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Howard Webb was in charge today and you could have been forgiven for thinking he was from Blackburn rather than Rotherham. What he could miss off the ball he did, and what he saw differed considerably from what I saw. One thing we both saw was Adebayor playing a loose header, Blackburn countered and Bentley went down in the box like he was impersonating Van Nistelrooy impersonating Bambi on ice. Webb however, to the consternation of the Gooners, pointed to the spot as our entire defence protested. Granted Bentley was under pressure from Kolo, but really! After a long argument amongst themselves, as to whom was going to take it, eventually Nonda stepped up and made it 0-1 Blackburn after just three minutes. Stangely I didn't spot a single Congo flag in the away section. So here we go again we thought, eleven men behind the ball and we'll have lumps kicked out of us, if we're lucky we'll get a standard Ashburton 1-1 draw. Wrong!
Either Blackburn were just too inept or, more probably our boys were far too good, either way we hardly let them have the ball again. Going a goal behind bothered the fans more than the players and they just went on and played good football. Clichy who got forward on a regular basis had a shot well off target. Emerton with an arm lock around Clichy's neck, no card. Emmanuel down the left and a near post cross that Robin rifled wide. Savage late on Hoyte, what a surprise that was, fancy Savage making a late tackle. A great Clichy run that included a number of one-twos, he was one of many who had a fine game. Rosicky and Robin combined well to win a corner, which Rosicky sent in from our left for Kolo to head onto the bar. Quite how we got another corner I haven't a clue. Robin took the one on the right and I've no idea if they have salmon in Brazil but Gilberto leapt like one anyway and glanced it just inside the far post. A great header and 1-1 with only ten minutes on the clock. If I'd had a Brazilian flag with me I would have waved it.
Free kicks that didn't look it kept being given Rovers way. Bentley had a magnificent shot tipped over by Jens, a great shot and a fantastic save. From the corner, which Savage fired in, Bentley headed over. Clichy was fouled again but there was no whistle from Webb. More free kicks followed but nothing when Djourou was clearly held back and which almost led to a chance for Blackburn. Great ball by Cesc to Adebayor. Hleb found Fabregas, who played it in to Adebayor who laid it off to Hleb who had a bit of a run in their box, shimmied, sent his man the wrong way and almost passed rather than shot it into the net. 2-1 Arsenal after 23 minutes. If I knew what a Belaursian flag looked like and I had one with me I would have waved it.
We only had to wait another four minutes for our third. As Van Persie almost got himself one-on-one with Friedel but was upended by Neill before he could shoot. Quite why Webb had to chat with his lino I've no idea. It was a clear penalty and it was merely a matter of whether Neill should get a yellow or red card. In the end he only got a card for dissent due to his ceaseless whinging. Adebayor took the spot kick and sent Friedel the wrong way. Cool dude. 3-1 Arsenal and this was becoming quite a game. Now if only I'd had a Togolese flag to wave.
Van Persie then either got a yellow for jumping out of the way of a tackle or for diving. This was soon after Gilberto had been taken out well off the ball with not a word said. Savage then took Adebayor's ankle away from behind and Webb said play on. Hleb then got a card for an alleged dive. I can't tell you what I advised Webb I thought he was at this point. I expect Webb thought that Hleb was just supposed to stand there and take the studs in his ankle. Free kick against Cesc. Arsenal eventually won a free kick via Hleb, to massive ironic applause. Fabregas to Hoyte who's cross won us a corner. Our full backs really worked well with our wide men today and caused a lot of problems for Blackburn. Adebayor then got a yellow card for an enthusiastic tackle working back, his work rate was yet again phenomenal today.
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Quite an amazing half of football and not quite the game I'd expected after going a goal behind to a team like Rovers. Half-time 3-1 Arsenal. We'd seen four goals already but could easily have seen a few more.
Arsenal played the second half kicking towards the North Bank. Adebayor was caught offside a few times whilst coming back. Emerton was finally booked for his umpteenth foul on Clichy. A great Arsenal move that Hleb failed to continue and at the other end Pedersen or Gamst as it says on his shirt miss-cued a shot well wide. Blackburn then won a couple of corners before Cesc had a low drive deflected past the wrong side of their post. Adebayor was variously sauntering or steaming down our left. Kolo was quite superb in defence. Rosicky to Cesc for a one on one that was well saved. Hleb and Van Persie then combined well down the right before Hleb found Hoyte on an overlap to win another corner, which was headed clear.
Can't recall how it came about but Rosicky had a shot that was headed off their line, onto the bar and away. Bentley was then fairly lucky to get away with his life after fouling our ever passive German keeper. Hleb to Hoyte again and his cross was just behind Adebayor who was judged offside. Had the big man left it, then Robin, who looked onside was there for a tap in. Gray who had been getting a roasting at left back was subbed for Derbyshire to come on. Emerson went to right back and Neill to left back, not that it made much difference to our intensive pressure.
Rosicky put Van Persie through but he failed to power it with his wrong foot. It was at about this time that we were debating whether we were on for a six-one or a three-three because above all else Arsenal are certainly not predictable this season. One of the side effects of having a young team I'd suggest.
We were playing some delightful one-touch stuff and the possession stats must have been severely one-sided in our favour at this point. Arsenal won a corner that was given as a goal kick. We were so on top it was untrue, but as is typical of us at home we allowed Blackburn to pull one back. Emerton crossed from the right and a good diving attempt was headed onto the underside of the bar by Derbyshire. The ball bounced kindly for the men in blue and white and Nonda was able to produce an overhead kick that saw them pull it back to 3-2. Twenty-one minutes remained.
This was Blackburn's only real spell of concerted attack in the match. Rosicky, just back from injury looked knackered, Le Boss agreed and replaced him with Flamini. Flamini was almost immediately grabbed by the neck and Webb of course said play on. Djourou who is growing with confidence and has a calming influence about him saw off Derbyshire. At the other end Van Persie had a cracking shot blocked. Flamini went down in their box in a similar manner to how Bentley won his pen but the outcome was different. Pedersen hit one across the face of our goal but his teammates were not sufficiently advanced. Lehmann made another fine save, this one from Savage as a few in the crowd hit the panic button. Arsenal however continued to play more good football as a cross from Adebayor to Van Persie demonstrated, but Robin hit it over.
We remained on top once Blackburn's spell had blown itself out and on 85 minutes Robin turned Ooijer inside out before bending a perfect low shot just inside the far post. 4-2 to Arsenal and time to get out our Dutch flags, if we'd had them with us of course. Hleb and Adebayor, who went off to the entire ground chiming out his song, were replaced by Baptista and Walcott.
Tugay took out Van Persie for what should have been a certain yellow card, but was not given. Adebayor to Cesc who picked out Robin who fired past Friedel. The keeper had no chance, 5-2 Arsenal. The Gooners went totally ape but there was yet more to come. There were three minutes of added time during which Savage got a yellow card for giving continuous lip. His day got worse when Cesc performed some brilliant stuff on the left which included a nutmeg on Savage. The crowd loved it and were still applauding the nutmeg uproariously as Cesc picked out Falmini who slotted home our sixth. Cue French and Spanish flags, 6-2 to Arsenal. Flamini celebrated but the whole team seemed to jump on top of Cesc. Our first total annihilation of the opposition at Ashburton, real Roy of the Rovers stuff and a game to remember for all those lucky enough to be there.
We'd seen Arsenal make twenty-one goal attempts, two of which hit the woodwork. Great stuff and quite amusing for those who stayed the full distance was the fact that we scored three goals that all those who left with five minutes remaining missed. Two penalties, six yellow cards, some crap refereeing, eight goals including some brilliant ones, entertainment from the start to finish and the nutmeg of the season. Thank you Arsenal for a great early Christmas present and my fondest seasonal greetings to everyone reading this report.