No slip up’s from Wenger’s men as they storm Blackburn, nod off then wake up in time for Adebayor to slot home number 22 for the season. Here’s my notes on the final Premiership game for a fortnight…
Arsenal 2 Blackburn 0
Senderos was passed fit despite an injury scare and took his place in defence alongside Gallas. Flamini also recovered from a knock sustained whilst playing for France in midweek but Diaby missed out with a thigh injury. Gilberto recovered from a back injury to take his place in midfield.
Blackburn had Ooijer fit despite missing Holland’s game in midweek. He continued alongside Khizanishvili with Nelson still sidelined with his hamstring and Samba serving the last game in a 2-match ban. Dunn was also suspended so Tugay started alongside Reid in midfield. Berner came in for Pedersen who was also serving a 1-match ban for picking up five yellows. McCarthy was Santa Cruz’s partner up front with Derbyshire’s wife about to give birth to twins (I really must set up a a child expectancy table).
Hardly a classic performance from Arsenal but enough to inflict a first Premiership defeat on Blackburn in 2008. Rovers were never really an attacking threat and the Gunners had little trouble notching up their thirteenth clean sheet of the season – their third in four games. Adebayor maintained his record, scoring for the ninth consecutive game by firing home an injury time second from a Hleb assist. That followed on from Senderos’ early header from an Eduardo corner.
Wenger’s side take on United in the FA Cup and Milan in the Champions League next – hefty games in which Toure, Eboue and Rosicky are all likely to return. They get back to Premiership action at Birmingham on February 23. That’s followed by a home game with Villa before the second leg with Milan three days later. Rotation could be employed for the Villa game then, although Wenger will be wary of the opposition and the five point gap he now has over his rivals.
Caution is required with the the peripheral figures in the Arsenal lineup then. The likes of Rosicky, Hleb, Sagna and Clichy could all be subject to rest and rotation for that Villa game and throughout the remainder of the season if Arsenal can overcome Milan.
Blackburn resume against Bolton at Ewood in just under a fortnight. Samba, Dunn and Pedersen are all set for returns for that game and Nelsen could also be available. That should provide a platform for Hughes to build on a recent undefeated run in the Premiership until last night. Their run of fixtures over the next six weeks suggest points potential, although recent returns from Bentleyand Santa Cruz have been disappointing – crippled by Blackburn’s struggle to find the net at Ewood. Home form and fluency will need to pick up before that pair warrant fantasy selection. If they’re already in your lineup – patience is advised for the stormy encounter with Bolton and the trip to Newcastle, given Santa’s form away from home. Failed returns in those two games could see Bentley and Santa Cruz shipped out by the fantasy masses.
Injuries and Suspensions
Ooijer was subbed after 80-minutes and was limping off. He has suffered a hamstring injury and Hughes is already predicting that he’ll be sidelined for up to a month.