Gunners on the up - round-up

Arsenal were on course to claim second place in the Barclays Premiership as they led Blackburn 2-0 while Wigan were a goal down at Tottenham.

After an impeccably observed minute’s silence in honour of George Best, the Gunners were given a good start by Cesc Fabregas.

The Spaniard collected a loose ball on the edge of the Blackburn box before passing the ball into the visitors’ net in the fourth minute.

Rovers had their chances with Arsenal’s centre-half partnership of Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell only just coping with some clever running by Mark Hughes’ side.

However, the home side held out until a beautifully judged through-ball by Robert Pires released Thierry Henry down the Arsenal left.

The France striker surged into the Blackburn box before sliding the ball beyond Brad Friedel.

Wigan were losing 1-0 at White Hart Lane after they fell behind to an eighth-minute goal from Robbie Keane.

Arjan de Zeeuw struggled to deal with Teemu Tainio’s long ball out of defence and Keane pounced as the Dutchman dallied, firing past Michael Pollitt in the Wigan goal.

Keane thought he should have had a penalty on the half-hour mark when his turn in the box prompted Wigan defender Stephane Henchoz to throw his arms around the Republic of Ireland striker.

However, referee Mike Riley waved away the Spurs appeals.

The meeting between the Premiership’s bottom two clubs was goalless with neither Sunderland nor Birmingham able to break the deadlock at the Stadium of Light.

And there were no goals at Villa Park where Aston Villa were playing Charlton or at Manchester City, where not even Peter Crouch could score for Liverpool in the opening 45 minutes.