Arsenal edged five points clear of second placed Manchester United after goals early and late on in the match saw off the challenge of Blackburn Rovers.

Arsenal were arguably nowhere near their best against Mark Hughes’s side but Rovers were on the back foot almost straight away when Phillipe Senderos headed in after just four minutes.

Brad Friedel made a string of saves to keep his side in the game until Emanuel Adebayor took his tally to 19 league goals in second half stoppage time to seal all three points.

1 - 0 Phillipe Senderos (four minutes)

Centre back Senderos was unmarked in the six yard box to power in a header directly from an Eduardo corner.

2 - 0 Emanuel Adebayor (90 minutes)

Adebayor completed a superb Gunners counter attack and secured the victory when he drilled in a Hleb pass from 12 yards.