My first blog begins with the question- was the Emirates built on an ancient Indian burial ground?
It's no excuse for a really poor defensive performance but any team who concede two own goals and one that was offside have a right to feel hard done by.
Thus far, we have been issued 4 reds, 12 yellows and conceded 3 own goals. Yet people are still very little black and white about it all. You would expect 4 reds and 3 own goals to come over the course of a season, not 5 games. This definitely had a some bearing on this awful run yet is rarely taken into account when criticizing the team.
Unfortunately the game won't be remembered for Arteta's first Arsenal goal
That said, they say you make your own luck. If our players were a little more disciplined we would never have 4 reds. If we didn't deploy a shambles of a zonal marking system Alex Song found himself knocking the ball into the back of the net. If Gibbs had been preferred to the rusty looking Santos, Yakubu most probably wouldn't of found himself onside for Blackburn's first. Sadly, when supporting Arsenal its all about the "what ifs".
Moving away from lady luck, Blackburn looked dangerous on the counter but it was our shocking defending from set pieces that cost us. Considering we usually train on a 7-a-side pitch and place huge emphasis on technical ability rather than set pieces in training this doesn't not surprise me. Changes really are defiantly needed in that respect.
The result was a real shame after some positive performances against Swansea and Dortmund as I felt we were finally beginning to turn over a new leaf after being pretty dismal throughout 2011.
However Tuesday evening is a new game and a new start. Our next three games are all at home and must wins before we travel to the Luka Modric prison camp to play the yids. A week is a long time in football- lets hope the beginning of the season will be nothing more than a distant memory come Saturday evening!
Preview of Saturday's tie between Arsenal and Blackburn at Ewood Park, which is a 12:45pm kick off and live on Sky Sports 2.
Arsenal are boosted by the return of Song and Gervinho from 3 match suspensions as they look to continue their recovery from their worst ever start to a Premier League season.
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey is included in the squad but faces a late test. The midweek reserves fixture against Blackburn is apparently the more realistic return date for him.
For Blackburn Pedersen (hamstring), David Dunn (calf) and Ryan Nelsen (knee) are all touch and go for the game although the news Junior Hoilett is fit will come as a big boost for the side.
Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Benayoun, Walcott, Song, Arteta, Van Persie, Gervinho, Fabianski, Santos, Frimpong, Chamakh, Park, Djourou, Arshavin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jenkinson, Ramsey.
Arsenal returned home from the toughest fixture of the group stage with a moral boosting point against the German champions this evening after a 1-1 draw in Dortmund.
The Gunners would of secured all three points had a stunning Ivan Perisic not found the net in the 88th minute. It was a cruel blow after the Arsenal back line resisted a constant bombardment of Dortmund attacks late on.
In the absence of injured duo Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky, Wenger has brought an experienced squad to face Dortmund in their Champions League clash this Tuesday.
Wenger has sacrificed Chamberlain and Jenkinson as he opted for a squad with an average age of 25- a number rarely reached by his squad since the days of the invincibles.
Ramsey joined Wilshere and Vermaelen in the list of key players missing the game as he pulled out with an ankle injury suffered in training.
Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Djourou, Gibbs, Santos, Song, Frimpong, Arshavin, Walcott, Arteta, Benayoun, Gervinho, Park, Chamakh, Van Persie
Form Guide
Both Arsenal and Dortmund have endured a shaky start to say the least. As they adjust to life without stars such Fabregas, Nasri and Sahin, the two sides find themselves 11th in their respective leagues.
Dortmund began promisingly with a 3-1 over Hamburg (it should be noted Hamburg currently lie bottom of the league with just 1 point) however the side that had looked a class above the rest of the league last season stuttered from there. A run of one win, one draw and two loses- one of which coming against newly promoted side Hertha BSC- has knocked some confidence out of Jürgen Klopp's side.
Unfortunately Arsenal have not done much better. La-de-la-de-la-8-2-red-cards-bottom-half. Ok lets move on!
Did You Know?
The last time these two meet in Dortmund Tomas Rosicky was on the opposition score sheet as Arsenal suffered a 2-1 loss in the 2002 Champions League group stages. Men to watch Mario Götze
Gotze joined Dortmund at the age of just eight years old and made his debut against brother Fabian Gotze's club FSV Mainz in 2009.
Comfortable in right, left and centre attacking midfield, "Super Mario" has raised eyebrows across Europe last year with some sparkling displays. Known for his brilliant technique, it is no wonder Arsenal reportedly stuck a £35m bid for him this summer. Expect Koscielny and Gibbs to have their hands full on Tuesday evening.
Hummels and Subotic
It is a well known fact you are more likely to score in a funeral service than against Dortmund and these two are the reason why. It's hard to believe these two defensive giants are just 21 and 22 respectively but considering how good they are already the prospect of the two forming a formidable partnership in their prime is a scary thought. Arsenal's offensive, er, arsenal will be fully tested against the Dortmund defence as a whole but these two in particular will provide a stern challange.
The importance of this win has been massive. But yet something still seems amiss...it's hard to put my finger on exactly what it is.
Instead of an eruption of joy that should have greeted this victory, it was more of a subdued happiness that was overpowered by relief. Performances at the Emirates normally have an air of sophistication and technical brilliance but don't always manage to cough up the result. Don't get me wrong, I am just glad that Arshavin's clever strike at the end of the first half managed to pull us through.
However, I find my mind clouded up with what ifs. What if Andrei's shot had been just a faction shy? Or what if Szczesny hadn't managed that save in stoppage time? This wave of frantic thinking could be a chronic effect of the disasters of late.
Maybe I should just be content with the fact that we raked up the points we needed for our first victory this season, although frustratingly I can't because I feel that this team is capable of so much more. I feel that we haven't quite reached our peak. This could possibly have something to do with the lack of bonding and familiarity amongst the new arrivals, let's hope that's the case.
On a positive note, our new signings (Mertesacker, Arteta and Benayoun) showed strong signs of promise. The Koscielny and Mertesacker combination at the heart of the back four seemed to work well too. Even Gibbs seemed to be having a good* performance today. (*for Gibbs)
Don't mistake my despondent outlook for anything less than total faith in our squad. It is only exasperation from the vexing antics of the past few weeks and months taking its toll.
One final thing, our fan support has been amazing! I mean really, what the home support deserve is some kind of award. There you go, I am convinced that a certain c*nt by the name of $amir Na$ri actually helped to rouse the fans from their summer slumber.
