Arsenal 3 Blackburn Rovers 0

Last updated : 25 August 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Champions Arsenal launched a second-half blitz to beat Blackburn 3-0 and break Nottingham Forest's record of 42 consecutive league games unbeaten.

Forest had set the record in 1978, with 21 wins and 21 draws. The Gunners have won 31 games and drawn 12.

The victory also took Arsenal back to the top of the table, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference. Both teams have nine points from three games.

Blackburn though already look like facing another relegation battle, with just one point to their name.

Rovers are one of the few visiting teams to have prospered at Highbury in recent years. They drew 3-3 in Arsenal's 2001-2 double season and won 2-1 there the following season.

There was no danger of them upsetting the Gunners here though. Arsenal cruised home after Thierry Henry made their 50th-minute breakthrough.

Teenage midfielder Cesc Fabregas was outstanding, driving Arsenal forward in the second half. They could have scored more than three against a Rovers defence that looked vulnerable to swift breaks and lacked discipline in dead ball situations.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had hinted that he would make changes from the side that beat Middlesbrough 5-3 on Sunday. Robert Pires returned on the left with Jose Antonio Reyes starting on the bench. Young right winger Jermaine Pennant came in for Freddie Ljungberg, who was substituted against Boro.

Blackburn were missing suspended skipper Barry Ferguson and midfielder David Thompson. They included ex-Gunners striker Paul Dickov, who scored here for Leicester on the last day of the 2003-4 Premiership season. Garry Flitcroft and Dwight Yorke dropped to the bench.

The home side opened with a flourish. Henry tested Brad Friedel with a second-minute curler. He clipped a free-kick at the Blackburn keeper two minutes later, then sent Friedel diving across goal to keep out a low shot.

Blackburn broke up the game and tried to stop the Gunners settling into the rhythm that destroyed Everton and Middlesbrough. The match was scrappy and bad-tempered at times, as referee Neale Barry showed six yellow cards.

Arsenal stepped up a gear as half-time approached. Fabregas shot wide from 20 yards, Pires was off target after a clever dummy by Fabregas and the youngster hit a goalbound shot that ricocheted off Pires and behind to safety.

Pennant tested Friedel again as the second half opened. Then Henry struck.

Fabregas found Dennis Bergkamp, who picked out Henry's run and Arsenal's top scorer finished clinically with his right foot.

Gilberto then gave Blackburn a warning when he headed over from Henry's 55th-minute corner. Three minutes later, he rose to head another Henry corner past Friedel, possibly with the aid of a deflection from Fabregas on the goal line.

Reyes netted Arsenal's third, two minutes after coming off the bench. Henry outpaced two defenders and shot, only for Friedel to beat the ball out. However, Henry collected the rebound and fed Reyes who turned it in.

Friedel saved Pascal Cygan's header and Craig Short blocked another Henry effort as Arsenal finished in style.