It would be hard to have many complaints after such a convincing performance away to Blackburn yesterday. To be fair to Blackburn 4-0 does not tell the entire story, things could have been a little different if certain chances had been taken, however only a lunatic would claim that Arsenal didn't deserve the sound victory.
Almunia did everything in an accomplished fashion, the ball was rattled around very nicely indeed, while Eboue and Walcott gave us incisiveness on the flanks, with Denilson and Fabregas showing composure in the centre. RVP and Ade look far hungrier than they did a few weeks back, that Fulham debacle seems to have been a rather useful kick up the backside.
The first goal came after some brilliant Walcott jinking and weaving, his slide rule pass was taken on by RVP and dispatched beyond the hapless Robinson. The second crucial goal came on the stroke of half time, Denilson swung in a tempting delivery from the left flank and Ade nodded it home. In between these two goals, Toure had twice helped us out of pickles at the back. The only criticism of the side would be a few slightly dodgy moments at the back, having said that, Blackburn did set their stall out to attack and limiting them to zero chances may not have been entirely realistic given their unbeaten record at home this year.
The second half was one way traffic. Eboue's excellent direct run was unfairly ended by a reckless Warnock lunge, Ade put away the spot kick. There are some who reckon Eboue dived, I fail to see how they can reach this conclusion as on the replay one can clearly see Warnock's studs clattering Eboue's legs twice. Then the icing on the cake came in the form of a clever bit of play from Ramsey who fed in Ade, who then rounded fatty and slotted home. A good day at the office was complete.
Results elsewhere in the Premiership did not go the way of the Mancs. Liverpool worked hard for their three points against Manu, who put in a rather unexpected Fulhamesque performance. Vidic was lucky not to have been sent off with a straight red card, his cycnical last man foul and his reckless elbow were both worse than yellow card offences.
Personally I can't see Liverpool lasting the pace, they just don't seem to have enough quality going forward. Chelsea easily overcame City, whose fans will be coming back down to earth as we speak. How unfortunate for John Terry that a ref finally had the bottle to send him off, it's good to see that these kind of cynical professional fouls are somtimes given the punishment they deserve. Unlucky John, it couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke.
