The Game

Arsenal are after their third consecutive Premiership win after beating Wigan and Fulham in their last two games. Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner are both back for the Gunners with Walcott celebrating his first official game of the season after making a comeback from a back injury.

On to the line-ups and despite making their comeback from injuries, both Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott are not part of the starting eleven as they sit on the bench with Carlos Vela and Jack Wilshere making way.

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The Line-Ups

Arsenal

Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Fabregas, Diaby, Rosicky, Arshavin, Van Persie

Subs: Szczesny, Silvestre, Eboue, Gibbs, Ramsey, Walcott, Bendtner

Blackburn

Robinson, Jacobsen, Givet, Chimbonda, Olsson, Emerton, Dunn, Andrews, Diouf, Nzonzi, Di Santo

Subs: Brown, Jones, Pedersen, McCarthy, Kalinic, Hoilett, Salgado

Half-Time Thoughts and Analysis

It’s been a very entertaining first 45 minutes at the Emirates and the Arsenal reaction, twice trailing, has been superb with Cesc Fabregas producing his best game of the season so far for the Gunners.

Questions will be asked on the first goal, not on Blackburn’s way of scoring which is ugly of course, but on our defending which was not at its best. But luckily, we were quick to respond via a Thomas Vermaelen cracker as we were also quick to respond to the second goal, this time with a one-two which saw us take the lead and with our captain involved in both goals.

To summarise the half, well we know the pattern, we’re a team playing in a way so much like the 1980 Brasilian National side so winning 3-2, 4-3 or 5-4 is more than normal. Of course, it’s great to see us take our chances in front of goal. We’ve had plenty of goal opporunities and in three occassions we scored, in others Robinson did well to deny our men. Besides Cesc, Alex Song has also had an amazing first half, he’s everywhere, doing just what the midfield requires from someone playing in his role.

At half time, it’s Arsenal three, Blackburn two.