Gunners climb to second

26/11/2005 - 17:23:35

On the day that football celebrated the gifts of George Best, it was perhaps fitting that Thierry Henry should prove that artistry is still at the heart of the modern-day game.

Faced with a Blackburn side that combined the talent of Craig Bellamy with the play-acting of Robbie Savage, Henry continued his run of record-breaking goalscoring feats with a touch of class.

Having already eclipsed Ian Wright as the club’s all-time record scorer, he became the first Arsenal player to score 100 league goals at Highbury and the first Premiership player to mark a century in the same stadium.

Above all, Henry possesses a similar devotion to artistry as Best. Maybe not quite the same flamboyance or innate natural brilliance, but he certainly has a similar ability to light up a game with a moment of individual skill.

Not so Savage, whose attempt to get Jose Antonio Reyes booked was shameful as he clutched his face in apparent pain after the Spaniard had at most touched the midfielder’s hair with a dismissive gesticulation after being fouled.

However, this was fittingly a day when talent prevailed and Henry’s effortless finish on the stroke of half-time was matched by Robin van Persie’s exquisite strike in the final minute from the tightest of angles.

And so, despite being troubled in defence after Cesc Fabregas’ early opener, the Gunners completed a seventh consecutive home league win of the season, keeping up the pressure – albeit at a distance – on leaders Chelsea, who visit Highbury next month.

After the stadium had been shrouded in silence before kick-off to mourn the passing of a footballing genius, Arsenal seized the lead after just four minutes.

Fabregas seized on a loose ball after Reyes had been tackled on the edge of the penalty area by Andy Todd and passed the ball into the far corner with as much nonchalance as skill.

With Arsenal having beaten Blackburn three times last season – including the FA Cup semi-final – without conceding a goal, that left Mark Hughes’s side with a tough task.

It was almost made even tougher soon afterwards only for Brad Friedel to dive full-length to tip Henry’s free-kick around the post, while Kolo Toure twice came close from corners.

However, Blackburn started to pose serious problems for Arsenal’s defence, with Bellamy emerging as their chief tormentor, while Shefki Kuqi and Morten Gamst Pedersen also came close.

Bellamy forced Lehmann into a smart reaction save with a snap-shot before Toure headed his follow-up effort over the bar and the Welshman also nipped ahead of Toure to divert a long ball by Lucas Neill just past the post.

Savage, meanwhile, was more intent on baiting Reyes, but Arsenal responded by upping the tempo and while Toure missed another opening, Henry was not as wasteful.

The Frenchman effortlessly capitalised on Robert Pires’ through-ball to turn inside and curl a first-time shot inside the far post that was beautiful in its sheer simplicity.

Immediately after the restart, Henry threaded a low cross across the face of goal, with Dennis Bergkamp just failing to make contact at the far post.

However, Blackburn continued to pose problems of their own, with Bellamy’s cross being cut out by Gilberto at full stretch, while Kuqi’s header was cleared off the line by Pires.

Andy Reid was also just wide with a long-range effort as Blackburn, whose only away league win of the season so far had come – of all places – at Old Trafford, battled to get back into the game.

Hughes brought on David Thompson to replace Brett Emerton, but it was still Bellamy who remained his side’s main threat, clipping the outside of the post with a header from Pedersen’s cross.

Lehmann was nevertheless equal to the Blackburn challenge, tipping Pedersen’s inswinging corner over the bar, twice foiling Thompson and then racing out to beat Bellamy to a through-ball.

The difference between the two sides was in Arsenal’s extra degree of class in front of goal. And that was perfectly demonstrated by van Persie, a late substitute for Bergkamp, in the 89th minute.

The Dutchman skipped through attempted challenges from Savage and Michael Gray before curling a superb shot in off the far post. It was a fitting end to a poignant afternoon.

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