Arsenal 3 Rovers 0

After coming from a 3-0 spanking the Bruins laid on the Ottawa Senators, I was still in the mood to watch a little more sport. I turned to my faithful TiVo, where my weekly dose of EPL waited. The match, Arsenal Gunners at home vs. Blackburn Rovers. A very well fought match on both sides started with an early goal by Arsenal's young phenom, the super-emotional Fransesc Fabergas. The Rovers weren't bending over at this point, they had the fight still in them. They pressed on and kept the Arsenal squad on their feet as several shots by Steven Reid and Craig Bellamy threatened to knot this game up. However, the Frenchman Thierry Henry laid in a pretty masterful goal at the end of the first half to make it 2-0. The second half was very scrappy, with Bellamy and Reid making lots of chances for themselves and for the Rovers. The 60th minute saw the return of Blackburn's David Thompson, who, despite being rusty, booted some solid shots towards goal. However, at the end, the Dutch youngster Robin van Persie, laid home the coup de grace, and a sweet shot, to stick the fork in the underachieving Rovers. Still, a
well-played match all around. As is typical with an Arsenal game, minor altercations occurred between the teams on the field, but nothing that got out of hand. Man-baby Arsene Wenger has certainly put together a talented team, it's too bad they are so easy to dislike.

Some up-and-coming stars to look out for: Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen - the quick Norwegian has the potential to be a dangerous attacking midfielder from the left side, and you can look for him to only improve in the next few years; Arsenal's Robin van Persie - 7 goals in 7 games, you do the math; Rovers' Craig Bellamy - this kid is quick and athletic, I think Arsenal really underestimated him, he's going to do great things at Ewood Park. Duds? Paul Dickov of the Blackburn Rovers - retire, already, won't you?

-Christopher J. Brigham