Arsenal draws 1-1 at Blackburn

Robin Van Persie put Arsenal ahead on 19 minutes at Ewood Park with the help of a Brad Friedel error, but Rovers equalised late on when Jens Lehmann fumbled David Dunn's shot into the net in a physical encounter.

Both teams started their second Premier League game of the season having played one, won one - and also having both won in Europe in midweek.

Starting XIs:

Blackburn: (01) Friedel, (07) Emerton, (04) Samba, (06) Nelsen, (03) Warnock. (11) Bentley, (08) Savage, (19) Dunn, (12) Pedersen, (09) Santa Cruz, (27) Derbyshire. Substitutes: (32) Brown, (02) Ooijer, (05) Kerimoglu, (10) McCarthy, (30) Roberts

Arsenal: (01) Lehmann, (03) Sagna, (05) Toure, (10) Gallas (24 Senderos ), (22) Clichy. (32) Walcott, (16) Flamini, (04) Fabregas, (13) Hleb, (09) Eduardo, (11) Van Persie. Substitutes: (24) Almunia, (06) Senderos, (15) Denilson, (17) Song Billong, (26) Bendtner

Referee: Alan Wiley

Benni McCarthy was fit but started on the Rovers bench, and Mark Hughes brought in Brett Emerton playing. Arsenal gave a first start to Eduardo da Silva, alongside Robin van Persie. Theo Walcott also came in.

When the game got underway, Jens Lehmann was soon in action, coming to punch a Brett Emerton cross clear but colliding with Kolo Toure and hurting his right arm, requiring treatment. Manuel Almunia was immedately warming up, but Lehmann continued.

On 19 minutes, Arsenal took the lead following a mix-up in the Blackburn defence after goalkeeper Brad Friedel dropped the ball and Robin van Persie latched onto it to tap in easily from close range. It was the Dutchman's seventh goal in six games against Rovers.

Arsenal captain William Gallas twisted his knee and had to be replaced by Phillippe Senderos after 24 minutes, with Toure taking the armband.

Ex-Gunner David Bentley was booked for wrestling Robin van Persie to the ground, and then Mathieu Flamini collected a yellow for a challenge on Robbie Savage as they both went for a high ball.

The game became feisty with Emerton and Alexander Hleb niggling at each other, and several Rovers players seeking out Eduardo to welcome him to the Premier League.

The Croatian needed treatment after Ryan Nelsen climbed all over him as they weent for a high ball, to the annoyance of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger on the touchline, who made his feelings known to the fourth official.

Nelsen then showed the other side of his game by heading the ball against the woodwork inside the area from a free-kick.

Theo Walcott break clear on the right but his cross into the box for Robin van Persie was a let down and what could have been a second for the Gunners hoes begging.

Eduardo flashed in shot before Robbie Savage was urged to calm down by referee Alan Wiley, and the teams reached half-time with a full complement of players, despite the feisty first half.

Early in the second half, Robbie Savage appealed for a penalty after a tangle with Toure. But the referee waved off the protests.

Roque Santa Cruz got a touch on a David Bentley inswinging free-kick from the left, but could not turn the glancing header goalwards.

Matt Derbyshire climbed high at the far post but could not direct his header at goal, before Bentley exploited a Clichy error and steamed into the Arsenal area, forcing Flamini to concede a corner. As the ball came in Rovers committed a foul, but Christoper Samba was railing at the referee over the decision, insisting Cesc Fabregas had stopped his goalbound effort with an arm and demanding a penalty.

But Blackburn levelled with another goalkeeping error - and the second howler of the season by Lehmann. He fumbled a straightdorward David Dunn shot over the line for the Rovers equaliser.

R.Nelsen was sent off in the 84th minute for a second bookable offence but Blackburn held on and managed to draw.