce has to get his players to assert themselves in home games, especially as there will be games such as this trip to The Emirates, where Blackburn have little chance of registering any points. The main bulk of Blackburn’s points will come at Ewood Park, with Blackburn already showing big signs of homesickness this term. Rovers have been on their travels just twice this season, both ending in bitter defeats, losing to Everton (3-0) & Sunderland (2-1). ‘Big Sam’ will need to conjure up a tactical master-stroke for his side to take any of the spoils away from Ewood Park at The Emirates, the home of the Gunners.

 

 

 

Head-to-Head:

 

 

Arsenal W: 7 Blackburn Rovers W: 1 Draws: 2

 

 

The Gunners have completely dominated previous encounters, especially on Arsenal turf. Not only have Arsenal won the last six encounters in London, but they’ve also won them very convincingly, with Arsenal scoring 19 and conceding just two in the last six meetings at Arsenal. Blackburn’s last success on Arsenal soil came way back in the 2002/2003 Premiership campaign when Rovers beat the Gunners 2-1 at Highbury, the former home of Arsenal.

 

 

Over 2.5 Goals: 6 Under 2.5 Goals: 4

 

 

 

This has been a favourable game for goals, mainly because Arsenal have been pretty prolific in front of goal against Blackburn. Five of the previous six visits of Blackburn has produced a game filled with goals. However, Blackburn have managed to locate the Arsenal goal just once in six meetings at Arsenal, that being in a 6-2 defeat back in 2006.

 

 

 

Match Verdict: Arsenal to WIN – 1/4 BlueSquare

 

Arsenal did all the hard work last week and they have now been rewarded with what looks a gift wrapped home fixture. The Gunners have vastly enjoyed the previous meetings between the two, with Arsenal winning six of the previous seven clashes between the two sides in London. They completely dominate the head-to-head and we expect that trend to continue here as Arsenal romp to victory against a Blackburn side who’ve lost their previous seven away fixtures in the Premiership, a run stretching back to March of last season. Everything points towards not only a home win but a comfortable one at that.

 

 

 

Match Odds:

 

 

Arsenal – 1/4 BlueSquare

 

Blackburn Rovers – 14/1 SkyBet

 

Draw – 11/2 Bet365

 

 

SoccerBetting Tip: Arsenal – 2 Goals (Handicap) – 13/8 PaddyPower