By Boris Mellor
November 26 2005

The Bruiser’s are no doubt hoping for revenge as we finished their cup run last season - and Andy Todd is telling everyone he is not a thug. Of course you’re not Andy, how could people have got that idea?

However, I don’t expect them to be that dirty this Saturday as the red cards and disciplinary hearings last season has finally taught them a lesson. True Todd got off the van Persie incident, but they incurred plenty more red cards and suspensions.

Anyway I am sure that Arsenal fans have forgiven him, and will make that clear to him tomorrow. The Bruisers are always a tricky game for us, last year must be the first time in quite a while that we did a treble over them. I certainly have seen quite a few games where we messed it up, conceding last minute goals.

Now Arsenal have won all games at home this season, and Blackburn only won one away – mind you it was at Manchester United, and they also drew at Manchester City. They have only lost one more game than us, so nobody should underestimate them.

We have an added problem that Wenger will almost certainly play Cygan at left back, even though Eboue is fit, and the defence is finding it hard to keep a clean sheet of late. True they kept one against Thun, but that was fluky to say the least.

However van Persie was their nemesis last season at Blackburn, and in the Semi, and he could be so again on Saturday. Ironically we did not have Henry in those two games – so this time we have both of them available. That should give us plenty to frighten them with. We also have Bergkamp, Pires, Ljungberg and Reyes available. Our offensive power should keep our own defence under less pressure.

But games are rarely easy against Blackburn, and they are a much-improved side compared to last year. As Wenger says it could be a tricky fixture. But the Gunner’s team confidence is rising and this is a hurdle they should overcome.