Arsenal 6-2 Blackburn: Cesc On Fire

It was appropriate that Thierry Henry was in the crowd for this game as it was probably the Frenchman who was the last Arsenal player to single-handedly destroy an opposition team in the way Cesc Fabregas did in this game. The young Spaniard was in sublime form and it’s a shame he goes away for Spain for two weeks now and doesn’t get a chance to show more of this form in the red of Arsenal.

First the goals, which you have probably seen, but if not hereyou go.

Blackburn’s first (from the type of massive punt by Robinson which Sam Allardyce has made a career out of) was a looping header from someone called Steven Nzonzi who was so tall he looked like he should be playing in the N.B.A. The defence was very deep but Mannone will be disappointed with both his failure to come for the ball and his positioning. That said it was a perfect looping header and Vito was slightly unlucky to be caught out, as demonstrated when Cesc’s header, almost immediately after their goal, lobbed Robinson but cannoned back off the bar.

Arsenal weren’t to be denied though and top scorer Thomas Vermaelen added to his tally this season with a thumping drive from outside the box to bring us level after a cutback from Cesc. The Belgian striker has made a great start to his career at Arsenal, especially since he is being asked to play out of position at centre back. Jokes aside, I’m not sure I have seen a centre back with a better shot or more confidence to shoot than Tommy V. It’s remarkable, not just the number of goals but the type he is scoring.

Still, Arsenal being Arsenal they weren’t content to now sit tight and slowly turn the screw and be patient to find a goal against Blackburn, they thought they would make it interesting and pile forward. So when a simple long ball from Diouf seemed to bypass almost everyone and leave them two on two, Song decided to chase the ball despite Vermaelen being close, a simple ball found Dunn, Gallas allowed him to cut inside onto his right foot and Blackburn took the lead again with the help of a massive deflection.

Then the Cesc Fabregas show began. Two minutes after Blackburn took the lead, Cesc played a delightful throughball for RvP who finished with a low, hard strike across goal. 2-2. Cesc then played an almost identical ball for Arshavin who produced an almost identical finish. 3-2. Rosicky then produced a superb outside of the boot cross for Fabregas, which the keeper saved and the defender blocked the follow up. Could have easily been four.

Arsenal didn’t have to wait long to get their fourth and Fabregas got his reward for a wonderful afternoon’s work. Fabregas tried to play it to Rosicky, the ball hit the defender and bounced up, Rosicky hit it over his own head back to Fabregas who chested it down and guided it into the top corner on the volley. He then ran to the corner to celebrate with the Arsenal fans and kissed his badge like he bloody meant it. I know players do this all the time and Fabregas may leave one day but at that moment, I truly believe he meant it. He looked all serious and everything.

Walcott had been on for Rosicky for hardly any time at all for his first appearance of the season when he made it 5-2. Fabregas started the move with a little poked pass to Arshavin who ran about 60 yards before giving it back to Cesc who nudged it on to Walcott for him to finish with another nice low drive. Bendtner came on and made it 6-2 with a fantastic right-foot drive from outside the box which clipped the inside of the post and went in.

Song should have scored from a header and Gallas may have had a penalty. Blackburn should definitely have had a penalty, hit the post and also forced Mannone into a great save but I don’t think anything was going to stop Arsenal. We were behind twice after all. The defending needs to be worked on, we did still let in two, but when the attacking play is as good as this it feels ungrateful to moan about the defence.

Fabregas was in top form, Arshavin finally seems to be getting back to his best, RvP looks like he is growing into the lone striker role with three goals in his last three games. Rosicky looks better with every passing game and Vermaelen is one of the signings of the summer. Loads to be positive about, but probably some to worry about too. But we have almost two weeks until the next game so there is plenty of time to talk about that.

And just one more point, I can’t take the credit for the shocking pun in the headline, I did steal it from here.