Written by Kal Monday, 06 February 2012 19:58

GunnerTalk Blog

By Kal

Saturday! Ahhhh, how great was it that we played on a Saturday? The last time that happened was vs QPR. The unorthodox 1pm start did not deter the thousands that did make it to The Emirates, it was pleasing to see so many supporters (minus the binbags!).

The Arsenal went in to the Blackburn game, without a league win in 2012; we were desperate for a positive result. My word did we get one. We’d barely registered 2 minutes on the clock before RVP put us one-nil up. Theo claimed the assist following a great touch from Coquelin. The next 30 minutes saw us control the game, with no pressure whatsoever, an innocuous hoof from the Blackburn defence undone our defence, Koscielny (presented with the EA Sports player of the month for the 1st time in his Arsenal career…I KNOW, RIGHT!) bought down Modeste, there was nothing Honeste about the Boss’ challenge. (I’ll get my coat)

As Woj lined up the wall, I thought back to how many times we’d been done by free kicks…anyone? I’ve counted 4! Morten Gamst Pedersen is no stranger to the dead ball situation. Lo and behold, he goes and plants a beauty into Woj’s top right corner…Boo! The goal seemed to give Blackburn a mini boost in confidence, I became nervous. Why wouldn’t I? We lost to this lot in strange circumstances earlier in the season.

Thankfully, it only took six minutes to restore our lead. Alex Song took the ball from halfway under a chorus of “SHOOOOOOOT”, he instead produced a defence splitting pass to release Theo and inevitably Robin bagged his second of the game, it certainly helped my nerves! We’d barely finished celebrating the second when The Ox was put through by another great pass, this time from kapitein. No more than Alex deserved. Recent performances show that he has added vigour to our play that we have been missing, superb prospect for the future.

The turning point for me was the sending off of Gael Givet, a horrible two footed challenge on RVP, I was in the concourse at this point, the foul was replayed no less than 8 times, a little bit of me died every time I saw RVP go over. We didn’t know how bad it was, thankfully he walked away fairly unscathed. Blackburn down to 10 men, Jason Lowe off injured, David Dunn sacrificed (or not) due to Givet’s sending off, no Samba, no Yak, no hope…I honestly thought, after their recent away performances they would give us a run for our money, thankfully this didn’t transpire in any shape or form!

At half time I met up with Nick & our newest recruit Vasek (@Venca_AFC), pleased with the 1st half, Vasek predicted a 6-1 win…This was Vasek’s 1st ever Arsenal game, he travelled on a bus for 17 hours to join us from a small town in the Czech Republic…Anyone would think Nick Hornby wrote this little story!

The second half started in the same fashion as we ended the first. Theo was finding acres of space down their left, he was too hot for Martin Olsson who appeared to keep getting dragged back in to the middle of the pitch. This time, a sublime pass from Rosicky (I’ve been assured that his name is pronounced Roz-its-ski, phew!) found Theo down the right only to see his corner turned behind by Grant Hanley. The subsequent corner (after a couple of deflections) found the ball roll to the foot of the sexiest man to don an Arsenal shirt, since Bobby…Yeh baby…oooh Mickey you’re so fine!

Arsenal went on, from strength to strength, the positive vibe around the Emirates was refreshing and you could see it manifesting itself in the form of the beautiful football on the pitch. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started to run the show down our left; his presence seems to have had a positive influence on Theo too. Theo found himself in space down the right, again! He ran in to the box, some disco steps with the ball, passed three players, cries of “SHOOOOOOOT”, it was getting all too much for me! He found Alex, with a quick two-step move and he’d scored again! Anyone see that celebration?

It was getting too easy, and Vasek’s prediction looked to be fulfilled after another great run down the right, this time by Coquelin to cross for RVPs hat-trick. Paul Robinson couldn’t do anything about it, and there were thirty minutes left!

Le Prof, as expected made changes. Substitutions saw both Alex’s and Kos for Thierry, Yossi & Sagna. This had the effect Blackburn desired…the game slowed down. They just could not deal with The Ox. Arsenal kept the ball well, Mikel ran that midfield perfectly; his technical ability is amazing, when you look past those devilishly handsome features!

The icing on the cake, what Arsenal supporters wanted to see, happened. Thierry had dispossessed one of Scott Dann or Grant Hanley, can’t remember. Through on goal he and RVP had a Chuckle Brother’s moment: ‘to me, to you, to me’ it was superb; Robin didn’t want this goal, clearly! He certainly does score when he wants!

All Hail The King! Thierry with his 228th goal, in what could possibly be his last ever game at the Emirates. What a privilege to have been in the presence of a living Arsenal legend.

Lucky that Vasek didn’t place a bet! Not a bad trip! 7 goals, a hat-trick from RVP, surpassed God’s goal tally and a Thierry goal to finish it off…suffice to say we celebrated the occasion in customary fashion, post match!

We needed this win; it’s a small step in what has been a tumultuous season, but never give up hope.

Keep the faith, Gooners!

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