Blackburn away - goalkeeping errors waiting to happen

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
28 Aug	3:00 PM	P	Blackburn Rovers (A)	2	1	Win

Arsène Wenger is already preparing excuses for his goalkeepers ahead of his side's trip to Blackburn this weekend.

Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park towards the end of last season due to the home side effectively targetting Lukasz Fabianski for their two goals, and Wenger fears that referees need to be tougher on players who foul goalkeepers.

Wenger mentioned a goal scored by Stoke against Spurs last week as another example of a problem with the rules.

He said: "I saw some pictures last Sunday; you cannot say anymore it is football, it is rugby on the goalkeepers more than football. The referees cannot go on and accept that. When you see how Shawcross kicked Gomes and how Huth pushed Gomes in the goal.

"I believe that in some situations the goalkeepers are not protected. You cannot have players whose main role is to stop the goalkeepers from catching the ball and not even go for the ball.

"If the referees allow that you cannot accept that because that has nothing to do with the game."

Wenger was quick to say, however, that he does not object to a long-ball game often applied by the likes of Blackburn and Stoke.

He added: "Apart from that, when a team plays long ball and heads the ball and becomes physical I accept that completely and I respect that.

"I believe everybody looks at his squad and tries to find a way where the game is most efficient.

"But it has to be in respect of the rules, that is all."

Wenger doesn't exactly do himself any favours, does he? The whole world and his wife know Arsenal's goalkeepers are weak on crosses, and when we concede in this manner again on Saturday, you can be sure Wenger will point to fouls again.

I know he pointed to the Gomes situation last week, but as it quite clearly happens to us more than other teams, it would be silly to deny that we simply have a weakness that teams are good at exploiting.

If he'd just go and sign a new 'keeper, then maybe he wouldn't have to worry so much about how the referees treat these situations. Just a thought.

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