Arshavin will start for sure. You will need his intelligence to beat the Devils and hopefully he will do as good as the game against Fulham or even better against Liverpool

Woa Chelsea got 3 straight tough match after this haha.

Very similiar to Arsenal last season need fight with Chelsea,ManU then Liverpool in 3 consecutively premier league game.

And i will prefer Spuds to lose though as this will reduce less 1 possible contender

Woohooo draw. Win tomorrow and Arsenal will be pulling ahead!

normal la most commentators or rather England people hate Arsenal because Arsenal is like a french team, Eduardo denied England euro/worldcup(what is it again) and latest Arshavin assisted Russia with world cup bid.

Sam Allardyce leaves Blackburn
December 13, 2010

Sam Allardyce has left Blackburn Rovers with immediate effect, along with assistant manager Neil McDonald.

Sam Allardyce stabilised the club when replacing the ill-fated Paul Ince
GettyImagesSam Allardyce stabilised the club when replacing the ill-fated Paul Ince

Allardyce leaves the club, who have just been taken over by Indian chicken company Venky's, in 13th position in the Premier League. Chris Hughton, sacked by Newcastle last week, is among the early favourites to take over.

A statement on the Blackburn website read: ''The Venky's Group, owners of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, has today [Monday] confirmed the departure of manager Sam Allardyce and assistant manager Neil McDonald with immediate effect.

''First team coaching duties will be taken on by Steve Kean [currently 1st team coach] for the immediate future.

''We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club. We would like to put on record our thanks to Mr. Allardyce for his contribution to Blackburn Rovers Football Club.''

Allardyce said in a statement: "I am very shocked and disappointed to be leaving Blackburn Rovers. I am extremely proud to have managed this club and I enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the players, my staff and the supporters during my time in charge. I now wish them and the football club every success for the future."

Poultry firm Venky's finalised their purchase of the 99.9% shareholding of the Jack Walker Trust for £43 million (taking into account club debts which will be paid off) a month ago and owners, the Rao family, initially spoke of setting only modest, realistic targets for Rovers.

One bookmaker did reveal a flurry of sizeable bets on Allardyce to be the next top-flight manager to vacate his post and slashed odds from 33/1 to 3/1 on Monday.

Rovers lost 2-1 to ten-man Bolton at the weekend, with Allardyce accusing his players of ''defending like a bunch of old women". However, that defeat still left them five points clear of the bottom three and in no obvious danger.

Richard Bevan, chief executive of the League Managers Association, said: "When new owners take over a club, sadly, the manager's position often hangs by a thread. To Sam's great misfortune this has now happened twice and, on both occasions, it has been extremely difficult to understand the thinking behind the dismissal. It is ironic that one minute Sam can be proposed as the next England manager and the next, he finds himself out of work.

"He is widely acknowledged within the game as one of the most progressive and forward thinking managers, embracing new concepts and technologies to create an environment which leads to success for his club. It will not be long before Sam, with his exceptional management experience, is back in a managerial post."

Blackburn striker Jason Roberts told Sky Sports News: "I just heard it now and couldn't believe it. I don't think anybody saw it coming. I'm shocked and disappointed for the manager.

"Even though we never got on, I would never have wished him to get the sack."

Arsenal playing very defensive imo. Even Clichy not allowed to take the throw-ins after half way line

The scoreline reflects the game though. Only the second half will determine who wins it not the first. It is still a super wide game with Arsenal bench far superior.

Wenger don't learn. He rather put unfit players compare to players that could work much better.

GG

Rush Fabregas again? The bench has no more players? Come on, the front line is already packed with players pushing forward. Imagine Nasri,Arshavin,V.persie,Chamakh,Fabregas all move front and pass around against a team who defends so well.

And once again Fabregas seriously? Risking him for 1 game that may push him further again? And the whole time he was sub in he clearly shown i-am-not-real-fabregas sign.

If u want to win, play smart not desperate. Right before Fabregas and v.persie was in, i thought we will get the 1 goal. Right after they are in, there was basically nothing.

Whatever it is, let's hope now Chelsea don't follow Arsenal steps.

Scszeny did really well in the game imo for his first big game in his life. I don't see a reason why Almunia will make it to the bench anymore also.

Looks like Arsenal future goalkeeping department is all set already.

Let's hope the return leg at Emirates will be better eh. and of course no Howard Webb that shit web head. Sagna kena karate until shirt also koyak.

If Arsenal player karate ManU, sure kena yellow card at minimal.

Please refrain from reporting people. U must let sore loser unleash their ultimate secret. Give them a chance come on.

It is so sad that we can't see them in Carling Cup finals or something as their little pathetic pussies of youthless team can't even beat West Ham.

Oh god, i pity them so much. Ya u will say it's Carling Cup man but i will say it's West Hamburger man.

Old Traford. Legendary stadium, and it is slippery because its winter season now who don't know that. I won't blame that. But seriously 1-0 win against so-call kids and u guys are proud of it? If Arsenal are kids, we will lose 7-1 to ManUnited supporter club(Blackburn).

It is so sad that Arsenal don't have enough supporter clubs to donate the 3 points away. I wish Arsene Wenger would make more friends but there are no friends in football of course in some exceptional cases where u get 6 extra extra minutes or more.

Nasri protested to the ref he gets a yellow. Fletcher protested to the ref running to him like he lost his wife to the ref or something but ref says blah just a game.

Looks like gk department dilemma now. Both from same country also lol.

But i like Woj(shorter name easier) much more than Fabianski since he don't make crucial mistake or basically any significant mistake since the start of his career in his Arsenal unlike Fabianski.

Anyway, our defending crisis hopefully will be solved and strengthen up with Vermaelan returning this January and hopefully no further set back.

Koscielny did decently, Squillaci on the other hand seems like the weaker link instead. Clichy played very defensively but Nani is just too tricky for him or for any LB in the world. Sagna was the usual him, help out a lot in the middle.

Song played the real role of DM but in his mind seems to be still " i am attacking". I was wondering if Denilson actually could play better than Wilshere since Denilson played quite well recently with his breaking up play in the middle.

Nasri and Arshavin both huge disappointment. There was time where Arshavin can take a shot and at least hit the target when defenders are not close enough to him but he choose to put some super complicated pass while Nasri maybe because of his bandage hand(lol) he is not playing well at all.

Chamakh totally nailed by CB

arshavin.eu: Did Arsenal deserve this defeat?
AA: Judging from the game – no. The match was a battle. The teams were fighting for the result. Unfortunately, we lost. What were the reasons?
I think that Manchester United were more fortunate in this match, whereas we were unable to create anything special, dangerous at their gates. Perhaps it is worth noting that episode when Chamakh had an opportunity to score a goal. But at that moment, Nemanja Vidic managed to hit the ball in some cat-like jump.

arshavin.eu: Arsenal were playing for a draw?
AA: No. We simply tried to act responsibly in defense. It was an away game, we were thinking how not to miss and at the same time we were looking for the opportunities to hit their gate. Actually, if it hadn't been for this crazy ricochet at the end of the first half, we would have gone on a break with the score 0-0, and then it would have been easier for us to play in the second half of the match.

arshavin.eu: This ricochet cost you three points. It was disappointing, wasn’t it?
AA: Of course, the aftertaste of this defeat still remains. But now we have no time to indulge in melancholy and sadness, we have to forget this defeat and start thinking about our next game. We must prepare well for every opponent. Step by step. The next game is against Stoke City. So now we are going to get ready for this match. We must beat them. We have a very interesting championship this year, nothing is lost yet.

arshavin.eu: When are Arsenal going to start winning over Manchester United?
AA: That's exactly the issue we discussed after the game. When? I hope that this will happen when we meet next time at the Emirates.

arshavin.eu: There is an interesting clash ahead: Manchester United vs. Chelsea. What team are the Arsenal players going to support?
AA: The Arsenal players will try to solve their own task: to win next game. And as for the way this pair is going to play, I'm not interested. Whatever the result, let it be. One should only rely on himself in this life.

Bendtner is going to be a father and should not feature in this week game at all. Congratz to him

sure got live. time unsure but i think just check the newspaper tomorrow.

oh gawd

BARCA LOL

Arghh if Arsenal is first place we will get AS Roma

Let's hope Arsenal improve drastically by February because with the current team form i am afraid repeating 2-2 draw in Emirates also very hard.

rofl is it Diaby doing the peace sign or Squillaci?

Vermaelan how the hell long we haven't seen u la?

He looks happy and i hope his condition is also happy.