Arsenal play host to Blackburn Rovers tomorrow in their seventh match of the Premiership season. The match is Arsene Wenger’s first since marking his thirteenth anniversary at the club during the week, officially making him the longest serving manager in the Gunners’ storied history. Wenger will no doubt be hoping that the positives continue this weekend as Arsenal look to climb higher than their current sixth position on the ladder.

Wenger will be without several key players for today’s clash. Samir Nasri is yet to recover from his broken leg, while Denilson (back), Djourou (knee), Eduardo (thigh) and Fabianski (knee) will also miss out. Manuel Almunia is a doubt following a chest infection, meaning Vito Mannone will continue in goal. The Gunners’ will no doubt be boosted by the return of Theo Walcott who has overcome a back complaint, while Nicklas Bendtner is ready to play following his lucky escape from a car crash earlier in the week.

That means that the Arsenal lineup should look something like this:

Arshavin – van Persie – Rosicky
Diaby – Song – Fabregas
Clichy – Gallas – Vermaelen – Sagna
Mannone

BENCH: Almunia, Senderos, Eboue, Gibbs, Ramsey, Vela, Bendtner.

Possible alterations to that lineup include the inclusion of Emmanuel Eboue in place of Bacary Sagna at right back, or possibly Nicklas Bendtner up front and Tomas Rosicky in the midfield at the expense of Alex Song or more likely Abou Diaby. Vito Mannone plays in goals once again despite Almunia’s availability, leading me to believe that Almunia’s injury was blown out of proportion in order to mask the fact that he’s been dropped in favour of the so-far impressive Mannone.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce had an impressive record against Arsenal when he was at Bolton Wanderers however at Newcastle United and thus far at Blackburn he has been unable to replicate this. Fat Sam will be without fullback Gael Give while doubts remain over the fitness of central defenders Ryan Nelsen and Christopher Samba. Tenacious midfielder Vinnie Grella is suspended.

I’m backing a clean-sheet win in tomorrow’s game, extending our run of victories without conceding to five matches in all competitions. Arsenal have been in form of late and I suspect the likes of Andrey Arshavin, Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas will be too much for fifteenth-placed Blackburn. 2-0, with Rosicky and van Persie getting on the scoresheet.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 AM and is filed under Arsenal, Match Previews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.