Will the curse of away PPV end?
Celebrate
By Boris Mellor
January 13 2007
PPV stands for Piss Poor Viewing, whenever Arsenal are playing away on PPV they have a real stinker. There have only been two so far this season but they were both dreadful, Man City and Bolton Wanderers.
The ones at home were fine, but I was at the stadium anyway. Perhaps the Spurs fans thought they noticed the curse as they lost 3-0 at Arsenal.
What is it about PPV that does this, what do the Opta Stats show? Well usually it is pissing down with rain, and the opposition borders on violent, so maybe PPV stands for Petty Physical Violence. They also show that Latin digestion finds it hard to cope with 5:15 p.m. kick-offs.
I had a real bit of luck last season on PPV, I can’t remember the game, but we were crap, and lost away to some bunch of pushers, punchers and hoofers. No that wasn’t the lucky bit, George Graham was just about to sum up and tell us we had lost because we can’t defend and are too soft. No that wasn’t the lucky bit - wait for it. Suddenly the Cable signal crashed – no that wasn’t the lucky bit – the lucky bit was I rang up to complain about missing strollers summing up (which I was going to switch off anyway) and I got all my money back – now that’s what I call lucky.
I suddenly realised the way forward is payment by results, no win no fee. Perhaps this could be how Arsene makes sure there are no more slip-ups in the North West graveyard. He could arrange with PPV that all true Gooners will get their money back and the team will pay.
But I digress, what of the Blackburn game? Ah yes those Opta stats, well they don’t show the rain, but they do show that Arsenal had committed the fewest fouls in the Premiership this season. Meanwhile Blackburn lies at the other end of the table.
According to Bentley Hughes teaches his players how to be tough, I assume that includes how to be obnoxious lessons, because he and Savage are certainly irritating. Bentley is enthralled by this, so much better than all that rubbish about technique that Arsene goes on about in training. Nonetheless Blackburn does have a lot more skill than a year or so ago, and actually tried to match Arsenal with football at Ashburton Grove, which is probably why they lost. I doubt if they will make that mistake again and this will be a lot tighter match.
The pitch will probably be sodden, the rain will be teeming down and there will be a gentle 17-mph breeze blowing. That should help Thierry improve on last week’s sprint of 19.6 mph. But the South of France and Brazil will seem a long way away.
Both teams are enjoying a vein of rich form; both beat Liverpool recently, although that is not the feat it once was. Remember when we used to dread going to Anfield? Arsenal has only lost once in last 9 games, and that was with a weakened team. Meanwhile Blackburn has won six of the last seven in all competitions. Beating Liverpool 1-0 at Ewood Park, and crushing Everton 4-1 at Goodison Park in the cup. So it has the hallmark of a tight match, but Arsenal are boosted by two fantastic victories at Liverpool. Mind you Friedel is a better keeper than Reina or Dudek. Blackburn will also have Benni McCarthy back, but Bentley is suspended.
Arsene’ s injury situation has eased up with Diaby and Adebayor back in the squad, however Eboue is out again, and Gallas is 3 weeks away from playing. But at last he has a real choice of on forms strikers. I suspect Henry and RvP will start with Ady and the Beast being brought on as necessary.
Arsenal possible squad: Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky, van Persie, Henry, Almunia, Djourou, Adebayor, Baptista, Walcott, Aliadiere, Flamini.
Blackburn possible squad: Friedel, Brown, Neill, Todd, Ooijer, Gray, Emerton, Savage, Tugay, Pedersen, Nonda, McCarthy, Brown, Derbyshire, Mokoena, Henchoz, Peter, Khizanishvili.