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Place : Emirates Stadium, London, England
Time: Saturday 15:00 GMT, 16:00 CET, 20:30 IST (will be telecast on ESPN in India)
Arsenal host Blackburn in the fifth round of the FA cup on Saturday with one eye on the midweek Champions League game. The FA Cup presents a very tangible opportunity for the gunners to break their long trophy drought and thus should provide incentive enough for Arsene Wenger to field a strong team. However, the Gunners’ recent run-in with Lady Luck means the team has been trimmed down with a lot of players in the medic room. So the Londoners would want to get through the game with minimal damage, keeping in mind the crucial with Bayern Munich.
Blackburn on the other hand sit comfortably in eighth place in the championship, six points away from a play-off spot and have barely anything to lose coming into the game. So you may as well see the Lancashire side go on the offensive rather than sit back and park the bus. The Premier League experience throughout the rank of the team should help the team in terms of not getting overawed by the occasion.
This is another tie that makes you relive the Cup romance. The game gives an opportunity for the tormented souls of the Blackburn fans to anticipate an upset in a game that they have nothing to lose. For the North Londoners, it gives them an opportunity for another run at silverware and may their best opportunity at that, this season.
| Jan 20 | FT | Chelsea | 2-1 | Arsenal | Premier League |
| Jan 23 | FT | Arsenal | 5-1 | West Ham United | Premier League |
| Jan 26 | FT | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2-3 | Arsenal | FA Cup (Round 4) |
| Jan 30 | FT | Arsenal | 2-2 | Liverpool | Premier League |
| Feb 2 | FT | Arsenal | 1-0 | Stoke City | Premier League |
| Feb 9 | FT | Sunderland | 0-1 | Arsenal | Premier League |
Two clean sheets in their last two games should give the Arsenal defence confidence going into the game. New signing Nacho Monreal was troubled by Sessegnon on the flanks last week but should be up against a lesser challenge going into the game. The Gunners’ form has been indifferent throughout the season, “invincible”-like in one game only to look pedestrian the following game. However, they seem to hit form at the right time as we reach the business end of the season.
| Jan 19 | FT | Blackburn Rovers | 1-2 | Charlton Athletic | Championship |
| Jan 22 | FT | Blackburn Rovers | 1-1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Championship |
| Jan 26 | FT | Derby County | 0-3 | Blackburn Rovers | FA Cup (Round 4) |
| Feb 2 | FT | Blackburn Rovers | 2-0 | Bristol City | Championship |
| Feb 9 | FT | Blackburn Rovers | 1-0 | Ipswich Town | Championship |
| Feb 12 | FT | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1-1 | Blackburn Rovers | Championship |
Rovers have been through a lot over the past couple of years. A relegation followed by sacking of two managers within the space of a few months have made them look like a mad house with Shebby Singh at the helm of the mess. However, they seem to be on a semi-impressive run of their own with 5 games unbeaten which should have their spirits high for the game.
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger addressed the press yesterday, ahead of the game, regarding the injury concerns heading into the 5th round tie;
“Wilshere and Koscielny have a test this [Friday] morning and Thomas Vermaelen should be back. He has a definite test today,” said Wenger.
“We have plenty of people in training today who have a test and we’ll see how well they come out of it. I am confident 50:50 with Wilshere and Koscielny, and Vermaelen 90:10.”
Wilshere or Vermaelen may not be risked for the FA Cup game but the quotes should give the Arsenal faithful some comfort ahead of the Champions League clash. Carl Jenkinson’s red card means that he will not be available for the tie while Kieran Gibbs remain a long term absentee.
Gervinho, who was mighty impressive on national duty in the African Cup of Nations, is back in contention and should see the pitch from the beginning. The likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky and Diaby should see extended minutes in the game. Youngsters such as Ignasi Miquel or Hector Bellerin have a fair chance of getting the nod for the start.
Blackburn Rovers
Michael Appleton will be forced to drop leave striker DJ Campbell out of the tie as he remains cup tied because of his involvements with QPR. This may push Morten Gamst Pedersen to first team action after being pushed to the bench in recent times.
Prolific striker Jordan Rhodes alongside Colin Kazim-Richards should provide the main fire power for Rovers. Jake Kean is likely to continue his goalkeeping ahead of Paul Robinson.
-> This is the seventh time that Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers have been drawn together in the FA Cup. Arsenal have progressed on four occasions; although Blackburn were victorious in their last meeting.
-> Arsenal are undefeated in 34 games against lower ranked opposition in the FA Cup (W27 D7).
-> Arsenal are unbeaten in 34 FA Cup ties at home (W25 D9).
-> Jordan Rhodes has scored 9 in his last 10 games for Blackburn in all competitions.
-> Blackburn are yet to concede a goal in this season’s competition and have lost only once in their last 10 in all competitions.
