Tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off against Blackburn Rovers is a must-win for the Gunners. The players have a lot to prove.
Arsenal currently sit in seventh position, an almost unheard of position for them at this stage of the season.
Don’t forget this time last year they were jostling Manchester United for top spot and aiming for the quadruple.
Despite signs of recovery from a poor start, a disastrous January has put them on the back foot, and another loss to Blackburn would be a disaster.
Earlier in the season Steve Kean arguably saved his job by leading Rovers to a memorable 4-3 win against Arsenal.
The star that day was Yakubu, but the win was as much down to Arsenal’s nervousness in defence as it was Blackburn’s attacking prowess.
Blackburn have a terrible record at the Emirates, and have come away on the back of six-goal maulings on more than one occasion.
They should be inspired by the fact they held Arsenal to a draw here last year, when the Gunners were in their post-Carling Cup Final malaise.
Blackburn also have a creditable record at the top sides this season, winning at Old Trafford and drawing at Anfield, so there is enough to make even the most confident Arsenal fan worry about this clash.
The good news for Arsenal is Mikel Arteta should be back.
It is no coincidence that their poor form last month coincided with his absence, and his return will be a huge boost.
Arteta has already scored twice against Blackburn this season, once for Everton and once for Arsenal, so he will fancy his chances.
Arsenal need him to be at his best, with ill-feeling continuing towards the club’s lack of a transfer policy and the backlash against Wenger’s substitution of Oxlade-Chamberlain a fortnight ago the Emirates is not a happy stadium.
With talk of a small section of fans staging a ‘black bin-bag protest’ the last thing Arsenal need is to concede an early goal and for the crowd to turn against them.
Arsenal need to play like they did in the second half of last week’s FA Cup game against Aston Villa last week.
If they do then they should be just fine.
If they lose, then may be they should start preparing for Europa League football next season.
image: © wonker
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