Smith: Almunia key to Blackburn game

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

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes there will be a lot of pressure on Manuel Almunia against Blackburn this weekend.

Arsenal travel to Ewood Park just a few months after defeat there at the end of last season, when they lost two goals after an unconvincing display from Lukasz Fabianski.

Almunia will start in goal this time, but Wenger has already raised the issue of Blackburn players fouling his goalkeepers, a clear sign that he is worried about how his number 1 will deal with crosses and set-pieces today.

Smith believes Almunia will have to rise to the occasion and not let Sam Allardyce's players get the better of him.

He said: "Arsène Wenger has already flagged up the way some teams box in goalkeepers at corner kicks. Arsenal's Manuel Almunia must therefore work out what to do when Blackburn's big guys start crowding round.

"Does he hold his position on the goal line and hope his defenders can deal with the cross? Or does he try to barge his way through in an attempt to catch or punch the ball, so risking getting blocked and caught in no-man's land?

"Whatever his decision, there's sure to be controversy at Ewood Park."

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