By Boris Mellor
February 17 2013

It seemed so pleasant strolling into the stadium on such a warm bright day it must have been all of 9C. The only disagreement between Syd, Simon68 and me was would it be 2-1, 3-1 or 3-0. I was sure Blackburn wouldn’t attack so it should be a clean sheet. Unfortunately it would prove a miscalculation by the total sum of 1.

We were also looking forward to Robinson conceding his 100^th, or was it 150^th goal against Arsenal, which just show where hubris gets you, as Blackburn cheated by playing the magnificent Kean in goal.

As the substitutes were announced my neighbouring season ticket holder commented that it was good to see a strong bench for a change.  I replied true enough, but only because it was a poor team on the pitch, he laughed.

Individually the team looked strong enough, but a midfield of Arteta, Diaby and Rosicky would to my mind lack incisiveness.  Also with Gervinho (Africa’s greatest player according to Wenger, which if true is a sad comment on the decline of the African game.) and the Ox on the wings Giroud would not get the right kind of service. My fears were well founded and summed up by Simon’s half time summary, “A bunch of vexing crustaceans”, actually that wasn’t exactly what he said but this is a family website.

There is no point in reporting the first half, yes a lot of possession and movement around the Black burn goal, but never quite at it. Africa’s greatest footballer spurned an open goal just before the whistle went for half time.  I wonder if the collective noun for strikers terrified of shooting is a Hleb of forwards? The forwards and midfielders were incapable of giving the keeper that much to worry about. Even the Ox was like a speedboat without driver. When the rare decent shot came in Kean was more than able.

Chatting at half time there was unanimous agreement that Wenger needed to change it around within ten minutes of the start of the second half there was also unanimous agreement that he wouldn’t do that until there was only 20 minutes to go. Ah the wisdom of crowds.

The second half continued much as the first, and finally with 19 minutes to go Wenger put his three substitutes out. On came Wilshere, Walcott and Cazorla, off went Rosicky, Gervinho and the Ox, all of whom got a decent round of applause; but the three subs got the more enthusiastic welcome.

At last the team played with urgency and directness, unfortunately when substitutions are made a team is at its most vulnerable and Blackburn very unfairly decided to launch an attack. To quote the hilarious Arsenal.com:

“Martin Olsson raced onto a flick on down the left and fired goalwards. Szczesny could only beat out the shot to Kazim-Richards and he returned a bobbling shot into the net off the inside of the post.

No-one had seen that coming.”

Ha ha, it happens so often to Arsenal it’s about time someone saw it coming.

One nil to Blackburn, and that’s where it stayed. Contrary to some reports the crowd did not turn on the team, but urged them on. Arsenal now desperately proceeded to smash the ball into the side netting, over the bar, at the keeper but anywhere except between the sticks. Those who left early obviously have a low pain threshold, but it was painful to watch. Meanwhile the 10 minibus loads of Blackburn fans celebrated wildly in the far corner.

Twice this season Arsenal have been knocked out of a cup by lower league opposition. The first time ever it has happened in 16 years for Wenger. This is the low point of Wenger’s career, he should leave at the end of the season  before he tarnishes his legacy any further. If he is not to blame, and it’s the directors as some claim, then he should still leave, why let others destroy his legacy?

Wenger refuses to accept that losing twice to lower division opponents is of any statistical importance, it is just an aberration. Many fans think otherwise, they believe it throws a spotlight on the continuing decline of Arsenal over the last few years. The third of the fans that remained at the end demonstrated that by booing at the end of the game, and clapping off Blackburn.

Once again Wenger has sacrificed the FA cup for the CL, he claims Arsenal can beat Bayern, nothing is impossible in football, but I doubt if last year’s finalists will be quaking in their boots when they get a report back on this fiasco, unless Wenger is cunningly drawing them in to a sense of false security. I suspect they will attack more than once. Of course Arsenal might put everything into the first game, win it, lose at Bayern and then proceed to draw next 8 league games. 

As the dispirited crowd left the stadium a Gooner seller was offering free razor blades with every copy of his magazines, there were a few chuckles but no takers.