Arsenal to end season with a whimper after Blackburn defeat
For years now, Arsenal supporters have taken great pride in celebrating “St Totteringham’s Day”, a concept they created, marked on the day when their fierce rivals Tottenham can no longer mathematically finish above their club in the Premier League table.
However, the champagne has been put on ice this season; and following the Gunners’ 2-1 defeat against Blackburn Rovers yesterday afternoon, there’s a danger that St Totteringham’s Day may even be cancelled this year.
Spurs are five points behind Arsène Wenger’s side with a game in hand – meaning they can still finish above their north-London rivals. Although it’s an improbability, the fact that it’s still possible details the extent of Arsenal’s capitulation in recent weeks.
Before April 14th, the Premier League title race was a three-horse one. The Gunners, although ranked as the outsiders, were still firmly in contention alongside both Chelsea and Manchester United.
But on that April night, Arsenal were beaten by Tottenham at White Hart Lane for the first time in the league since 1989. The defeat effectively ended their title ambitions, just a week after being eliminated from the Champions League quarter-finals by Lionel Messi and Barcelona.
Since then, things have gone from bad to worse for Wenger and his players. And yesterday afternoon’s match at Ewood Park was another bitter pill to swallow for all those associated with the club.
Robin van Persie had given the visitors the lead on the 13th minute, heading in a Bacary Sagna flick-on from a corner. It was a rare goal from a set piece for Arsenal, whose reputation for direct free-flowing football hasn’t deserted them, even if their sturdiness in defence has. Just two weeks ago, the Gunners allowed a two-goal lead to slip in the final 10 minutes against Wigan; and yesterday they were again on the wrong end of another comeback.
Confusion in the Arsenal defence allowed David Dunn to net the equaliser on the stroke of half-time; while Chris Samba’s header sealed Rovers all three points with 20 minutes still to play.
Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabiański was the main target of criticism for his failure to deal with the two crosses that led to both of Blackburn’s goals. The Polish international has become somewhat of a scapegoat in recent weeks; however, the Gunners’ problems extend much further than just their suspect goalkeeper.
Fabiański made a number of crucial saves throughout the match after sub-standard defending from those in front of him. In fact, without the Pole, the one-goal deficit could have been even greater.
Wenger was riled that a foul wasn’t given against Samba for Blackburn’s second goal. The commanding defender appeared to merely be standing his ground, though. Neither Sol Campbell nor Fabiański could deal with his towering presence.
True to form, the incensed Arsenal boss stormed off down the tunnel directly after the final whistle, failing to shake Sam Allardyce’s hand in the process. Not that the Blackburn manager would have been particularly bothered. Over the years, his hard-to-beat, organised teams have proved a real thorn in Wenger’s side.
Allardyce may have been accused of anti-football by the Arsenal boss, but it’s a tactic which the experienced Frenchman must learn to counteract. In desperate need of a new goalkeeper, one of two defenders, a defensive midfielder and another striker; this is the summer where the Arsenal manager must dip into the transfer funds readily available to him and revamp his squad. If their recent lack of success is anything to go by, it’s the only way to keep the north-London outfit competitive.
Without a trophy since 2005, a growing level of impatience and frustration has built up at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal would never dare sack Wenger. But sooner or later, unless things change, the relationship between manager and club may soon begin to deteriorate.
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