Eleven Out of Ten

Before the Blackburn game at Ewood Park, there was much talk of a potential banana skin. Mark Hughes’ team have the worst disciplinary record in the Premiership and are not averse to the kind of physical approach which has often proved Arsenal’s undoing in the past, and even the bookies were persuaded that Rovers might be a good bet for an upset – a recommendation that could only have been endorsed by the condition of the pitch and the state of the weather.

Twelve minutes into the game and Blackburn’s odds would have improved even more, as Rob Styles decided that Savage could have two hacks at Gilberto in exchange for a yellow card while the Brazilian should be dismissed for flicking out a leg in exasperation, leaving his team mates to negotiate almost 80 minutes of a difficult game without him.

It is a tribute to the fitness, spirit and skill of the ten men of Arsenal that even the absence of such a key player was scarcely noticed. They continued to play their beautiful football and to carve out chances. They continued to defend so well that Blackburn were restricted to one good chance from a corner and one good shot brilliantly saved by Jens Lehmann. They accepted philosophically that, though Gilberto had been dismissed for retaliation, Neill would survive hauling Van Persie down when he would have been clear on goal and Tugay would escape censure for a ‘tackle’ on Fabregas which could have ended the midfielder’s career. But above all, they scored two goals worthy of their football and of winning the game. Thierry Henry’s pinpoint free kick in the 36th minute produced an unstoppable header from Kolo Toure and the Arsenal captain’s majestic strike 20 minutes from time is a candidate for goal of the season.

A just conclusion on a day when, thanks to Rob Styles, injustice hung heavy in the air.