Premier League match time returns to the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal set to host Blackburn in match week 30 on Saturday, April 2, in the second leg of their premier league meetings.
The first, hosted by Blackburn on August 28, 2010, ended 2-1 in the visitors’ favour. Arsenal took an early lead when Walcott scored for the Gunners on 20 minutes. M Diouf soon equalised, about seven minutes later, and the two sides went into the interval on level terms. About six minutes after the break, Arshavin scored what was to be the winner for Arsena Wenger’s charges.
Arsenal dominated the game after a bit of a shaky start during which Blackburn managed to force two corners. Blackburn fans would not hesitate to admit that the better team won, in the end. In fact, Walcott could have added to the score, with an easy scoring opportunity, in the dying minutes of the game going a begging.
That said, both the Arsenal goals resulted primarily from lapses in concentration from Blackburn payers; Jones the culprit, in case of the first goal, and El Hadji the guilty party, with respect to the second. Strangely, substitutions appeared not to work at all for Blackburn, and in fact had quite the opposite effect to what was intended. One of the problems for Blackburn has been the absence of an effective midfielder, with Dunn proving chronically injury prone.
M Diouf was impressive in attack and troubled the inexperienced Arsenal backline that was marshalled on the day by Vermaelen. That said, Arsenal managed to cope well with the aerial threat that Blackburn posed. Apart from the initial minutes of the game, when Blackburn earned a couple of corners, Arsenal keeper Almunia wasn’t tested much.
Head to head, Arsenal have established a 14-3 advantage in the last 19 league games played between the sides, with the remaining 2 matches drawn.
In their last 10 league games, Arsenal have registered 5 wins and draws each; Blackburn have won and drawn 2 each of their last 10, while losing 6. Of their 15 home games this season, Arsenal have won 10, drawn 2 and lost 3, while Blackburn have won 3 of their 14 games on the road, while losing 11 and drawing the remaining one.
In match week 30, Arsenal drew 2-2 away against West Brom; Blackburn drew 2-2 against Blackpool at home.
Arsenal need to win the game to stay in contention for the title, with leader Manchester United having moved 5 points adrift of the Gunners. Blackburn will have difficulty salvaging any points from the game.
Arsenal’s starting eleven against West Brom had the following players: Almunia, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Wilshere, Denilson, Ramsey, Nasri, Arshavin and van Persie. Chamakh and Bendtner featured as substitutes.
Blackburn had the following men in their starting eleven against Blackpool: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Emerton, Nzonzi, Jones, Diouf, Santa Cruz and Hoillett. Jones, Pederson and Roberts were used as substitutes.
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