Arshavin’s attitude and Fab’s body language causing concern

WITH Saturday’s early kick-off at Ewood Park live on the box, I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about a crack of dawn departure for a long schlep up to Lancashire, after an exhausting week at work.

But with my Egyptian Gooner mate on a pilgrimage from Cairo, I couldn’t possibly wimp out, certainly not in the aftermath of last weekend’s scintillating goalfest.

Following a far less impressive display on Saturday, we were delighted to come away with all three points. Sam’s Rovers might roll over for his old mate Fergie, but the majority of their opponents will be forced to put in an honest shift against Allardyce’s muscular side, if they’re to avoid dropping points on their outing to the Ribble Valley. Rovers seemed to run out of steam somewhat after Shava scored our second. Nevertheless, in the absence of a third goal cushion, it was a long 40 minutes before the final whistle.

Thrown in at the deep end, Koscielny impressed with his composure at Anfield. But then life was a lot easier with the limited ambitions of the Liverpool attack. Poor Laurent flapped like a fish out of water for the first 45 on Saturday, patently struggling to cope with the frantic physicality of a more traditional Premier League encounter.

With an easily bullied Almunia unable to dominate his area, every hoof up into the box and each of Pedersen’s Delap projectiles left Gooner hearts in mouths. The Norwegian’s ball-wiping ritual accounted for far more than a farcical three minutes of injury time.

Whoever sent Alex Song to Louis Saha’s hairdresser deserve to be shot but mercifully Bacary Sagna has left his barnet alone. The winning goal resulted from this unsung star of our season so far, retrieving a lost cause on the touchline.

By contrast there are increasing concerns about Arshavin’s attitude. Having done his bit, by dispatching his goal with some aplomb, the Russian spent the remainder of the match making like a teapot, standing around with his hands on his hips.

Salgado must be closer to 40 than 30. If I’m not mistaken, the cultured but aging full-back is rarely required to last the entire 90. With Shava drifting out of the game, it seemed obvious to have him swap wings, so that Walcott might run the Spaniard ragged.

Walcott’s willingness to take responsibility is most refreshing. His shoot-on-sight mentality is not only electrifying, it’s a statement of Theo’s intent to recast himself from a peripheral, bit-part player, to a lead role in Le Prof’s Passion Play.

Now if only our skipper was similarly invigorated. Cesc had a stinker on Saturday. But then it was never going to be a gentle reintroduction to the pleasures of Premier League footie against Sam’s aggressive outfit. Anyone’s entitled to a bad day at the office, but as our skipper, it was Cesc’s body language that was most perturbing.

I respect Fab’s refusal to indulge in the badge-kissing nonsense to which we’ve grown accustomed. Having arrived at such an early age, Cesc has a perfectly understandable hankering to return to his roots. On Saturday’s evidence, it might not serve the Gunners to have delayed the inevitable? Fab might well be the sort of mensch who won’t want to let his mentor down, but on some level, basic human nature might guarantee his resentment is made manifest in some fashion.