Gunners face Rovers ‘hell’

BLACKBURN captain Chris Samba wants to make life a “living hell” for Arsenal at Ewood Park today.

Rovers are anxious to kick-start their Barclays Premier League campaign after failing to register a win in their opening four matches.

Steve Kean’s men are bottom of the table with just one point and some disgruntled supporters are planning to stage a march to demand the manager’s removal prior to this weekend’s kick-off.

Yet Samba feels that is unnecessary as performances have deserved far better and is convinced Rovers have the game to worry the Gunners.

The highly-rated Congo defender, linked with a move to Arsenal during the summer, said: “If you are a football player you shouldn’t be scared of any team.

“It is a home game and it is up to us to make it a living hell for them when they come here.

“It is simple, we must to do our best to make sure they don’t play as they want to, make it horrible for them.

“We are so unlucky to be talking about this. With a bit of luck we would not be here, we would have four or five points and be in the middle of the table, comfortably.

“We have shown we can play good football but at the moment we are not winning.

“We do look like a good team and we just need a fraction to be a great team.”

Blackburn dominated in their last home game against Everton, missing two penalties and hitting the woodwork twice, only to lose to a last-gasp Toffees penalty.

They then led at Fulham last week before being forced to settle for a draw.

Samba, 27, added: “I am not too worried. We create so many chances every game and play well. I know the quality we have in the squad. “A win would be very good, it would relieve a bit of pressure and all the talk but, from the past, you can see this is not the first time we have had something like this.

“We will be successful against adversity.

“Last season people said we would go down but we didn’t.

“Every year it is the same, we are used to it. We are going to prove that is wrong. We will do it again.”

Despite the performances, pressure is growing on Kean, who was elevated to the manager’s job after owners Venky’s sacked Sam Allardyce last December.

A number of supporters are concerned about the direction of the club under Venky’s and Kean and organisers are hoping 1,000 will join the march before the Arsenal game.

Samba believes their frustration is misdirected and said: “When you win, everything changes, the mood changes. We need to win. We have the spirit to get our first win and it would be fantastic if it could come tomorrow.”

Kean has tried to stick to his job and travelled to Dortmund on Tuesday to watch Arsenal in the Champions League. The Scot is confident the situation will turn around and believes he still has the backing of most fans.

Kean said: “Fans want to see a team win and it is my job to set the team up in a manner that can go and win.

“I would be very disappointed if the fans didn’t see that the set-ups we have had have been positive. We are trying to score goals and win games. We are not sitting back and being negative.

“I am convinced wins will come and when they do I would like to thank the fans for sticking with us, because I am sure they will.”

Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger wants his players to build further momentum at Blackburn. Arsenal have stuttered in the Premier League, picking up one point from the first three fixtures. Last weekend’s 1-0 win over Swansea City turned things around.

“That is what we want to achieve and hopefully it will go as planned,” said Wenger.

“We know that we will be tested in every single game in the Premier League and Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup will be difficult. Let’s just show we can win the next one, Blackburn.

“They are a good side. They got a point last week at Fulham and were a bit unlucky against Everton. So let’s prepare ourselves for a difficult opponent.

“You lose your confidence quickly and you gain it back slowly. You only gain it back with hard work and that is what we want to show at Blackburn.”

Wenger, though, is in no doubt once the confidence returns, so will the Gunners brand of slick passing football.

“What is important for us at the moment is to get the points and the best way for us to do that is to play well,” he said. “Against Swansea we were under massive pressure and we will be again at Blackburn but let’s focus on getting the ball, playing our game and then we will have a chance to win the game.”