Wenger’s killer B’s: Bradford, Blackburn and now Bayern?

Arsenal 0 Blackburn 1

They would have been the ones trying to stifle a smile after an inept Arsenal performance that laid bare the frailties of Arsene Wenger’s squad.

The resounding jeers triggered by the final whistle carried with them an underlying criticism of Arsene Wenger’s team selection – Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Santis Cazorla and Lukas Podolski all on the bench – but the manager rightly pointed out he had fielded a side heavy with internationals who ought not to have been troubled by a side struggling to find its feet in the Championship.

Their failure to do so highlighted the importance of the missing starters to Arsenal’s hopes of overcoming Bayern in the Champions League here tomorrow night as well as the weaknesses that have become a frequent feature of Wenger’s sides in recent years and, for once, the manager made no attempt to disguise his frustration at his players’ shortcomings.

The Champions League now represents Arsenal’s last hope of success this season – notwithstanding Wenger’s claim that a top four finish is as good as a trophy these days – but their interest in that competition will not be sustained if they fail to improve significantly on this display.

“It is vital for the end of our season that we respond in a strong way on Tuesday night,” said Wenger. “Of course we did not expect to lose this game. I think we have a great team but this shows that we still have to show more maturity on the mental front. We have to understand what it means to win big games.

“Coming after the Sunderland game we came out with a flat performance and that shows that, mentally, we are not capable at the moment of preparing in exactly the same way for every game.

“Maybe they still thought ‘OK, we’re playing at home against Blackburn, it will be difficult but we will win the game anyway’, but it doesn’t work like that.”

If possession counted for anything Arsenal would have guaranteed their place in the sixth round long before Colin Kazim-Richards scored the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute after a rare Blackburn breakaway. Arsenal, though, were unable to convert their dominance into a more tangible advantage and both Wenger and Wilshere conceded Bayern will start as clear favourites to advance into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with the midfielder drawing on Chelsea’s success of last season for inspiration.

“They weren’t having a good season and they got a bit lucky in some games but showed great character,” said Wilshere. “We need to do that now. We need to come together as a team.

“It’s not ideal to go into a game like that after the loss today but we have to show our character now. We’ve done it before so we know what we can do. We’ve beaten big European teams here before so we need to do that again.”

Kazim-Richards will be watching tomorrow evening, urging on the club he supported as a boy, having suspended his loyalties for the duration of Saturday’s game.

“I was here as a schoolboy as well, so my connections to Arsenal run deep, I’m an Arsenal fan,” said the Blackburn forward. “I love Arsenal. I will be supporting them on Tuesday against Bayern. I’ll have my Arsenal top on. I’ll be there in front of the TV, but you know this is work. It’s be killed, or kill — not literally. So this is what I get paid to do.”

As much as Kazim-Richards’ goal compounded Arsenal’s current problems, it alleviated the gloom that has shrouded Blackburn over the last 18 months since the takeover of the club by Venkys, the Indian poultry producers. Relegation from the Premier League was painful and the club’s recovery has only gathered momentum since Appleton was appointed, becoming the third manager to take charge this season.

Similarly Appleton has managed three different clubs in the FA Cup this season after spells at Portsmouth and Blackpool and this result felt significant for both club and manager.

“There was a moment with four or five minutes left and when you knew there was going to be four to five minutes added and the reinforcements had come onto the pitch, I found myself talking to myself for the last seven to eight minutes, going ‘come on, these are defining moments in people’s careers and [the people who] give you an opportunity’ and all those things,” he said. “Trying to make sure that we stay focused and getting positive energy onto the pitch. When the final whistle went it was more a relief than joy.”

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Szczesny 5; Coquelin 6, Vermaelen 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6; Diaby 7, Arteta 6; Oxlade-Chamberlain 5 (Cazorla 70, 6), Rosicky 7 (Wilshere 70, 6), Gervinho 4 (Walcott 70, 6); Giroud 5.

BLACKBURN (4-5-1): Kean 9; Orr 7, Dann 8, Grant Hanley 7, Martin Olsson 7; Pedersen 6, Williamson 6, Lowe 7, Kazim-Richards 7, Markus Olsson 6 (Bentley 63, 6); Rhodes 6 (Goodwillie 84, 6).

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral.