Walcott and Arshavin strikes give Arsenal win

Mame Diouf cancelled out Walcott's 20th minute goal before Arshavin won the game for the Gunners 6 minutes into the second half.

Arsenal got their first opportunity from a corner when the ball came out to Diaby who struck the ball well but the shot was deflected and then saved by Robinson in the Blackburn goal.

Blackburn then started to press Arsenal when a long throw into the box from Pedersen made Vermaelen have to put the ball behind for a corner kick. From the resulting corner the ball found the head of Nelsen but Fabregas was on the line to make sure the score was not 1-0 to Rovers.
Then another long throw from Pedersen met the head of Samba but Almunia managed to get a hand to it and tipped it away, banging his head on the post in the process.

Blackburn were definately the better side and they got another corner. Pedersen was the man to deliver. His ball found the head of Samba but he failed to convert it and it went over the bar.

Then 20 minutes into the game Arsenal finally got a good chance and they took use of it. Van Persie slipped the ball into Walcott who fired home to score his 4th goal in 2 games.

7 minutes later Blackburn got a much deserved equaliser. Samba drifting forward from defence found El-Hadji Diouf who crossed to Mame Diouf to pass the ball into an empty Arsenal net.

The score at half time was 1-1.

Blackburn started the second half lively and Pedersen sent a shot fizzing wide.

Then 6 minutes into the second half Arsenal caught Blackburn on the break and after Fabregas' shot was blocked by his own man the ball fell to Arshavin who slotted the ball past Robinson to make the score 2-1 to Arsenal.

Arsenal were now starting to play the better football and Chamakh got a chance but his goalbound shot was deflected wide.

Blackburn got a chance to get their second equaliser of the game but Kalinic was leaning back and sent the ball miles over the bar.

Arsenal were playing with more of a sense of presence in the second half and Walcott full of confidence sent a dipping shot goalbound but the Blackburn goalkeeper got fingertips to the ball.
Arsenal got a late chance to make the win more comfortable but Wilshire scuffed his shot wide after an excellent break from the Gunners.

The final score ended Blackburn 1-2 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Blackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Nelsen, Samba, Givet, Jones, Pedersen, Grella, Kalinic, M.Diouf(81), H. Diouf.
Subs: Bunn, Olsson, Chimbonda, Emerton, Dunn, Nzonzi(81), Hoilett.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas(68), Song, Diaby, Arshavin(83), Van Persie(34).
Subs: Fabianski, Eboue, Gibbs, Rosicky(68), Wilshire(83), Vela, Chamakh(34).

My man of the match: Theo Walcott

Referee: Chris Foy
Attendance: 25,059