By Boris Mellor
April 21 2005

This was the day that anti-football lost. Amazingly in spite of the 10 men behind the ball, the bullying tackles, and the shit refereeing, football finally won out.

ARSENAL 3

Pires 42
Van Persie 86, 90

BLACKBURN ROVERS 0

The fact that the beautiful game finally triumphed was no thanks to the pathetic refereeing display of Steve Dunn. This bloody idiot could book Cole for allegedly kicking the ball away, whilst ignoring injury threatening tackles by Savage and Todd. Dunn was like a policeman issuing a ticket for parking whilst murder took place across the road. How Arsenal ended on three yellows, to Blackburn’s four, beggars belief, as Blackburn had committed three time as many fouls.

But there is no need for sour grapes, for Blackburns obsession with assault and battery meant that, for most of the match, they forgot to do anything that could win the game.

Arsenal were well worth their win in this game of four halves. The first half saw Blackburn dominate by pressing up and closing down Arsenal at every opportunity, and in the first 30 minutes they probably had 3 shots to the Gunners none, not that Lehmann was severely tested.

Then the second half started on thirty minutes, Arsenal having weathered the storm began to move the ball about. The first chances began to appear, Friedel made a brilliant save from Reyes. But a brilliant cross from Kolo from the left wing found Pires in the box. The Gunners were comfortably on top, and this continued after the half-time break. After about 55 minutes the Gunners sick of Blackburn’s thuggery decided to show Blackburn what football actually looked like, so they put forty five passes together as the Arsenal hordes crowed Ole! Ole!

Hughes brought on the ignoble Savage to carry on kicking, but stunned by the football lesson Blackburn hit back with frenzied attacking action – so the third half began. Now Blackburn were dominating, over 65% of the possession of the next 15 minutes. Arsenal’s showboating at only 1-0 up could have been disastrous, but the defence was excellent with Lauren, Senderos, and Kolo absolutely sterling.

Now Blackburn burnt themselves out in a futile attempt to blow Arsenal away, a light bulb always burns brightest just before it goes out, and that was the case here. For the fourth half was about to start, Arsenal’s confidence grew and grew and the bringing on of Van Persie at 83 minutes had a stunning effect. Within minutes he scored a goal similar to the one he scored at Blackburn in the league, except Vieira, not Cole, was the provider.

The third was even better, on the 90^th minute Pires crossed the ball to him, without waiting to control it, and in one simple flowing movement he volleyed the ball into the top corner of the net. It must be candidate for the goal of the season. What should have been a glorious celebration was prevented by the late arrival of Andy Todd, who inexplicably jumped up with his elbow raised and flung backward, knocking out the new Dutch Master. But it didn’t spoil the celebrations of the Arsenal fans or team.

Arsenal are learning to cope with anti football, it was good experience for them, it will no doubt come in handy for the final.

Sky TV gave Pires MOM award, fair enough, but for my money Paddy was well worth the accolade, here he was at his imperious best, shrugging off the thuggery, winning the ball and keeping calm. His demeanour helped to keep the whole team calm. This was a captain’s display.