Both these teams have practically nothing to play for, but a win will do their confidence a world of good.
Blackburn have already held the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool at Ewood Park, and they will be looking to put in another good performance when Arsenal come calling this Monday.
Last week, Sam Allardyce’s men drew 1-1 at the Molinuex against Wolverhampton Wanderers after Sylvan Ebanks-Blake cancelled out Ryan Nelsen’s opener.
They have lost just 2 home games this season, against Tottenham Hotspur and on the opening day of the season against Manchester City.
Arsenal’s title hopes have been dashed after a run of three successive games without a win, but now they will be looking fearfully over their shoulders as Tottenham are just 5 points behind them. A win here will guarantee 3rd spot in the Premier League for the Gunners.
Last week, they drew 0-0 at home against Manchester City, a game that ended a run of two successive defeats – against Tottenham and then Wigan.
Allardyce should have four players fit again. Christopher Samba and Breet Emerton return to contention after receiving treatment on their injured groin and hamstring respectively.
El-Hadji Diouf and Vincenzo Grella will also be available after the pair recovered from tonsillitis and stomach bug respectively.
For Arsenal, captain Cesc Fabregas, Denilson, William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen have been ruled out for the rest of the season, while goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is not yet fit, meaning that Lucasz Fabianski will once again start in goal.
Russian Andrey Arshavin, who was linked to a move to Barcelona this week, is a major doubt after failing to fully recover from a calf injury he sustained last month in the Champions League.
The defensive pair of Kieran Gibbs and Johan Djourou are back in training, but are unlikely to start to feature in this game.
When these sides met earlier on in the season at the Emirates, Blakburn led twice, but then succumbed to late Arsenal onslaught. The Gunners ran out comfortable 6-2 winners in the end, with Fabregas scoring 1 and assisting 4.
Last year, in this corresponding fixture at Ewood Park, Arsenal romped to a 4-0 win iwith Emmanuel Adebayor scoring a treble and Robin Van Persie adding a fourth.
A similar scoreline seems highly unlikely, especially taking into account the fact that Blackburn have been really solid at the back. Phil Jones, the 19 year-old centre half, who covered up at centre-back when Nelsen was out injured, is rumoured to be a major target of Arsene Wenger in the summer, along with French midfielder Steven Nzonzi.
Blackburn Rovers squad: Robinson, Brown, Dunn, Olsson, Salgado, Pedersen, Samba, Emerton, Nzonzi, Nelsen, Andrews, Givet, Jacobsen, Grella, Hoilett, Roberts, Diouf, Kalinic, Chimbonda, Jones, Di Santo, Basturk.
Arsenal squad: Fabianski, Clichy, Silvestre, Campbell, Sagna, Walcott, Song, Nasri, Diaby, Rosicky, van Persie, Mannone, Traore, Vela, Eduardo, Eastmond, Eboue, Bendtner, Arshavin.
My Prediction: Both teams have anything to play for, and that will show on the pitch. This may just turn out to be one of those boring matches with the boring result – a draw.
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Arsenal
Blackburn vs Arsenal Tickets
Source: Blackburn Rovers Vs Arsenal Preview
Source: Football News
Monday, May 3, 2010
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