Credit to Rovers

Blackburn Rovers should not be unduly discouraged by their first visit to the Emirates Stadium. A 6-2 defeat is a hammering however you look at it, but Arsenal played such sublime, irresistible football that it’s difficult to imagine any side standing up to them on a day like this. And Blackburn, to their great credit, did not come just to defend. Indeed, they took a shock early lead and afterwards managed to create a handful of good chances and on two or three occasions were denied only by the brilliance of Jens Lehmann.

Mark Hughes’ side are underachieving at present, but there is a sense that they are not far from the impressive form that brought them success in the Premiership and a place in Europe. They will certainly play less well than this and win and, mercifully, they will not encounter a side like Arsenal very often.