Blackburn Rovers vs Arsenal; Match Report.

Prior to the early lunchtime kick off at Ewood Park, a section of the home fans stood united on the cobbled streets of Blackburn and called for their manager of ten months, Steve Kean, to be axed. This follows a dismal start to the Premier League season for Rovers which saw the club start the day rock bottom of the table having taken only one point from 4 games. Many predicted that things would not look too much brighter after this one either; as standing in the home sides way were a rejuvenated Arsenal team. However, there was a sense of optimism amongst the large part of the Riversider's supporters as their opponents had not had a great start to the season themselves. Arsenal though fielded a strong side as summer signing Gervinho returned from a 3 match suspension picked up at St James' Park, Aaron Ramsey returned from a light groin injury and Brazilian left back Andre Santos was handed his Premier League debut.

Blackburn fans outside Ewood Park protesting prior to kick off.

Arsenal fans would have taken much encouragement from the first 25 minutes of the game, they strung together a host of tidy, crisp passes and looked to be the free flowing side of years gone by. This was rewarded after just ten minutes when new boy Gervinho impressively tucked Alex Songs perfectly weighted through ball into the far corner of the home sides goal. Blackburn were stunned and it looked like the afternoon was going to be a long one for Steve Kean and his 'midtable' team. However after sustaining a number of failed Arsenal attacks, Rovers equalised through new boy Yakubu, the Nigerian was played onside by the un-organised Arsenal defence and took full advantage by slotting his early right footed shot past Woijcech Szczesny.

Yakubu celebrating his equaliser with new boss.

It was now the away side that looked stunned, Arsenal seemed to be under threat for a while and their defensive frailties began to show. Though Blackburn seemed now to be the most likely to score, a vintage Arsenal counter attack saw Aaron Ramsey set up Mikel Arteta for the Spaniards first goal since joining the club on transfer deadline day. Arteta side footed the ball high into Paul Robinson's net and from now up until the half time whistle, Arsenal were cruising.

Arteta netting his first for the Gunners.

Five minutes after the restart and Arsenal's defensive issues were on display again. Andrei Arshavin gave away a needless free kick on the edge of his own 18 yard area which Ruben Rochina delicately floated into the box only for Alex Song to knee into his own net. The goal prompted a familiar picture of despair amongst the Arsenal players, everybody walking away from goal, heads bowed, and looking clueless. A spell littered with a lack of urgency throughout the team and a host of miss played passes resulted in Yakubu causing further heart ache for the side in red and white. He netted his second goal of the game from close range, however, not too many of the Arsenal players were happy that the goal was awarded, they were convinced, as were the majority of spectators at home, that the goal scorer was offside.

Arsenal players after Alex Song's own goal.

Upon this Arsenal seemed to spring into life a bit more however by this time, Ewood Park was rocking and it seemed as if the Gunners had already lost hope. Bacary Sagna had to be replaced by Johan Djourou at right back, bad news for the Emirates outfit as the blonde haired Frenchman was having a good game and Djourou's incompetence even at centre back, his preferred position, had cost Arsenal before. It was not long before the Arsenal defence was at it again, Djourou failed to make a textbook challenge on Martin Olsson who skipped away from him with devastating speed. The Swede galloped into the Arsenal penalty area and unfortunately seemed to have delivered in a non-threatening low cross. An average Premier League defender would have swung their left boot at the ball and cleared the danger with relative ease, however Arsenal's number 6, Laurent Koscielny, famous for his involvement in his sides Carling Cup Final defeat in February, again cost his club a vital goal as he let the ball hit his right boot and trickle over the goal line for Blackburn's 4th.

Nothing changes - Laurent Koscielny ruing his own mistake.

With only 20 minutes left, Arsenal turned to Theo Walcott who came on in place of Arshavin to try and add some well needed pace and fire power to the Gunners' armory. Yet the inclusion of the lighting fast 21 year old changed very little. Time was ticking on and the away side knew that they needed to get one back quickly if they were to head back down to London with any share of the points. Arsene Wenger then sent on Moroccan international Marouane Chamakh, a sight many Arsenal fans would have thought was fit to epitomise the clubs recent turmoil as the 27 year old hadn't been on the score sheet in the Premier League since November 2010. Surprisingly though, Chamakh leapt in between two Blackburn defenders and latched on to Robin Van Persie's cross, he headed the ball home in spectacular fashion, giving his side a lifeline.

Chamakh installing some hope into the Gunners.

Blackburn now seemed to be on the back foot, they were looking nervous and failing to keep possession, Arsenal began to carry out a late onslaught in search of a dramatic equaliser. For the Ewood Park faithful it was 'squeaky bum time' as they saw the 6ft6 inch red and white figure, Per Mertesacker, head just over from close range, a chance that really should have been converted. The dust had still not yet been settled as Robin Van Persie drove into the heart of the Rovers defence, prompting Paul Robinson to make a vital save from a thunderous right footed strike. Arsenal's last gasp flurry included another header that should have been put away, this time from goalscorer Marouane Chamakh. The last of the action though came from an uncanny Arsenal long ball which Theo Walcott valiantly pursued, Goalkeeper Paul Robinson completely missed the ball and appeared to have brought Walcott down instead, however referee Andre Marriner waved away the penalty claim and Blackburn hung on to win the game 4-3.

Mertesacker after coming so close to making it 4-4.

Overall it was, for the neutral, a highly entertaining 90 minutes. But for the Arsenal fans it was the type of game that they have been forced to become all too familiar with. They saw their side create a host of chances which ended in another needless pass instead of a clinical finish. Yet having said this, Wenger's men managed to net 3 goals; an achievement that would normally be complimented with a victory. The bulk of the Frenchman's problems lay at the other end of the pitch where a host of schoolboy errors were their downfall and ultimately led to their third defeat in just five Premier League games, the clubs worst start to a league campaign since 1953. Steve Kean will surely be ecstatic with only his 6th win in the league as Blackburn boss since he took over from Sam Allardyce in December 2010. He saw his side leap above their opponents after the victory and I'm sure the Glaswegian will be delighted with the result; not only did it earn his side three points, but it could also have saved his job. For his opponents though, the general feeling amongst supporters 'is same old, same old', defensive frailties and a lack of conviction in the final third sees them return to the Emirates empty handed.

Steve Kean - A happy man.

Charlie Shanks