Blackburn 2-1 Arsenal
Arsenal were condemned to their ninth league defeat of the season on Sunday evening after Blackburn came from behind to beat them 2-1 at Ewood Park.
Robin Van Persie had put the Gunners in front after just 16 minutes when a corner was flicked on by Bacary Sagna and the Dutch ace nodded home from close range.
As Arsenal continued to dominate the first half, Rovers stunned them on the stroke of half-time when Irish international Keith Andrews picked out David Dunn and he slotted home the equalizer.
Lukasz Fabianski looked dodgy in the Arsenal goal, constantly flapping at crosses and almost spilling several easy saves.
Blackburn rallied in the second half and caused the Arsenal defence all sorts of problems – as Mikael Silvestre and Sol Campbell in particular were poor.
But on the other hand Dunn and Chris Samba were terrific – and it was the latter who headed home the winner on 68 minutes as Fabianski was in no-man’s land for a Rovers corner and Samba headed home.
Despite Andrey Arshavin coming off the bench for Arsene Wenger’s side, the result will come as a worry for Arsenal fans coming into next season – as they have little money available for transfers and major questions hang over their defence.
Nine league defeats in a season is a severe slump in standards for the Gunners even if their squad has been ravaged by injury throughout the season.
The result also means that third spot in the league is not yet sealed – and they need a point against Fulham in their final game at the Emirates next Sunday to confirm it.
As for Blackburn, the result caps an impressive season as they held both Manchester United and Chelsea at Ewood Park also as Sam Allardyce continues to build at the club.
Jason Byrne
