ANDY NONDA is a cross between Andy Johnson and Andy Cole – a killer in the box, and I mean the six yard box as much as the penalty box.
The Blackburn striker, real name Shabani Nonda, is red-hot right now, having scored twice in a 3-0 win over Portsmouth on Sunday. He also had a penalty saved by David James.
Nonda’s movement is as smart as Cole or Johnson, and he’s tough, brave, bouncy and very hard-working. If he carries on playing like this he can put them back in the Uefa Cup next season.He’s the player Arsenal have to stop on Wednesday night.
So Blackburn have now shaken off the Bayer Blues, following their 3-2 defeat in Leverkusen and a frustrating 0-0 at Ewood in the second leg, and they are in reasonable shape for the replay against Arsenal, with Gamst back in the side – Morten Gamst Pedersen, their craggy Norwegian.
Mark Hughes will renew his acquaintance with Cesc Fabregas, who asked him as he left the Emirates pitch, “Did you really play for Barcelona?”
Arsenal have to shake off the disappointment of the Carling Cup, where they played very well in a thrilling final.
A 1-0 defeat in Eindhoven, a 2-1 reverse in Cardiff – Wenger’s heroes can’t lose three in a row, can they ?