Gunners give Fergie reason to be fearful

Arsenal 2 Blackburn 0

Arsenal cherish any victory over Blackburn, a notorious bogey side, and while this stodgy performance will quickly vanish from the memory, the implications are writ large in black and white. The north Londoners now enjoy a five-point cushion over Manchester United and if they maintain this ruthless mood, even Ferguson may struggle to claw it back.

Where United had collapsed under the weight of expectation in Sunday’s emotionally-charged Manchester derby, Arsenal’s young shoulders proved equal to their own burden last night.