Blackburn Rovers vs. Arsenal: Things Are Only Going to Get Uglier for Gunners

With a dreadful performance against last-place Blackburn Rovers that resulted in a loss, it may seem like things couldn't get any worse for the Arsenal Gunners.

Well, Arsenal fans, never underestimate the ability for things to get worse.

And the way this team looks, they are going to.

This was a pivotal match for the Gunners. It was their third match incorporating a handful of new players, and it was expected to be the one where this team exploded to life.

Giving everyone hope was the fact that the Gunners were coming off their best showing this campaign in a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund.

Consider that hope nullified, as it was effectively stricken from the record in the second half against the Rovers. The Gunners took a 2-1 lead into halftime.

They then relented full control of this match, as they surrendered a goal to Alex Song in the 50th minute, then surrendered two more in the next 18 minutes.

In that 18 minutes, you'll find everything that has been wrong—and continues to be wrong—for the Gunners.

Arsenal will go through long bouts of bad play that would leave them vulnerable to junior teams. Their defense is in absolute shambles, and they have the ability to give up scores in bunches.

And in the process, they have proven they can lose to anyone at anytime—and they will. There are plenty of losses coming down the pike for this bewildered, lost team.

The hope for this team is no longer for the 2011-2012 campaign, but simply that they show enough promise for long enough stretches that they will even be back to compete in the EPL for the 2012-2013 season.