Changes aplenty for Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made nine changes for this afternoon’s FA Cup fifth round clash with Blackburn as skipper Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, William Gallas and Freddie Ljungberg were all recalled.

Only Kolo Toure and goalkeeper Manuel Almunia kept their places from Wednesday’s night’s fourth-round replay at Bolton as Theo Walcott was given another run and Jeremie Aliadiere took over from two-goal hero Emmanuel Adebayor.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes, whose side went down 6-2 in the Premiership at The Emirates in December, also used his squad after a midweek UEFA Cup-tie in Germany.

New signings Bruno Berner and Christopher Samba were recalled, while Shabani Nonda – who came on to score against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday – and defender Zurab Khizanishvili were promoted from the bench.