Dont they normally answer questions on Rovers to (who will be Rovers biggest threat against Arsenal)

Trying to vary things a bit.

Blackburn Rovers take on Arsenal at Highbury on August 25th.

Last season Arsenal were a force to be reckoned with and showed an improvement on even their high standards whereas Rovers underachieved after an excellent season in 2002-2003 when we did the double over the Gunners.

Arsenal have started the season well, beating title challengers Man United in the community shield and thrashing Everton 4-1 at Goodison for their opening league game.

This week I have enlisted the help of a work colleague Rose who I interviewed and her two friends Lorraine and Sarah to provide us with a preview to this match.

A lot has been said of Arsenal's achievements last season and to remain unbeaten in the league is a remarkable feat. How do you see Arsenal improving on their amazing record of last season?

I think we can remain unbeaten for a second season. We need to replace draws with wins. If we play the way we did against Everton I can’t see any reason why we can’t

I think Arsenal will have another fantastic season it will be hard for them to top last season’s unbeaten run as every team is out to spoil the party but I feel the champions league will be heading to Highbury this season along with the league once again.

The record was a great ...NO ... Fantastic feat but we gotta do something that we always seem to stumble on and that is the Champions League.

What do you think of your new signings?

Reyes was the best of the bunch last year. Of this year’s signings Van Persie looked good in pre-season and Mathieu Flamini also. We have a new goalie from Celta Vigo called Almurvia. I think he’s going to give Lehmann a run for his money. Lehmann made a few mistakes last year and so could have competition for his place.

I think Wenger has brought well again this season. He knows he does not have to spend big to produce fantastic players

Reyes at the end of last season is a bloody good buy. Van Persie and Flamini - I have not seen enoughof yet to comment on. Our best buy is Fabricas. We got him as a 16 yr old from Barcelona just over a year ago, but he seems to be bigger than he's age predicts. He has such a footballing mind. We'll see a lot more of that kid I think!!

Who do you expect will make the most impact?

Reyes. He has so much talent. He’s definitely my favourite. He played in the Amsterdam tournament and he was named player of the tournament.

Van Persie looks like a fantastic buy. He has great skill and we know he will get stuck in and produce the goods when needed

Reyes and Fabricas for sure...... both had a great start to the season.

Are Arsenal ever going to win the champions league?

I think we will win it. We stumbled against Chelsea last season because we were playing too many games at the time. This time we have a bigger and better team and I’m confident we can do it.

The Champions league will be heading to Highbury this season

I bloody hope so - we deserve it!!!

How long do you think you can hang onto Wenger?

Once we move to Ashburton Grove. The new ground is bigger and better. It will bring in more fans and that means more money and that’s what Wenger is aiming for.

Wenger won’t be going anywhere for a long time, with the team getting better and the new stadium in progress he will want to be part of that

For the foreseeable future I cant see any reason for him to go and I really believe he wants to see the outcome of the new stadium as it was his "Baby"

Patrick Viera - has the whole saga disrupted the team?

I think it has a bit. The papers did go a bit over the top although it did help keep us in the limelight. It seemed the tabloids were saying anything to disrupt the club. They were saying that if we lose Viera that we would go downhill afterwards but the team doesn’t stand or fall based on one player. I think we’ve proved that in the past few games. He’s been out injured but the team has still been playing just as well.

I don’t think it has. Viera has a huge presence at Arsenal but I think his team mates knew he would not leave

No way - No player is bigger than the Arsenal

Should he have gone?

No. He is such a rock in mid-field. As long as he plays with a good attitude then it will have been worth it but if he plays with a poor attitude then we will feel aggrieved.

No, I think Arsenal have a great chance of the Champions league this season and more success in the near future

Maybe - he would have realised where is bread was buttered for sure!

Is he staying at Arsenal for the long-term or was his recent declaration of commitment to the club just a stay of execution?

You know what the papers are like. It was the same with Lundberg. He was supposed to be linked with one of the big Italian clubs but he came out on the club website saying he knew nothing of any transfer deal. That’s where it went wrong with Viera and the papers made it worse. Every season for the past three or four years he’s been linked with someone and probably the same will happen next year but you never know how much of it is really true?

He is here to stay he wants to win things with arsenal and this team have a great chance of becoming the best in Europe.

Just a stay of execution I think - we will see how well he plays when he comes back from injury - if he's committed to the cause

What do you think was the real reason behind him staying?

He loves the club! He wasn’t going to get the same deal at Real Madrid. There would be fewer chances to play than there would be here.

I think it was a combination of things his love for Arsenal and his team are strong but also the two teams could not agree on a price.

He realised that he was not going to be one of the "Galacticos" like Beckham and Zidane!! He would just be a "squad" player with squad wages.

Who do you fear as title challengers more? Man United or Chelsea?

Chelsea. Looking at Man United they haven’t got a big enough squad. I know they’ve had some injuries but they haven’t got as many players to provide cover. Chelsea have more options. I know it will take time for them to gel so it will depend on how quickly they can do that. Last year it was a big problem and they were too fragmented and there wasn’t enough consistency, but this year I can see them working together better. Chelsea have the stronger side. If they get it right they could be biting at our heels.

United have always been a threat to us over the years and will be looking to do better than last season. Chelsea need a good season to gel together not this season.

Gotta be Chelsea I think

WILL ARSENAL WIN THE LEAGUE?

Yes. Pundits are saying that we won’t but just looking at Saturday’s performance I was very impressed and also at the way they played in the Community Shield. Looking at the team and the strength we’ve got it’s going to be hard for anyone to beat us. We’ve gelled together already. Wenger hasn’t had to buy that many players

I have money on Arsenal to win the treble!

Yes definitely

Oh YES - Our first back to back titles in modern times.

Thankyou to Rose, Lorraine and Sarah for your contribution

*my two-penneth*

Keep the Cole-Stead partnership together. It works!

*two-penneth up ... here come the pips ... beep beep beep... you don't get much for tuppence these days, eh?*

As you were

We did win 3-2 after all!

Ah! Glad it's not just me who has trouble remembering these things

Not to put a dampner on everyone's excited travel plans but... didn't we lose this fixture last year?

I'm not surprised that Flitty has lost the captaincy.

Where has he been all season?

If he's invisible on the pitch what sort of message is that giving - as captain - to the rest of the team.

Good decision Souey.

Women!

Good idea, lump us all into one category speeeedie. We're not individuals

(was that too inflammatory? )

Ive got to say that if Rovers had been Robbed of a totally legitimate Goal in the last minute of lets say the FA Cup quarter Final and then Lost on sudden death penalties I would have felt 100 times worse this morning than I do now.

After the game last night I was gutted but for me the feeling soon passed.

However I know in my heart that if it was Rovers I would have been thinking about it for weeks and be sat here at my desk feeling sick to the bone.

This sums up what I feel about football.

Like everyone else I was glued to the TV last night and I'm gutted that we're out but when it comes to Rovers matches, we're talking a whole other level of emotion and intensity. It feels personal when we win or lose.

The buzz from the Worthy Cup final result for example lasted a year (until we got knocked out of the following season's competition).

There are some matches that Rovers play that take weeks (or months) to get over. E.G Charlton away this season. That result makes me feel sick even now.

If it weren't for Blackburn Rovers I probably wouldn't have watched the game at all last night. Actually I wouldn't be into footy at all!

who the f... is this Lofty bloke anyway and what is he on?

"Are you a Dingle in disguise?"

England to go out on pens

(although I never predict results correctly so this means we should win easily )

Are you waggy in disguise

I was going to say "Are you Rover6 in disguise?"

To the guys who are lucky enough to be going.

You'll have to get an England flag made up with BLACKBURN ROVERS in BIG letters across it

Then try and get it on TV or in a prominent place in the ground so we can all see it

Souness not even in the betting?

Not on william hill

Not on Bet 365 either.

Is that a good thing?

Latest odds from William Hill on Liverpool's new manager

(posted a link to the site but it didn't work)

Rafa Benitez 4/6

Alan Curbishley 3/1

Martin O' Neill 9/2

Gordon Strachan 6/1

Jose Mourinho 13/2

Steve Mclaren 14/1

Claudio Ranieri 20/1

Sammy Lee 33/1

Phil Thompson 33/1

Kevin Keegan 33/1

Kenny Dalglish 33/1

David O' Leary 33/1

Roy Evans 100/1

Do you read supporters internet web sites, and if so have you ever read the fans message board on this site ? (www.brfcs.com)

Yes, once or twice, but most don’t have any idea about football so I don’t anymore.

Ouchie!

Maybe he's read one too many pie-boy comments and got p--d off.

I'd be surprised if Cole stayed.

This just smacks of the Dunny situation last year.

We've seen it all before.

Personally I'd be disappointed if Cole left. The partnership he is forging with Stead has worked so far.

I did see a number of Chas and Dave lookalikes down the Gilpins after the game.

"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahn to Marget! You can keep yer Costa Bravaaaa, I'm telling I'd rathaaaa hav a day daaaahn at Marget with all me fam-aleeeeeeeeeeeee!"

 

Slip them a 'Pony' Bryan, and they might let you borrow the (cara)'Vaaan'.

Rob - you were in the row behind me, right?

Did you hear that cockney (about 4 seats to your right) complaining about the ref in a strong East London accent?

What was that about, eh?

Arse. I guess London cabbies are gonna make a bit from us then.

Aren't London cabbies all Spurs fans anyway? (Black cab drivers at least)

"Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio"

Adios Stanleh, you were good for a laff.

I have an air-horn (very loud!) dya rekon they'll let me in?

And if the stewards dont stop you, Id bring some vaseline so it doesnt hurt so much when I shove it up your bum

Sorry I hate Air Horns

FINE IT'S NOT COMING WITH ME THEN!! LOL

JUST HAD ANOTHER THOUGHT - TOILET ROLLS

Are we playing this game in the 1970's?

Damn, beaten to it. Who would be our ideal candidates ?. I suggest:

1. Chris Waddle

2. Michael Knighton as owner/manager

3. East Stirling's manager

4. Roddy Collins

5. Tony Cottee

6. John Still

I think Eric Black, recently dumpped by Coventry could get it though.

Brian Kidd!

Pity Mr Turnip didn't get the poor old Dingles relegated though.

Anyone know how long it takes to get to Euston from the ground and how difficult it is?

Getting to the nearest tube (Seven Sisters) is easy enough, 4 stops along the victoria line.

However, it's quite a trek from the tube to the ground (2 miles ish), but sadly there aren't a lot of other options.

There are a number of buses that go to the ground from Seven Sisters if you don't fancy the trek from the station.

Can anyone tell me where the Gilpin Arms is if that's where we're meeting?

There have been lots of suggestions for pub meet-ups but has anything definate been arranged?

(coz im going to the game)

What is it with Oakwell and pies, I was once denied access to the ground for being in possesion of a partly eaten pie !

That's ridiculous. What did they think you were going to do with it?

The (bar)stewards at Chelski wouldn't let me in at the bridge with a plastic bottle until I had disposed of the top.

Excellent interview though Alan and thanks to Tim for participating

Had the same problem at Chelsea. Weird really.

Bottles with tops on can presumably be used as missiles, especially if filled to the top with...I dunno...mercury or something.

Bottles without tops can't be thrown at the pitch/players because it would just result in the people in front of you getting annoyed for soaking them with...well mercury if we're using the same logic.

Oh no! What do I do with all my extra mercury now?