Souness blasts Pires theatrics

Arsenal 1 Blackburn Rovers 0

While the pre-match spotlight shone on Thierry Henry amid interest from Chelsea and ahead of the FIFA world player of the year award, it was left to Dennis Bergkamp to score Arsenal's winner.

However, Arsenal were still indebted to their defence and, especially, their keeper Jens Lehmann for protecting their slender lead as they moved back above Chelsea.

Souness was nevertheless unhappy at the way in which his side were denied an equaliser when Markus Babbel's second-half header was ruled out for jumping on Kolo Toure.

"I can see how it was been disallowed but it's a question of how you see it," he insisted.

"If that had been at the North Bank, Stretford End or Kop for the home side, it might have stood.

"Markus got up early and he had his arm over Toure's shoulder but then he is 6ft 4in tall and he thought it was a goal as you might expect."

The Blackburn boss was just as frustrated at the antics of Pires, who has earned the wrath of several opposing managers for his theatrical reaction to tackles.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp was particularly incensed at the way in which Pires earned his side a penalty at Highbury earlier this season after the faintest contact by Dejan Stefanovic.

Souness, who remonstrated with the Frenchman during the game, added: "Robert Pires is a super player but he got two of our players booked and I feel he goes to ground too easily."

Having gone behind to Bergkamp's strike on 11 minutes, Blackburn were fortunate not to trail by at least another goal at the interval, with Pires striking the post and heading another chance over.

Rovers dominated the second half and while Arsenal were denied a late penalty, Babbel's effort was ruled out and Lehmann had to produce several first-class saves.

Souness added: "We've been to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and now Highbury and we've equipped ourselves well in each place. Our problem this season has been not defending well at times but we can improve, especially if we carry on playing like that.

"Arsenal are a super team and are possibly the most exciting side in the Premiership but that does not necessarily mean they will win the title."

For once, Henry was a mere mortal, at least by his own high standards, but Arsenal were able to rely upon Dennis Bergkamp's 11th-minute strike.

However, as Graeme Souness' side grew in stature after the break, Arsenal were left to rely upon their well-honed qualities of resilience and defiance as they hung on.

That was nevertheless something which Chelsea had failed to do just 24 hours earlier as they lost a 1-0 lead at home to Bolton to lose 2-1.

Blackburn were the only side to complete the double over Arsenal last season and it took them just 20 seconds to carve out their first opening this time around.

Sol Campbell failed to cut out Lucas Neill's volleyed cross and Dwight Yorke clipped his shot just wide from 12 yards out.

That was a considerable let-off for Arsene Wenger's side amid a hesitant start but they settled down from the moment that Toure took the game by the scruff of the neck.

The full-back pushed the ball past Vratislav Gresko and then beat him for pace and strength before superbly cutting a pass back to Bergkamp, who stabbed his shot inside the near post.

It was difficult to work out just how Arsenal did not increase their lead, especially when Tugay weakly gave away the ball to Bergkamp, who set Henry through on goal.

When Souness's criticism of Pires was put to him, Arsene Wenger defended the winger: "I respect the way that Blackburn played but that does not mean he is right in that opinion."

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Toure, Campbell, Cygan, Cole, Ljungberg (Edu 84), Vieira, Silva, Pires, Bergkamp (Parlour 74), Henry.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Babbel (Baggio 82), Short, Todd, Gresko (Reid 46), Emerton, Tugay, Ferguson, Neill, Gallagher (Cole 57), Yorke.

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).