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    Blackburn 1-2 Arsenal - All the action as it happened

    Theo Walcott gives Arsenal the lead at Blackburn

    By Ian Cruise | Saturday, August 28, 2010

     

    Andrey Arshavin's second half winner earned Arsenal all three points at Ewood Park.

    The Gunners moved to the top of the Premier League - albeit probably only for a couple of hours - with an excellent win at Blackburn as they made their start to the season for three years.

    Theo Walcott put the Gunners on the way with a brilliant opening goal in the 20th minute, only for Mame Diouf to level for the hosts before half-time.

    But Arshavin struck early in the second half and the visitors, despite some late pressure, never really looked like relinquishing their advantage.

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14:39

There's the final whistle. That's a great three points for Arsenal

14:37

Another swift break by Arsenal. Wilshere has a great chance to finish but he slips as he shoots and Robinson is able to save

14:36

There will be three minutes of added time

14:35

Arsenal on the break, but a promising opening ends with Rosicky smashing his shot high and wide

14:33

Three minutes plus stoppage time to go, and Arsenal will be deserpate to see this out

14:30

Walcott has the ball in the net, but it's ruled out for offside

14:29

Arshavin off, Wilshere on

14:29

Another long throw for Rovers. More problems for Arsenal. But Salgado's shot flies over

14:27

Bit of a scare there for Arsenal. Dunn jinks his way clear but his shot lacks power and Almunia saves comfortably

14:26

Mame Diouf off, Nzonzi on

14:23

It's another great effort by Walcott - a fizzing drive that goes narrowly over the bar

14:19

Booking for Givet for a foul on Waloctt. You'd have got good odds on this game going 73 miniutes before the first card

14:15

Forceful run by Walcott down the right, but his shot is comfortably saved by Robinson

14:14

Fabregas has definitely not been at his best, but don't forget this is his first game back after the World Cup

14:13

Fabregas off, Rosicky on

14:10

Kalinic off, Olsson on

14:07

Another long throw from Pedersen, and more problems for Arsenal. But they scramble the ball clear. They don't look at all secure at the back

14:05

Arshavin takes a long ball in his stride, but oh dear, that's a shocking finish. The ball flies miles over the bar

14:04

Arsenal are stroking the ball around nicely now. Arshavin's goal seems to have given them renewed confidence

14:02

Vince Grella off, David Dunn on

14:01

Bad mistake by Vermaelen. He gifts the ball to Kalinic, but his shot sails over

14:00

Chamakh's shot is deflected wide. That looked like it was heading into the corner

13:59

Bobby Gould is questioning the body language of Cesc Fabregas. He has been strangely subdued. Do you think he's got the hump that he's at Ewood Park and not getting ready to play for Barcelona in La Liga this weekend?

13:57

The Gunners are back in front. Sagna cross, Fabregas shot blocked but the ball rebounds for Arshavin who slots it home from 12 yards. Good finish that

13:56
Balckburn 1-2 Arsenal - Arshavin

13:56

Ohh... good effort by Pedersen. Long drive drive which just drifts wide

13:53

Walcott fires in the first shot of the second half, but it loops off a defender and straight into the arms of Robinson

13:51

There we go... someone's fixed the problem and we're off again

13:50

The start of the second half is being delayed because we've got... a hole in one of the nets!

13:38

Bobby Gould is really not a fan of Koscielny. "Not good enough for Arsenal's reserves when I was there!" is the rather scatching verdict from our Bobby

13:35

Bobby Gould rackons Sam Allardyce will be the happier of the two managers. Let's see who's smiling at the end...

13:34

That's half-time. It's 1-1 at the break and both teams will probably be reasonably satsified with that

13:33

Pedersen strikes but it's straight into the wall

13:32

Deep into first half injury time and Rovers have a free-kick 40 yards out

13:31

Blackburn look a threat whenever they go forward. Arsenal certainly don't look convincing at the back

13:30

Fabregas tries to feed one in for Diaby, but Robinson races off his line to gather

13:30

Easily cleared by Rovers though

13:29

Walcott does well in the box and forces a corner

13:28

Bobby Gould on talkSPORT has delivered the verdict on Arsenal's new defender Laurent Koscielny. "Not for me" is Bobby's view. he reckons Arsene's done his money there

13:27

Arsenal are having the most of the possession, but they're struggling to open up Blackburn

13:24

Diaby shapes to shoot, but Pedersen's challange just puts him off and this weak effort dribbles wide

13:22

Here comes another Pedersen bomb into the box...cleared away

13:20

Yep, that's Van Persie's lot. He's off, Marouane Chamakh is on

13:19

Van Persie's down again. That looks like the end of the afternoon for the Dutchman

13:15

The Dutchman is limping but it looks like he'll be OK to continue

13:14

Worrying moments for Arsenal. Robin van Persie is down and needing treatment on his ankle

13:13

Ej Hadji Diouf does brilliantly down the left and crosses for his namesake - Mame Diouf - to slide home from close range

13:13
Blackburn 1-1 Arsenal - Mame Diouf

13:07

That's nothing less than top class from Walcott. He's started the season in red hot form

13:06

What a great goal from Walcott. The flying winger comes in from the right, takes the ball in his stride and fires it across Robinson and into the far corner

13:05
Blackburn 0-1 Arsenal - Walcott

13:05

Here comes another long throw. Almunia deals with it well

13:04

Diouf with a dangerous ball into the box, but Vermaelen hacks it clear

13:02

Blackburn corner... Samba's header just over the bar

12:58

Blackburn on the break, but Kalinic is offside

12:58

Fabregas to take aagin... powerful header clear by Grella

12:57

Cleared away for another corner

12:57

First corner of the game to Arsenal

12:56

Manuel Almunia does well to claw Chris Samba's header away from under his crossbar

12:56

Morten Gamst Pedersen's long throws into the area are causing chaos in the Arsenal defence

12:55

Ooh... close for Blackburn. Ryan Nelsen's header is nodded off the line by Cesc Fabregas

12:55

Caling Cup draw: Blackburn away to Villa

12:54

Blackburn's tactics are clear to see. Long throws and long balls into the box. Arsene Wenger must be loving it!

12:52

Song sends Diouf tumbling. Not the most subtle of challenges, Still, it is Diouf..!

12:51

It's route one stuff from Blackburn. They are launching long balls towards the Arsenal goal

12:50

Diaby almost gives Arsenal the lead but his shot is blocked on the line by Grella

12:48

The Carling Cup draw is taking place and Arsenal have been drawn away at Spurs! Cracker...

12:47

A huge long punt from Robinson causes a bit opf panic in the Arsenal defence, but they get it clear

12:46

Referee Chris Foy gets us underway...

12:44

And check out Alex Song's hair! Looks like he's spilled a pot of white paint all over himself!

12:43

Blimey... Arsenal's mascot is bigger than Fabregas and Arshavin!

12:37

Blackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Nelsen, Samba, Givet, El-Hadji Diouf, Jones, Pedersen, Grella, Mame Diouf, Kalinic. Subs: Bunn, Olsson, Emerton, Dunn, Nzonzi, Hoilett, Chimbonda. Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Clichy, Diaby, Song, Fabregas, Walcott, van Persie, Arshavin. Subs: Fabianski, Rosicky, Vela, Wilshere, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh. Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

12:37

Here are the teams...