BLACKBURN ( 1 ) VS ARSENAL ( 2 )

ARSENAL wrestle their way out past gritty Blackburn to emerge as 2-1 winners at Ewood Park today. It was quite an impressive result cause the Rovers has been Arsene Wenger bogey team for the last couple of season.

Theo Walcott continued on his scoring form against Blackpool last week when he put Arsenal ahead in the 20th minute to increase his goal tally to four after three matches. Six minutes later, Blackburn got their equaliser through Mama Diouf. But Andrey Arshavin strike five minutes after restart was enough to give Arsenal the much needed away win after three matches.

Captain Cesc Fabregas dan Robin Van Persie started the match for the first time leaving striker Maroune Chamakh on the bench. Arsenal look promising in the early part of the match but Fabregas still not quite to himself.His slick passing and deft touches were not there to be seen. Their opponent approach in getting at least two of their players hassling and hot on his heels did work to stop the Spaniard from making any headway.

But still, Arsenal manage to create an opening through a quick counter-attack with Robin Van Persie slide rule threaded pass on Theo Walcott saw the winger strike in a powerful low shot toward the far post beyond Paul Robinson reach, for Arsenal first and suprisingly burst the net. 

Six minutes later Sam Allardyce men got their equaliser when El-Hadji Diouf  brush off Laurent Kocielny challenge on the left made a run into the box before finding Mama Diouf who came in between the Arsenal defenders to connect the ball into the net.

The visitor suffered a setback midway in the first half when Robin Van Persie hurt his ankle and his replacement Maroune Chamakh was brought in straightaway for the injured striker.

After the break Arsenal looks to have more possession with Fabregas began to dominating the play in the midfield. In the 50th minute Bacary Sagna lunge himself forward on the right flank thanks for his fine work in keeping the ball from going out.

Arshavin got the winner (pix espnstar.com)

The hardworking rasta-hairstyle defender made good out of it to find a gap through the Blackburn defence for Cesc Fabregas, who hits it first time. But the ball strike first at the back foot of Walcott before rolls perfectly to the unmarked Andrey Arshavin who slip the ball past under the onrushing Paul Robinson arms to give the visitor the much needed three points.