King Henry stars again for the ‘invincibles’

Arsenal 3 Blackburn 0

The Frenchman scored once and set up two others in leading by dramatic example as Arsenal stretched their unbeaten league run to an incredible 43 games in some style.

Given that Henry’s haul out of the 95 Arsenal goals scored during that run now equates to an amazing 34, that was entirely fitting.

Gilberto put the proverbial icing on the cake with a header deflected in off Cesc Fabregas as Arsenal recovered from an uncertain first-half display, while Henry unselfishly set up substitute Jose Reyes for the late third.

And so the ’New Invincibles’ march on, with the entire team bonding in a circle at the final whistle to mark their achievement.

Having equalled Nottingham Forest’s 25-year-old mark of 42 unbeaten top-flight games last Sunday with a comeback to beat Middlesbrough last Sunday, they had swept past Blackburn.

While Henry was the starring light, the Arsenal crowd witnessed yet another immensely mature display from 17-year-old midfielder Fabregas.

Jermaine Pennant also showed the young talent coming through the ranks at Highbury as he started his first league game for the Gunners since May 2003 against Southampton.

That, ironically enough, was the first game of this unbeaten league run. While the midfielder went to Leeds on loan, Arsenal kept on winning without him.

The Gunners were quickly into their stride once again against Blackburn, with Henry testing out Brad Friedel three times within the first five minutes.

Friedel was equal to each of those efforts, however, and Blackburn, despite scoring just one point from their opening two games, started to enjoy spells of possession.

Indeed, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann needed to produce a smart reaction saves as Craig Short spun onto Brett Emerton’s cross and directed a volley towards the far corner.

That certainly gave encouragement to his manager, Graeme Souness, who was ironically a member of the Liverpool side which finally ended Forest’s unbeaten league run back in December 1978.

Arsenal were by no means displaying their normal fluid approach play, with Blackburn’s hard-working midfield quartet managing to disrupt their supply lines.

Lehmann was even called upon once again to dive smartly to deny Dickov, but Arsenal could still have taken the lead before the break.

Fabregas, for all of his immense promise, nevertheless blazed the ball wide from 12 yards out after Pires had left an inviting cross by Pennant.

Pires was almost as wasteful a minute later when he mis-kicked his own shot, while Fabregas’ drive was unwittingly deflected over the bar by his French team-mate.

Arsenal were a different side after the break, increasing the tempo as if they had only been coasting in second gear for the entire first-half.

Pennant combined with Fabregas to provide the impetus, with the Spaniard’s driven pass to Bergkamp being instantly capitalised upon by the Dutchman. Bergkamp sent over an inch-perfect low cross from the right flank, which was begging to be smashed into the roof of the net. Henry duly obliged from close range.

Arsenal continued to increase the pressure on Blackburn, forcing a succession of corners, and it was from one of these dead-ball deliveries from Henry that they struck again on 58 minutes.

Gilberto met the ball with a powerful downward header and the ball bounced into the net, albeit off the leg of team-mate Fabregas.

Arsenal were not finished yet though.

With 11 minutes remaining, Henry broke clear and, even though he was initially denied by Friedel, he had the presence of mind to pick out substitute Reyes.

The Spaniard had arrived unmarked at the edge of the penalty area and while Henry could have tried a second attempt himself, he squared the ball for his strike-partner to convert.

Next up is a Norwich away match, followed by Fulham, Bolton, Manchester City and Charlton. On this form, there is no obvious end to their unbeaten run.

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Cygan, Cole, Pennant, Silva, Fabregas Soler, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Short, Gray, Gresko, Emerton, Tugay, Johansson, Matteo, Dickov, Stead.

Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).