- Pedersen (18)
- Date:2006-02-25
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Ewood Park
- Attendance:22504
- Referee:Rennie, U
Live Commentary
92mins
It's all over. Rovers leapfrog the Gunners into fifth spot despite Arsenal enjoying the better of the second half.
90mins
Craig Bellamy's low shot is saved by Jens Lehmann.
87mins
Robbie Savage hacks the ball forward as Rovers find themselves hanging on.
85mins
Aaron Mokoena cuts out Aleksandr Hleb's attempted square ball.
83mins
The Blackburn defense is under intense pressure as Arsenal continue to press forward.
81mins
Arturo Lupoli comes on for Gilberto Silva as Arsene Wenger goes all out for an equaliser.
80mins
Craig Bellamy is let down by his touch after David Bentley's ball saw him one-on-one with Jens Lehmann.
79mins
Sergio Peter is shown yellow.
77mins
Jens Lehmann clears Arsenal's lines with Craig Bellamy bearing down on the Arsenal goal.
75mins
Robert Pires blazes the ball over Brad Friedel's goal.
73mins
Aaron Mokoena comes on for Florent Sinama Pongolle as Mark Hughes looks to firm things up.
71mins
Emmanuel Eboue fires over the crossbar. Arsenal are on top in the second half.
69mins
Emmanuel Adebayor's right-foot drive from Cesc Fabregas through-ball is well saved by Brad Friedel.
67mins
Former Gunner David Bentley replaces the impressive Kerimoglu Tugay.
66mins
Cesc Fabregas' right-foot strike is straight at Brad Friedel.
65mins
Kerimoglu Tugay makes a good block from Philippe Senderos's header.
63mins
Emmanuel Adebayor shoots high over the crossbar from Cesc Fabregas' pass but is ruled offside anyway.
61mins
Aleksandr Hleb replaces Vassiriki Abou Diaby for the Gunners.
59mins
Philippe Senderos' arcing header is just inches over the crossbar.
58mins
Michael Gray flies in to take the ball of Emmanuel Adebayor, the ball going out for a corner.
56mins
Sergio Peter does well to win possession from Emmanuel Adebayor.
54mins
Jens Lehmann is cautioned for a push on Steven Reid.
52mins
Craig Bellamy breezes past Philippe Senderos again but his cross is poor.
50mins
Florent Sinama Pongolle's pass for Craig Bellamy is just overhit.
48mins
Arsenal have come out with all guns blazing as they search for an equaliser.
46mins
Robert Pires is a half-time substitute for Arsenal, replacing Jose Antonio Reyes.
46mins
Uriah Rennie gets the second half underway. Arsenal will be looking for an improved showing.
45mins
It's half time. Rovers hold a deserved lead at the break against a below-par Arsenal side.
43mins
Craig Bellamy looks to beat Philippe Senderos but cannot get past the Swiss defender.
41mins
Rovers are awarded a free kick for a robust Jose Antonio Reyes challenge on Florent Sinama Pongolle.
39mins
Kerimoglu Tugay and Robbie Savage are in complete control of midfield.
37mins
Philippe Senderos' faint touch from Thierry Henry's corner goes just wide.
35mins
Craig Bellamy strays offside from Florent Sinama Pongolle's lofted ball forward.
33mins
Robbie Savage goes within a whisker of making it 2-0 after sticking out a foot to try and convert Steven Reid's effort.
31mins
Andy Todd's header from Kerimoglu Tugay's flick-on flies over the bar.
29mins
Emmanuel Adebayor's pass to Thierry Henry is cut out by Andy Todd.
27mins
Craig Bellamy is caught half a yard offside as Rovers go searching for a second goal.
25mins
Thierry Henry's free kick is straight down the throat of Brad Friedel.
24mins
Andy Todd is shown yellow for a challenge on Jose Antonio Reyes.
23mins
Kerimoglu Tugay is unable to find Craig Bellamy with his pass after winning the ball well in midfield.
21mins
Craig Bellamy is giving Philippe Senderos plenty of problems.
19mins
Sergio Peter replaces Morten Gamst Pedersen who appeared to pick up a knock when he gave Rovers the lead.
18mins
Morten Gamst Pedersen side-foots the ball into the back of the net from Craig Bellamy's cut back.
15mins
Ryan Nelsen's chipped ball forward is comfortably collected by Jens Lehmann.
13mins
Steven Reid tracks back well to tackle Mathieu Flamini after the stop-gap left-back went forward on the overlap.
11mins
Kolo Toure goes into the referee's notebook for timewasting.
10mins
Thierry Henry's free kick from the edge of the area thunders into the wall.
8mins
Andy Todd steps in to take the balll off the feet of the ever-dangerous Thierry Henry.
6mins
Kolo Toure's free kick from 30 yards is deflected out for an Arsenal corner.
4mins
Philippe Senderos uses his strength to hold off Florent Sinama Pongolle as Rovers make a bright start.
2mins
Morten Gamst Pedersen is ruled offside much to the Norwegian's despair.
0mins
Uriah Rennie gets what is set to be a cracking encounter underway. Mark Hughes names an unchanged side.
0mins
Arsenal's Freddie Ljungberg misses out with a calf injury. Mark Hughes names an unchanged side.
Match Preview
Arsenal must try to put their Champions League heroics to one side when they return to domestic action on Saturday with a tough Premiership clash at Blackburn Rovers.
The Gunners put their problems at home to one side by beating Real Madrid more convincingly than the 1-0 scoreline suggested as they moved a step closer to reaching the last eight in Europe's premier competition.
Several players who have been criticised for some sub-standard displays in the Premiership were at the forefront on Tuesday in the Spanish capital as Cesc Fabregas, Philippe Senderos and Alex Hleb all produced their best performances in an Arsenal shirt.
Winning the competition is still unlikely but that could be the best route to playing the cream of European football next term, as Arsene Wenger's side struggle to move into the Premiership's top four, despite Spurs' recent wobbles.
Arsenal are fifth, still five points adrift of their north London rivals, after enduring a dismal run of only two wins in their last eight Premiership games.
Injuries continue to dominate Wenger's thinking with Dennis Bergkamp (calf), Robin van Persie (toe), Sol Campbell (foot), Gael Clichy (foot) and Ashley Cole (thigh) all struggling to be fit for Saturday, while Lauren and Pascal Cygan both remain on the long-term injured list.
Rovers have been inconsistent on their travels of late but remain a force at Ewood Park. They have won seven of their last nine home Premiership encounters, including a 2-0 success against Sunderland last time out, as they continue their push for a UEFA Cup spot.
Boss Mark Hughes received some good news in midweek when Paul Dickov insisted he could be ready to return to action against the Gunners following his dislocated shoulder and the former Leicester City man will be challenging for a starting spot against Craig Bellamy, Shefki Kuqi and Florent Sinama Pongolle.
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Match Report
Blackburn Rovers are dreaming of Europe and they may not content themselves with merely the UEFA Cup for a shot at a Champions League place is now within reach.
Arsenal went the way of Manchester United at Ewood Park after Morten Gamst Pedersen scored for the eighth time in the Premiership this season to give Rovers the victory that enabled them to leap-frog the Gunners and move into fifth place.
Pedersen struck after 18 minutes but injured himself in the process and had to be substituted 90 seconds later.
The Norwegian's sidefoot finish at the near post finished off a superb move in which Craig Bellamy had skipped past Philippe Senderos before delivering an inch-perfect cross.
Blackburn refused to let Pedersen's early departure spoil their gameplan and the home side could have well had more goals.
Robbie Savage was only just too high in attempting to guide home a fierce cross from Steven Reid.
Andy Todd, outstanding at the heart of the Rovers defence, might have also had a goal, his close-range header also going the wrong side of the crossbar.
Arsenal's early play was bright without a cutting edge and their only attempts at goal came from set-pieces.
Thierry Henry had two free-kick opportunities in the space of 5 minutes, but his first one was charged down by the Blackburn wall and his second was easily held by Brad Friedel.
Arsenal, so triumphant at Real Madrid on Tuesday, were not able to handle Blackburn's competitive edge and it seemed as though their performance in Spain had taken a lot out of them.
That said Senderos was unfortunate to see a header flash wide and, during a spell of Arsenal pressure in the second half, Emmanuel Adebayor had a header well saved by an alert Brad Friedel.
Blackburn Rovers Team
Arsenal Team
Blackburn Rovers | Arsenal |
Corners
| 3 | 5 |
Fouls
| 23 | 10 |
Goal attempts
| 6 | 10 |
Shots off target
| 4 | 7 |
Offsides
| 9 | 5 |
89mins
Craig Bellamy is caught offside much to the striker's frustration.