Big Sam expecting no cheers from rival Wenger

BLACKBURN manager Sam Allardyce does not expect to share a drink with Arsene Wenger today. But that does not bother him too much – as long as Wenger’s Arsenal side fail to collect a win bonus.

Allardyce has enjoyed some victories – on the back of some gritty football – and irritated his French counterpart in the process, first with Bolton and now with Blackburn.

On sharing a glass or two with Wenger, Allardyce said: “He’s never been the type of man to do that and neither have most foreign coaches that have been here. Rafa Benitez was the same and Carlo Ancelotti never came into my office last year. British coaches see it as an unwritten rule, they pop in and see the manager after the game.

“It has never been the case with Arsene but that does not worry me. What worries me is making sure that we must not let them beat us. We must not let them use their skills because they are one of the top teams in the country. For many years we have pitted our wits against each other and when you’ve had some success over that time you obviously remember how you did it.”

While Blackburn’s physical approach has unsettled Arsenal in the past, new Gunners signing Laurent Koscielny cannot wait to get stuck into the physical battles of the English game – declaring he will not allow strikers room to breathe.

The 24-year-old summer signing from Lorient had an eventful Barclays Premier League debut at Anfield, where he was the victim of a rash challenge from Joe Cole which earned the Liverpool midfielder a straight red card before then being sent off himself for two late bookings.

Koscielny returns from suspension today, and, with fellow new arrival Sebastien Squillaci not set to be involved, will partner Thomas Vermaelen at the centre of defence.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger maintains he has no issue with opponents’ physical approach, providing it is within the rules and there is enough protection from the referee.

But Koscielny insists he will give little quarter in his own individual battles this season.

“I work hard and never give up. On man marking, I don’t let the striker breathe,” Koscielny declared.

“I love one-on-one challenges because they are a physical, technical and mental challenge. It is a big battle – part bluff, part judgment.

“My aim is never to let the striker open on his good foot to go towards the goal. You have to be very intelligent to win those sorts of challenges.”

Koscielny added in the Arsenal magazine: “I don’t have the technical genius of Cristiano Ronaldo or the physical strength of Nemanja Vidic, but I fight hard with my own qualities. I have worked so hard to reach the top and I am not going to stop there.”

Arsenal head to Ewood Park on the back of a 6-0 thrashing of new boys Blackpool. England forward Theo Walcott grabbed a hat-trick against the Tangerines, but still drew criticism from BBC pundit Alan Hansen.

Wenger, though, feels the 21-year-old – back in the England fold after being left out of the World Cup squad – will take it all in his stride.

“I believe you can always win every battle – just show up with a good performance,” Wenger said.

“I believe Theo has the quality to repeat those performances and that is what he has to show on the pitch.

“I have seen so many great players in my life. They have all been questioned – Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney has been questioned at 20, Zidane had been questioned at 20, but that is down to the players to answer on the pitch with their performance.”