Premier League: Arsenal 1 Blackburn Rovers 0 - Peter White's big match verdict
THE pain of a deep-seated groin injury that is handicapping courageous Chris Sutton's every step is nothing compared to the desperate hurt he feels at a relegation struggle which took a distinct turn for the worse at red-hot Highbury last night.
Head bowed after an often-isolated battle against the best defence in the Premiership, skipper Sutton turned briefly to applaud the travelling fans before trudging forlornly off the pitch.
And it can only be a minor consolation to him that Blackburn Rovers' situation has not yet hit rock bottom.
If it had not been for a magnificent goalkeeping performance by John Filan, however, Rovers' goal difference advantage over Everton would have been wiped out.
Filan, and the two central defenders, took the honours for keeping the score down.
And, while Rovers' gloom deepened, Sutton once again found himself at the centre of trouble against Arsenal - this time through none of his own doing.
A verbal victim of the Arsenal fans since Garry Flitcroft's controversial Highbury equaliser two years ago, he was sent off against them earlier this season.
Last night, with Arsenal leading 1-0 and threatening more, Martin Keown lashed out at Sutton and was dismissed.
The Rovers star did not over-react, he merely backed off. But you could feel the hate building from the stands in a game where referee Graham Poll must have used a full deck of cards.
Sutton was as cool off the pitch as he had needed to be on it.
"I know I am walking on thin ice down here, I was aware of that," he said.
"But I can't remember the incident very well, just that I didn't make a meal of it."
Of more consequence was the club's position and, as captain, he feels extra responsibility.
"We have six games to go to get it right and it is still in our own hands," he said.
"I would rather be in our position than that of the teams below us. But we must not feel sorry for ourselves.
"We have to be positive. If we are to go down then we must go down scrapping and fighting for our lives."
From the stats, some might have the impression that last night was all about fighting.
But, given the disciplinary records of both Arsenal and Rovers, putting card-sharp Mr Poll in charge of a crunch match like this was like handing James Bond his licence to kill.
And how the referee enjoyed it, with another red card for Keith Gillespie and a smattering of yellows. He even threatened to show red to Brian Kidd, for the 'appalling' crime of straying out of the technical area to pass on instructions.
It was tough, it was tense and players were fully committed. But it's English football for goodness sake.
The referee and fourth official Paul Alcock were like primary school teachers talking animatedly on the touchline as they decided whether to give Kidd 100 lines or a detention for his misdemeanours. There were only one or two incidents that really needed sorting, albeit at places like Highbury and Old Trafford you have to be fouled twice to earn one free kick.
But the sideshows apart, there was no doubt that Arsenal fully deserved their victory.
Their movement and passing was impressive and that defence is remarkable, summed up by the fact that David Seaman was untroubled.
Kidd's team were up for it and had an outstanding goalkeeper who almost salvaged a point single-handed.
What was disappointing was Rovers' almost non-existent attacking contribution and that does not mean the strikers.
On a blustery night, they got no service and, if they are to stay up, they must get wide men feeding the likes of Sutton and Ashley Ward again.
Arsenal were excellent though Rovers, with Billy McKinlay sitting in front of the back four and Lee Carsley in front of him, looked like surviving until half time.
They were undone by a goal which brought many complaints.
A free kick was given for handling against McKinlay and Rovers argued about both the offence and the position just outside the box.
When Dennis Bergkamp's right-foot drive rebounded from the wall, the Dutch master simply smacked it left-footed through a crowd of players into the bottom corner. Tony Adams was offside, close to the line of flight, but the flag stayed down.
Rovers had just one real chance in the first half, when Sutton struck a tremendous volley a fraction wide.
The second half brought more brilliance from Filan and a glimmer of hope with Keown's dismissal on 70 minutes.
But Rovers still could not raise an attacking gallop.
And when Gillespie brought down Bergkamp in the 82nd minute it looked all over - especially as he picked up two yellows too in a matter of seconds.
Filan threw himself to his left to save Bergkamp's spot kick.
But still Rovers could not muster a serious goal threat, Carsley, like McKinlay, having been forced to give way to injury.
It was a fair result, perhaps an expected one, but that is of no comfort to Rovers who are fast approaching the moment of truth.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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