Every game counts. Well of course they always did, but you know what I mean. The bad start, being the media’s fashionable target, the fact that Man City have joined the top table.
Anyways, trips to places like Blackburn matter just as much as anywhere else, even when they are rooted to the bottom of the league.
Steve Keen is under pressure from the media and Blackburn fans after a weak start to the season:
Premier League:
Wolves (h) – lost 2:1
Aston Villa (a) – lost 3:1
Everton (h) – lost 1:0
Fulham (a) – drew 1:1
Cup:
Sheffield Weds (h) – won 3:1
Steve Keen and club captain Chris Samba have appealed to fans to show unity and support the team, but some are planning a demonstration before the game tomorrow. Blackburn are hoping to have Junior Hoilett and Chris Samba back from injury tomorrow but could be without David Dunn, Ryan Nelson and Morten Gamst Pedersen.
So what about the Arsenal?
Definitely out of course are Vermaelen, Diaby, Squillaci and Rosicky. Ramsey is doubtful too, leaving Arsene Wenger with the same midfield dilemma as the Dortmund game. Back from suspension of course are Song, Gervinho and Jenkinson.
So will we see the team from Tuesday night run out again tomorrow lunchtime? Without Ramsey and Rosicky, Wenger has to chose between attack: Arteta, Song and Benayoun; or defend: Arteta, Song and Frimpong. I’ve given up suggesting that Arshavin could be tried in the middle as it never seems to happen. I guess there has to be a question about how frequently thirty-one year-old Benayoun starts as well.
Blackburn is exactly the sort of team we have tripped up against in the past and we are still surely in grinding recovery mode. So my hunch is that Frimpong will start.
The other selection issue that is getting aired around the blogs is whether Walcott would benefit from a bit of obvious competition for his place. Arsenal now have a wealth of wide options with Arshavin, Gervinho, Miyaichi, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Park. Chamberlain has been doing brilliantly for the England under-21s and will surely play in the cup game against Shrewsbury next week, but could he get a start this weekend?
I’m guessing not. Walcott hasn’t been that impressive, but he has scored three of our seven goals this season and got some assists too.
When does Santos start? Wenger hasn’t said a lot about him and he’s only come on a sub so far. It’s a bit hard to know what’s going on there. Is the Brazilian with 20 caps just there to cover Gibbs?
Anyway, with no great wisdom or even guesswork to impart over the leftback, I think were going to see little change from Tuesday:
_________ Szczesny ________
Sagna __ Merte __ Kos __ Gibbs
_____ Song _ Frimpong _____
_________ Arteta __________
Walcott _ Van Persie _ Gervinho
What do you think?
