It’s the season of surreal scorelines.
Arsenal only scored 8 goals in January and none in their first game of February.
Going into the Arsenal game level on points with Wolves in the relegation zone, Blackburn had Paul Robinson in goal, a keeper who has conceded 53 goals against Arsenal, more than any keeper has conceded against any EPL club.
Clearly, Blackburn are in tatters.
Chris Samba, their six foot four centreback, has played 161 league games and captained the club. He wanted a move. Steve Kean said he had to stay and Samba then said he couldn’t guarantee to give 100%. Samba and Kean had a talk and Kean left him out. Their other centreback Ryan Nelsen joined Spurs last month.
Thousands of empty seats on Saturday.
Many absences were predictable : cold day, unappetising fixture.
Blackburn were a shambles and the match was a massacre.
The star of the game was Oxlade-Chamberlain.
He showed us disguise, acceleration, two good feet, cheeky moves, balance, composure, tremendous shooting ability – and a final ball.
He stands out. He’s eye-catching. A very rare animal: a good team player who catches the eye.
So AOC has the whole package.
But didn’t they say the same about Jermain Jenas? Where is Jenas now?
Arsenal badly needed three points.
Robin van Persie got another hat-trick, Ox got two, Arteta also scored, Walcott played well and set up Ox with the most subtle short pass I’ve ever seen him make. Coquelin was outstanding and supplied RVP for the goal that made it 6-1.
And Thierry Has-been, a sub, exchanged passes with RVP to slotted the final goal.It was already 3-1 when Blackburn had a man sent off.
For Arsenal, the revived Sunderland will be test next Saturday.
Spurs will be even harder at the Emirates on February 26.
Can Liverpool handle Gareth Bale tonight?
The Spurs attack is fast, unconventional, like no other. Winning at Anfield is a big ask and we don’t know the teams.
Luis Suaraz is available but may not start. The movement of Suarez will keep Kaboul and King on edge foer every minute he’s on the pitch.
I’d love to see a game without diving in the box, without players looking for a boot to fall over.
But, of course, the spiky Suarez is always looking for a boot to fall over.
Doubt if Liverpool will beat Spurs tonight.
But if they do, Arsenal will still be seventh.