Quite a pleasing title I think you’ll agree

Well yesterday I got my birthday present from Arsenal, a whopping 8 goal thriller. Two penalties, a header, an overhead kick, a one-on-one, two Van Persie goals and a last minute Flamini goal. It was by far the most exiting game at the Emirates stadium so far, it had depression, jubilation, tension and comedy (love you Cesc for the nutmeg on Savage :)). We started with the team everyone expected and there was good feeling around the ground, everyone I heard thought we would win and were pleased to have Rosicky back.

When the game started I was thinking to myself we can’t go one down again, and you know what? Two minutes later we did. Nonda played Bentley through who brought down Toure forcing him to fall onto Bentley. The ref pointed to the spot and it wasn’t the only shit decision he made, the ref was terrible; he really did not know what he was doing. Nonda took the penalty, he placed it low to Lehmann’s right. He went the right way but it was a well taken penalty and out of the German’s reach. 1-0 down, at least we had 87 minutes to sort it out.

We didn’t have to wait long for the equalizer through, captain fantastic Gilberto popped up at a Robin Van Persie corner to head us back level in the 10th minute. From a corner on the left we hit the bar and from the resulting corner RVP played a brilliant ball in to the edge of the six yard box, Gilberto leapt like a salmon and headed into the far corner of the net. 1-1 C’mon The Arsenal.

The third goal was scored by Alex Hleb. It was a beautiful move with Fabregas playing it to Adebayor who fed in Hleb into the box. Alex rounded one defender and then slotted the ball calmly into the opposite corner of the net past Friedel. We were 2-1 up now; 20 minutes ago I was thinking it was going to be another one of those days but credit has got to go to the boys for fighting back so well.

Blackburn still looked dangerous so we really needed to get that 2 goal cushion, so we did Adebayor played a ball over the top for Van Persie who was hacked down by their captain Neill and it was now our chance to score from the spot. Adebayor put the ball down which was surprising, I thought Gilberto would be taking it but for some reason he wasn’t. I wasn’t very confident of Ade converting; I knew that Friedel is a very good shot stopper. However it was a very good penalty sending the ‘keeper the wrong way, we had that two goal cushion now and went in at half time 3-1 up.

The second half we started well, we didn’t score but we were playing some excellent football and forming some great moves and passing triangles. However after the hour mark we began to get sloppy again and we conceded with just over 20 minutes to go from some poor defending. A ball was crossed in from the right and it went to a man unmarked at the far post who only managed to hit the bar, but the ball rebounded straight to Nonda who converted with an overhead kick from close range. Blackburn we back in it now, one goal and they could earn a point.

We were very sloppy at this point in the game and it’s been the same old story every game: STOP GIVING AWAY THE BALL! We do it far too much and we get punished for it, it was quite tense watching and it was obvious someone was going to score before the whistle went. Thankfully that man was Robin Van Persie. Some good skill in the area to confuse the defender and then he shot along the floor and the ball just bent nicely into the far corner, a really nice goal. 4-2 now, surely game over?

Blackburn were all over the place now and were playing very open with no shape trying to somehow score, that favoured Arsenal and we added two more goals before time was up. Adebayor played a great through ball into the box for Fabregas, and instead of shooting Cesc squared it the Robin who was able to slot the ball it the net with ease. 5-2 now, Robin on his hattrick.

There was three minutes of extra time and we waited until the very end of that to make it six. Cesc Fabregas had the ball out wide on the left and Savage was trying to steal it, Cesc skilled him a few times but then finished with a beautiful nutmeg to allow him through, he had a shot which was blocked by Friedel but it came out nicely for Flamini who just shot into the empty goal to finish to 8 goal thriller.

A fantastic performance all round for Arsenal, there were quite a few players having a great game and not one who had a bad one. Rosicky was excellent and how we’ve missed him. Was nice to see six Arsenal goals in one game, all the goals were really good and well constructed. We’ve got bottom of the table Watford next so hopefully we can continue that form. I’d like to see Baptista up front at some point, he was great at that training day and I really want him to get the chance to prove himself. He came on in the 89th minute yesterday so had no time to impress.

Last night I realised there are 31 days in December and I could’ve gone to Sheff. Utd. away, however I was too late and they’ve all sold out. Shit. Oh well, going to Anfield next month so that’ll be good, sorted my travel out for that one yesterday.

Hopefully a special Christmas day Watford preview tomorrow. If not, have a great Xmas. Thanks for reading.