Arsenal extend advantage

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to five points after defeating Blackburn 2-0 at the Emirates tonight. A superb early goal from Philippe Senderos after four minutes and a last minute Emmanuel Adebayor special sealed the victory for the Gunners. It's advantage Arsenal in a very big way with 12 games to go.

After Man Utd and Chelsea dropped points to Man City and Liverpool respectively at the weekend, tonight was the night the Gunners could really take advantage.

And they did just that. Arsenal weren't their display their usual attacking flair - but Blackburn are renowned for putting the ball on the floor and throwing in challenges all over the park.

Champions really have to show they can dig their heels in and the Gunners had to tonight.

Philippe Senderos headed home Eduardo's corner to give Arsenal an early lead. Eduardo sent across the resulting corner and Benni McCarthy's abysmal attempt to mark Senderos meant the Swiss international was all alone as he planted his header in the back of the net in the fourth minute.

Arsenal controlled proceedings for the first twenty minutes, but couldn't build on that pressure for the rest of the half.

Blackburn started to find gaps in the Arsenal midfield and started to play some decent stuff.

Brett Emerton found space on the right to turn in an inviting cross but McCarthy failed to make any meaningful contact in front of goal and only succeeded in diverting the ball away from his team-mate Roque Santa Cruz.

But Rovers quickly dug in and the Gunners did not threaten again until Alex Hleb hit the post after the break. Hleb smashed his shot against the base of Friedel's right-hand post with the keeper well beaten.

Blackburn began to push forward, sensing they could still salvage something from the match.

But it was far too late.

Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel denied Emmanuel Adebayor twice but the Togo striker added a late second when he drilled his shot home in injury time.

It's advantage Arsenal on top of the Premiership.