Saturday February 16, 2013 5th Round Finished Emirates Stadium

  1. FA Cup - Matchpack: Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers

    FA Cup - Matchpack: Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers

    Team news, quotes and facts ahead of the FA Cup fifth round tie between Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates Stadium. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Arsenal
    • Blackburn Rovers
    • FT AND THERE IS THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE. Boos ring out around the Emirates. Arsenal need to win the Champions League or it will be EIGHT YEARS without a trophy. What a shock!!
    • 90+4 Giroud's shot hits a Blackburn defender from close range and then Arteta fires into the side netting.
    • 90+3 Vermaelen heads back across the goal from the backpost but Blackburn clear.
    • 90+2 Kean comes out and slides down to take another ball. A few more seconds killed by Blackburn.
    • 90+1 Groans after a misplaced pass from Arteta.
    • 90' We will have four extra minutes.
    • 89' Goodwillie booked for a foul on Coquelin
    • 89' SAVED BY KEAN!!! – Wilshere did great down the left – put in a cross – Walcott storms in to head towards goal – either side and it would have been a goal but it is straight at Kean.
    • 88' Cazorala has a shot blocked and then Goodwillie wins a free at the other end to waste some seconds. Blackburn just kick the ball away to try and eat up some seconds.
    • 87' Diaby with another shot but Kean is there to push it away…Arsenal throwing everything at this.
    • 87' Diaby has a shot blocked on the edge of the box.
    • 86' Giroud puts Wilshere's cross harmlessly into the hands of Kean. Neither a knockdown or an effort on goal.
    • 85' A wall of Blackburn bodies just camping on the edge of the Arsenal box.
    • 84' Another shot – another effort wide from Arsenal – Monreal dragging the latest effort away from Kean.
    • 84' Grant Hanley having an immense game at the back for Blackburn – blocking everything.
    • 83' Blackburn change their strikers. Goodwillie on for Rhodes.
    • 83' Arteta slips a ball in behind the defence – it looks like Walcott is tripped but he was flagged for offside.
    • 82' Walcott nicks possession but Hanley is there to sweep up as Walcott's first touch was a little heavy.
    • 81' Coquelin slides in and fouls Pedersen. Blackburn will take their time over this.
    • 80' Wilshere with a lovely ball over the top of the defence and Monreal does well to control the ball. He runs out of space though and then miss hits something that is neither a shot nor a cross.
    • 79' Blackburn very deep – it is going to be a LONG 10 minutes for them.
    • 78' Coquelin losses possesion on the edge of the area after being played a pass from Cazorla.
    • 77' Kazim-Richards needs some treatment as the clock ticks on. 13 minutes left.
    • 76' Walcott runs at the Arsenal defence but gets crowded out at the edge of the area.
    • 76' Wilshere curls in the free-kick – it looks like it is going to land at Giroud six yards out but it hits his arm.
    • 75' Pedersen blocks Walcott in a dangerous area – chance for Arsenal to put in a cross.
    • 74' The Emirates in an absolute state of shock – Giroud has just put a header harmlessly wide.
    • 72' GOAL FOR BLACKBURN!!!!! Would you believe it? Just as the big names come on for Arsenal. Martin Olsson gets a half volley on target and Szczesny pushes it out but Kazim-Richards is there – he completely miss hits it into the ground but it finds the corner of the net.
    • 71' How about this for a move? Wilshere, Cazorla and Walcott all come on. Rosicky, Gervinho, and Oxlade-Chamberlain go off.
    • 70' Szczesny with an unconvincing punch but he gets away with it.
    • 69' Diaby now gets a shot on target – low effort that is too straight, Kean saves but he almost spilled it.
    • 68' Superb tackle from Grant Hanley denies Gervinho just has he looked to pull the trigger after being put in by Rosickly.
    • 67' WHAT A HIT FROM ROSICKY!!!! Stunning strike from 25 yards from the Czech star and it looks to be heading for the top corner but instead cannons off the underside of the bar.
    • 67' Arsenal about to bring on the big guns….
    • 66' Good pace from Oxlade-Chamberlain down the left now but he can't really wrap his foot around the ball to get in a decent cross and Kean gathers easily.
    • 65' Another shot from Arsenal drags harmlessly wide of the target. Rosicky with this latest effort.
    • 64' Marcus Olsson coming off and here comes David Bentley. His second debut for Blackburn against another former club.
    • 63' Another good run forward from Monreal but Arteta's ball to him has just a little bit too much on it.
    • 61' Bit of head tennis in and around the Arsenal box but a calm header back from Koscielny ends the danger.
    • 60' Spectacular overhead attempt from Oxlade-Chamberlain inside a crowded area but it loops well over the bar.
    • 59' Corner pops up for Diaby to head towards goal but his header is over the bar.
    • 58' Panicky defending for a moment from Blackburn and Monreal nearly got in but Orr clears it away for a corner.
    • 57' Remember Arsenal have Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott and Podolski all on the bench.
    • 56' Diaby tries a shot from distance but it goes well wide of the target. Blackburn will be happy enough to let Arsenal try shots like that.
    • 54' Cries of shoot on more than one occasion as Arsenal pass it just outside the area but then Arteta gives the ball away.
    • 53' Oxlade-Chamberlain on the edge of the area cuts inside and tries a shot with his left foot but it is blocked by Dann.
    • 52' Not for the first time today Oxlade-Chamberlain beats Olsson down the right but again his cross is poor.
    • 50' Blackburn have a corner again now – a bit more ambitious from the Lancashire side in this half.
    • 49' From an Arsenal corner at the other end Giroud heads it towards goal and it just needs a touch from Gervinho but he can't quite get there.
    • 48' Blackburn win two headers off the corner but Arsenal finally clear the danger.
    • 47' Dangerous ball into the box from Olsson and Vermaelen slices a clearance that could have gone anywhere…luckily for Arsenal it goes just wide.
    • 46' And Arsenal have got us back underway…
    • HT And there is the half-time whistle. Arsenal controlling possession but Blackburn looking comfortable enough at the back. Poor game.
    • 45+1 Arteta does go for a shot – gets a decent contact at the ball but it goes straight at Kean.
    • 45+1 One extra minute
    • 45' Lowe fouls an attacking Giroud. Chance for Arsenal to put another ball into the box although Arteta might even try a shot.
    • 43' GERVINHO MISSES A GREAT CHANCE!!! Rosicky cut the defence with a perfect pass - Gervinho only had Kean to beat but dragged his shot wide of the target.
    • 42' At times you can hear individuals in the crowd trying to start chants – that's how quiet it is.
    • 41' Coquelin runs inside the box – he gets crowded out so he decides to try and dive. Very poor from the Frenchman and he is lucky not to be booked. Soon after Gervinho drags a poor effort wide.
    • 40' Vermaelen has to make a defensive header inside the box as Blackburn venture forward but they are limiting numbers – sticking to the script.
    • 39' Embarrassing moment for Kazim-Richards as he gives the ball straight back to Arsenal by kicking out for a throw with nobody near him.
    • 38' Szczesny uses his head to clear out for a throw as Markkus Olsson was nearly found on the edge of the area.
    • 37' Familiar story this – Blackburn just have so many men back and Arsenal have not been able to find the key to unlock them.
    • 36' Blackburn back off Montreal allowing him to shoot from 35 yards out – it takes a deflection and it is yet ANOTHER corner for Arsenal.
    • 35' Another Arsenal attack ends with a poor cross with Oxlade-Chamberlain's attempt going straight into the arms of Kean.
    • 35' Rhodes found in an attacking position for the first time but Diaby races in to steal the ball from him.
    • 34' Coquelin now found in an attacking position down the right but his cross into the box is poor.
    • 33' Coquelin gets a round of applause from the home fans after dealing with Markus Olsson during a rare Blackburn attack.
    • 32' David Bentley warming up on the touchline. "Arsenal reject – you know what you are" is the chant from the home fans.
    • 30' So we have reached the half-hour mark. Arsenal dominating but struggling to break Blackburn down.
    • 29' Vermaelen get his head on yet another corner and it loops towards the corner of the net and Kean has to race across and save despite two Blackburn players being on the line.
    • 28' Coquelin with a clever run – tries to play a ball in behind the defence to Giroud but a Blackburn defender sticks his boot out and clears it way.
    • 27' Arsenal have had 73 per cent of possession which tells its own story.
    • 26' Oxlade-Chamberlain tries a shot with the outside of his right boot but doesn't get it right and the shot spins well wide.
    • 25' Blackburn getting deeper and deeper – they just can't get the ball.
    • 24' EXCELLENT SAVE BY JAKE KEAN! Rosicky finally puts in a good corner – Diaby gets a free header on target and Kean pushes it over the bar.
    • 23' Corner number seven is punched clear by Kean – then Arteta storms into the box – stands up another cross and Orr puts it behind for corner number eight.
    • 22' Gervinho with an instant burst sees him past Orr but his check back is just behind Arteta and Giroud.
    • 21' Kean is able to gather the corner unchallenged.
    • 20' Rosicky and Diaby have a little passing game between them on the edge of the area and Orr has to clear it out for Arsenal's sixth corner.
    • 19' Arsenal in control in terms of possession but they have not worked Jake Kean yet.
    • 18' Better ball from Oxlade-Chamberlain this time but it is just a little too high for Giroud – Orr puts it out for another corner.
    • 17' Monreal sees a cross deflected away for a corner – the Spanish full-back is getting forward well. Terrible corner from Oxlade-Chamberlain though.
    • 16' Gervinho runs the ball into the box but he is crowded out before he has a chance to find a man or a shot.
    • 15' Arsenal have a couple of corners in a row but they can't do anything with them.
    • 14' Arsenal have a couple of corners in a row but they can't do anything with them.
    • 13' Half-hearted appeals for a penalty as Scott Dann slides down to block a Rosicky cross – it might have got part of his hand but you are never going to get a penalty for that.
    • 12' Monreal makes a good run down the left but Oxlade-Chamberlain's pass towards him is very poor.
    • 11' Orr gets booked for a bad tackle on Gervinho.
    • 11' Markus Olsson in loads of space down the left but his cross is poor.
    • 10' Arteta puts the ball into the free-kick and Diaby manages to make contact with the back of his head but it loops over the bar.
    • 9' Free-kick down the left for Arsenal after Orr blocked Monreal's cross with his arm.
    • 8' Quite quiet inside the Emirates – almost like they are waiting for something to happen.
    • 6' Arsenal getting on top of things now – dominating the possession.
    • 5' Terrible cross from Rosicky after he did well to spark an attack with a one-two with Oxlade-Chamberlain.
    • 4' Giroud tries to dink a ball over the top for Oxlade-Chamberlain but Kean does well to come out and gather.
    • 3' FIRST CHANCE FOR BLACKBURN!!! Pedersen whips a free-kick into the box – it is Oxlade-Chamberlain who flicks it on but it comes to Marcus Olsson at the back post but he puts it wide.
    • 2' Plenty of empty seats inside the Emirates but they are sprinkled around which suggests they are sold tickets. Might just be a case of latecomers.
    • 1' And Blackburn get us underway.
    • 14:59 Blackburn wearing their navy away shirts today.
    • 14:55 Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
    • 14:50 MATCH ODDS: William Hill have Arsenal as 3/10 faves with Rovers at 9/1 and the draw 4/1. Worth a punt on at least a draw, surely?
    • 14:45 FACTS: Jordan Rhodes has bagged nine goals in his last 10 appearances for Blackburn in all competitions. Rovers have won six and lost just one of their last 10 in all competitions. Blackburn have lost three of their last four visits to the Emirates by at least four goals on each occasion (D1; all competitions).
    • 14:40 FACTS: Arsenal are unbeaten in 34 games against lower ranked sides in the FA Cup (W27 D7). The Gunners are also unbeaten in 34 FA Cup ties at home (W25 D9). This will be Arsenal’s sixth appearance in the fifth round since winning the trophy in 2005. They have failed to progress on three of the previous five occasions. Olivier Giroud bagged a brace in the Fourth Round for Arsenal and has scored five in his last five appearances for the London club.
    • 14:35 FACTS: This is the seventh time that Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers have been drawn together in the FA Cup. Arsenal have progressed on four occasions; although Blackburn were victorious in their last meeting (2007 Fifth Round) winning the replay 1-0 (after the initial match ended 0-0). The two games between Arsenal and Blackburn in the Premier League last season produced 15 goals.
    • 14:30 Michael Appleton: "I think it is certainly a weekend off in terms of the league fixtures. With the FA Cup game on Saturday it does give us an opportunity to enjoy the match more than we would in a normal league game."
    • 14:30 Arsene Wenger: “In 16 years I don't think we have had [many] upsets against lower-division teams. That shows that we take the competition seriously. We prepare for the game like a final every time, and that’s why we have done reasonably well until now. We had one upset against Bradford, on penalties, but we did take that game seriously. I said that straight away after the match and we analysed what happened at Bradford very deeply. They have proven since that they are a team of quality."
    • 14:25 Rovers have new loan signings Karim Rekik and David Bentley - ex of Arsenal, of course - on the bench. DJ Campbell is cup-tied and Danny Murphy rested, meaning Morten Gamst Pedersen and Lee Williamson returning to the XI. David Dunn's calf injury leaves him sidelined along with Joshua King, Grant Hanley (both hamstring), Leon Best and Dickson Etuhu (both knee).
    • 14:25 For Arsenal, Francis Coquelin starts at right-back with Bacary Sagna rested and Carl Jenkinson suspended. Jack Wilshere is on the bench as Arsene Wenger manages his thigh strain, but defenders Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny start after recovering from thigh and calf injuries respectively. Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott are on the bench as Olivier Giroud and Gervinho - back from Africa - start. Kieran Gibbs is injured and Andre Santos shipped out on loan, meaning Nacho Monreal starts.
    • 14:20 TEAMS - Arsenal: Szczesny, Coquelin, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Monreal, Diaby, Rosicky, Arteta, Gervinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud; Subs: Mannone, Sagna, Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski /// Blackburn: Kean, Orr, Dann, Hanley, Martin Olsson, Pedersen, Williamson, Lowe, Markus Olsson, Kazim-Richards, Rhodes; Subs: Usai, Givet, Fabio Nunes, Rekik, Nuno Gomes, Goodwillie, Bentley
    • 14:15 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the FA Cup fifth-round clash between Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers, kicking off at 3pm.

  • Summary

    • 90+4 Giroud's shot hits a Blackburn defender from close range and then Arteta fires into the side netting.
    • 87' Diaby with another shot but Kean is there to push it away…Arsenal throwing everything at this.
    • 72' GOAL FOR BLACKBURN!!!!! Would you believe it? Just as the big names come on for Arsenal. Martin Olsson gets a half volley on target and Szczesny pushes it out but Kazim-Richards is there – he completely miss hits it into the ground but it finds the corner of the net.
    • 68' Superb tackle from Grant Hanley denies Gervinho just has he looked to pull the trigger after being put in by Rosickly.
    • 67' WHAT A HIT FROM ROSICKY!!!! Stunning strike from 25 yards from the Czech star and it looks to be heading for the top corner but instead cannons off the underside of the bar.
    • 47' Dangerous ball into the box from Olsson and Vermaelen slices a clearance that could have gone anywhere…luckily for Arsenal it goes just wide.
    • 43' GERVINHO MISSES A GREAT CHANCE!!! Rosicky cut the defence with a perfect pass - Gervinho only had Kean to beat but dragged his shot wide of the target.
    • 29' Vermaelen get his head on yet another corner and it loops towards the corner of the net and Kean has to race across and save despite two Blackburn players being on the line.
    • 24' EXCELLENT SAVE BY JAKE KEAN! Rosicky finally puts in a good corner – Diaby gets a free header on target and Kean pushes it over the bar.
    • 3' FIRST CHANCE FOR BLACKBURN!!! Pedersen whips a free-kick into the box – it is Oxlade-Chamberlain who flicks it on but it comes to Marcus Olsson at the back post but he puts it wide.
    • 14:20 TEAMS - Arsenal: Szczesny, Coquelin, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Monreal, Diaby, Rosicky, Arteta, Gervinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud; Subs: Mannone, Sagna, Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski /// Blackburn: Kean, Orr, Dann, Hanley, Martin Olsson, Pedersen, Williamson, Lowe, Markus Olsson, Kazim-Richards, Rhodes; Subs: Usai, Givet, Fabio Nunes, Rekik, Nuno Gomes, Goodwillie, Bentley

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.9 6
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 5 6
      5.1 6
      5.6 6
      5.9 7
      Midfielders
      4.7 6
      5 5
      Substitution Out71′ 6.4 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out71′ 3.8 5
      Substitution Out71′ 5.2 6
      5.1 5
      Subs
      Substitution In71′ 3.9 6
      Substitution In71′ 4.6 7
      Substitution In71′ 4.5 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.8 8
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 6.5 7
      6.4 7
      6.9 8
      6.9 7
      Midfielders
      6 7
      Substitution Out64′ 6.1 7
      6.3 7
      6.3 7
      Goal 6.6 8
      Strikers
      Substitution Out83′ 6.2 7
      Subs
      Substitution In64′ 6.5 6
      Substitution In83′ Yellow Card 6.4 6

Comment 249 - 269 of 269

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. ;o)))))) o.k . so last tray ­ Scezny###Sagna-Koscielny-Vermaelen-Gibs###Wilshere###Ro­ sicky-Cazorla###Oxlade-Chamberlain-Podolski###Walcott

    From Jiri, on Sun 17 Feb 10:23

  2. *******************************************************­ Scezny­ *******************************************************­ ***** Sagna***************************­ Koscielny******************************Vermaelen*******­ *************************Gibs­ *****************************************************­ Wilshere***********************************************­ **************­ *********************************************Rosicky***­ *******Cazorla*****************************************­ ***********­ Chamberlain********************************************­ *******************************************************­ *Podolski ­ *******************************************************­ Walcott************************************************­ **************

    From Jiri, on Sun 17 Feb 10:18

  3. ***************** Scezny ******************** Sagna**­ Koscielny**Vermaelen**Gibs ***************­ Wilshere******************** ­ *******Rosicky**********Cazorla*********** ­ Chamberlain*******************Podolski ­ *****************Walcott******************** ­ That's how we want it Mr Wenger ;) of course if­ that's possible and by the way it wasn't happy­ change last night ! I think Rosicky should stay instead­ of Diaby and we could get a draw at least

    From Jiri, on Sun 17 Feb 10:11

  4. oh dear, that was a pity

    From Tartan, on Sun 17 Feb 9:18

  5. idiot Arsenal fans

    From me, on Sun 17 Feb 8:50

  6. Lol at all these shallow Arsenal fans... Wenger is the­ best thing to ever happen to your club! I'd love to­ see him at Real Madrid, now that'd be a team worth­ watching..

    From me, on Sun 17 Feb 8:48

  7. Coaches like Wenger i think should be punished for­ under rating the F.C CUP. by using their second team in­ playing games.

    From William, on Sun 17 Feb 6:54

  8. Wenger is playing with the feelings and emotions of­ millions of arsenal faithfuls and it's time to get­ rid of him. He insulted Blackburn Rovers as a team and­ also the F.A Cup which is the most prestigious cup in­ the world of football and so deserved to lose like a­ failure that he is.....and we are saying GO! GO!! GO!!!­ Wenger.

    From William, on Sun 17 Feb 6:52

  9. Wenger is the most stupid coach i have ever supported­ in my life as a football loving fan and i hate to know­ that we arsenal's fans are going to end this season­ again without any trophy and it's shame on him. It­ is time for Wenger to leave arsenal alone for a new­ coach.

    From William, on Sun 17 Feb 6:40

  10. Arsenal = Mertesacker + Podolski !!!

    From Ali, on Sun 17 Feb 4:33

  11. Please go NOW Wenger

    From freddie, on Sun 17 Feb 4:31

  12. I love how evryone's #$%$ about this but what happens­ if they do win against bayern(which I think is possible­ considering that chelsea did that last year and they­ didn't look like they were going to beat anyone) are­ people still going to #$%$ and complain? gervihno is­ really starting to look like andre santos and thats not­ good when you know he's a really good player but for­ whatever reason he's not getting the job done

    From brian, on Sat 16 Feb 23:15

  13. Well firstly hahahahahahaha how Arsenal are 5th is a­ mystery and come 10pm Tuesday night I wouldnt be­ surprised if they are allready out of the champions­ league coz Bayern are way too good for woefull gunners

    From Lee, on Sat 16 Feb 23:10

  14. Showed utter contempt and disrespect for the F.A. Cup­ and Blackburn. Got what you deserved.

    From cameron, on Sat 16 Feb 22:35

  15. @lanesar comment number 261..............NO POINTS FOR­ WINNING AN F.A. CUP GAME !!!

    From Joe Armstrong, on Sat 16 Feb 21:09

  16. blackburn will get wigan next round and it will be 3-0­ to wigan

    From Sam, on Sat 16 Feb 20:32

  17. they need to get there form back

    From S, on Sat 16 Feb 20:15

  18. If Arsenal don't get into top four then Arsene has­ to go at the end of the season. If we had won today we­ would have been one point off Tottenham, and what do­ they do….lose. It was expected really as they are so­ inconsistent.

    From lanesar, on Sat 16 Feb 19:29

  19. Ha ha ha ha ha.

    From Richard, on Sat 16 Feb 19:16

  20. Gareth Bale+Gareth Bale+Gareth Bale+...=Henry

    From Gunner, on Sat 16 Feb 18:49
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account