Arsenal Vs Blackburn
FA Cup Fifth Round
Saturday 16th February 15:00 BST
Emirates Stadium
Referee: Mike Dean


Progressing steadily

It has been a decent cup run so far if not thrilling. We made a meal out of the 1st game and while the 2nd game was entertaining, it did result in most of us losing few litre of blood. But then it's not an Arsenal game when you go through without any amount of stress. In any case, we are doing good generally. Our performance last weekend was pretty solid, specially the defending and injury wise we are doing decent so all in overall, the progress towards the end of the season is steady. But we are now entering towards the final part of the season and probably the most important as well. FA cup, CL, fight for the 4th, everything will come thick and fast. However the sensible thing is obviously to take one thing at a time which is what Arsene usually stress upon. So as a start, FA cup game against Blackburn tomorrow is vital in terms of morale going ahead of the Bayern game and of course a step closer towards the FA Cup itself which will end our trophy-less run. It is after all the most realistic chance of a trophy this season.

Facing Blackburn

It does feel a bit weird to not play or watch Blackburn in the league these days but they are making a comeback tomorrow, even if it is for a day. Last time they played us, we trashed them 7-1 at home and a similar scoreline would be pretty decent. But of course things changes, Blackburn are a different team now even if they do have some of the older players. Incidentally they just signed David Bentley today on loan who would be eligible to play against us tomorrow. That would make things interesting. All in all, a cup tie is a cup tie and Blackburn will push us all game and try for a replay at least in the end. Our job will be obviously to prevent that and make sure we don't show the complacency we did against the likes of Bradford in the Carling Cup.

I am sure with the Bayern game in mind, we will rest quite a lot of key players. But that only means that it's a good chance for the fringe players to find form and show Arsene they are ready when required.

Team News

Captain Thomas Vermaelen should be back from his ankle problem for Arsenal.Fellow defender Laurent Koscielny will have his calf injury assessed, while there are fitness concerns surrounding midfielder Jack Wilshere who has a thigh problem.

New Blackburn loanee Karim Rekik, an 18-year-old Dutch defender from Manchester City, could start.

Possible Team for Arsenal

---------------------------------------------Fabianski--------------------------------------------------

Coquelin---------------------Mertesacker--------------------Miquel-----------------------------Monreal

--------------------------------------Diaby----------------Ramsey-------------------------------------

Oxlade------------------------------------------Rosicky---------------------------------------Gervinho

---------------------------------------------Podolski----------------------------------------------------

Possible team for Blackburn

-----------------------------------------------Kean-----------------------------------------------------

Orr------------------------------Dann----------------------Hanley--------------------------Olsson

--Pederson------------------------------Murphy---------------Lowe------------------Orr---------------

-------------------------------Kazim-Kazim------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------Rhodes----------------------------------------------


Match Facts (BBC)

Head-to-head

•This is the 120th competitive meeting of two clubs that first clashed in 1901. Arsenal have won 58 of the previous 119, and Blackburn 30.
•Arsenal beat Blackburn 3-0 in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in April 2005 and went on to win the competition for the 10th and most recent time.
•Blackburn beat the Gunners 1-0 in the 1928 semi-finals and went on to lift the silverware for the sixth and most recent occasion.
•This is the eighth time they have drawn each other in the competition: Arsenal lead 4-3.
•The clubs last met in the Premier League in February last year, when Arsenal humiliated their Lancashire opponents 7-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal

•Arsenal are the second most successful club in FA Cup history, but they have not won a major trophy since this competition eight years ago.
•The Gunners have never been knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower league club in the Arsene Wenger era, and have ended the interest of 28 such clubs since losing to Sheffield United in 1996.
•The North London club have progressed beyond the fifth round in only two of the seven seasons since last lifting the silverware.

Blackburn Rovers

•Blackburn are yet to concede a goal in this season's FA Cup.
•They are one of three Championship clubs trying to eliminate Premier League opposition this weekend, but have been knocked out themselves on the last three occasions they have been drawn against top-flight clubs.
•Victory would make it their most successful run since reaching the semi-finals in 2007.

Final Words

Get in there

Nice work RG.

Guardian teams:

I would rest Sagna if it's possible. He will face one of the best winger in the world on tuesday so needs to be as fresh as possible.

Great Job RG.

I agree we should rest Sagna. I hope we can win big, and looking forward seeing some young Guns playing tomorrow.

Another thrashing on hand for my birthday?

Great preview RG, hope we finish them off quickly so we can rest as much as possible. Eisfeld or Gnabry should have a run out and maybe even Chuba.

Anxiously awaiting Gervais' return.

Blackburn Rovers have conceded 25 goals in 7 trips to the Emirates. (Record: P7 W0 D2 L5 F5 A25)

Arsenal last met Blackburn in FA Cup in '07 (1-0 loss) Almunia; Eboue Senderos Gallas Traore; Hleb Denilson Gilberto Ljungberg; Aliadiere Baptista.

According to Geoff

"Jack is on the bench today with Lukas and Santi."

RealGunner wrote:Match Facts (BBC)

Head-to-head

•This is the 120th competitive meeting of two clubs that first clashed in 1901. Arsenal have won 58 of the previous 119, and Blackburn 30.
•Arsenal beat Blackburn 3-0 in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in April 2005 and went on to win the competition for the 10th and most recent time.
•Blackburn beat the Gunners 1-0 in the 1928 semi-finals and went on to lift the silverware for the sixth and most recent occasion.
•This is the eighth time they have drawn each other in the competition: Arsenal lead 4-3.
•The clubs last met in the Premier League in February last year, when Arsenal humiliated their Lancashire opponents 7-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal

•Arsenal are the second most successful club in FA Cup history, but they have not won a major trophy since this competition eight years ago.
•The Gunners have never been knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower league club in the Arsene Wenger era, and have ended the interest of 28 such clubs since losing to Sheffield United in 1996.
•The North London club have progressed beyond the fifth round in only two of the seven seasons since last lifting the silverware.

Blackburn Rovers

•Blackburn are yet to concede a goal in this season's FA Cup.
•They are one of three Championship clubs trying to eliminate Premier League opposition this weekend, but have been knocked out themselves on the last three occasions they have been drawn against top-flight clubs.
•Victory would make it their most successful run since reaching the semi-finals in 2007.

These 'stats' just feel like one big jinx to me .