Gunner Suicide Watch, Day 1

Watching the Blackburn-Arsenal FA Cup replay was a depressing experience. As the missed chances piled up, my fears grew. When they reached halftime without a score, I had a feeling that defeat was in the cards. This makes, what, the 3rd straight disappointing Gunners' game in a row? (The Carling Cup final was not on TV and you could score that either way, depending on your relative level of optimism)
Granted, they were without their first 3 strikers of choice and missing Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky in the midield. Oh, does this team look different without Cesc in the middle!
Aliadiere was game to run around the pitch with energy but to little purpose. He had a couple of moments that appeared promising but to naught in the end. Baptista played up front and I thought he looked most promising of all, but alas when he was not just missing (the goal or his touch), Friedel was making more amazing saves.
Llungberg ran the midfield like a man unhinged and generally created the most danger  there. However, due to a thuggish (yes, I do mean that) Blackburn defense and the referee stylings of Mr. Graham (3-Card) Poll, it was also for naught.
Aleksander Hleb looked good on the right side of the midfield. I am continually impressed by his ballhandling skills. However, he is a player who really needs some other quality players in midfield to play off of and Wednesday, he had none.
Unfortunately, the latest Boy Wonder, Denilson, was woeful after a couple of strong showings. He gave the ball away as if it were part of a promotional scheme ("Run near Denilson, get a free ball!) . There was little zip to his game and he looked intimidated by the big stage for the first time with Arsenal .
The rest of the team was fairly and uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball. Much of it had to do with the pitch and weather conditions, but Blackburn was playing at the same place at the same time and they figured it out.
The goal-winner from McCarthy was a real cracker. Almunia, who again played very well, had no play on it, unless he had had Edwin Vander Sar on his shoulders (and even then, Vander Sar's weakness is the long shot).
Bottom line is that this is a game the Gunners should've won and needed to win. Even with the missing players, the makeshift lineup and all that.
Unfortunately this season is starting to get a reek to it. We've lost out of 2 cups (the ones we had the best shot at) in the space of 3 days. We've got no shot at the league title. We very well could be out of the Champions League on the next try. And we've got a raft of injuries and suspensions.

Oh, and I almost forgot Mr. Poll. What the hell was he doing, trying to prove he isn't Mike Riley?! Two clear penalties, where the defender horse-collared Freddie Llungberg to the ground, in the box, when the Norwegian was headed to goal. Last defender rule, Mr. Poll? And he generally let things get too far out of hand with the hard fouls on both sides. It was a credit to the players' character, not Mr. Poll's refereeing, that the game didn't end in another display of handbaggery.

Ok. Hide the sharp objects.