Blackburn Rovers 1 Arsenal 2

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GOALS from Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin consigned Sam Allardyce to his first league loss at home to Arsenal in seven attempts as Blackburn Rovers were beaten this afternoon.

Arsenal went ahead in the 20th minute as Robin van Persie played in Walcott and the flying winger superbly drilled a shot into the bottom corner.

Rovers were back on level terms seven minutes later, though, as El-Hadji Diouf brilliantly made it past Laurent Koscielny to the by-line and squared for compatriot Mame Biram Diouf to tap over from close range – his first league goal for Blackburn after his Carling Cup hat-trick against Norwich in midweek.

El-Hadji Diouf

El-Hadji Diouf

But Arsenal restored their lead six minutes after half time as Cesc Fabregas shot hit Walcott and rebounded into the path of Arshavin, who coolly found the net.

Arsenal had a degree of control as they dominated possession and, although Blackburn were struggling to impose themselves, they still carried a threat.

arsene-wenger-sam-allardyce

Arsene Wenger & Sam Allardyce

Nikola Kalininc blazed high after a mistake by Thomas Vermaelen but the home side’s attacks had become few and far between.

Jack Wilshere missed a great chance late on, although it would only have put the gloss on Arsenal’s first away win since March.

Goal scorers:

Blackburn: Mame Biram Diouf 26

Arsenal: Walcott 19, Arshavin 51

Blackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Nelsen, Samba, Givet, El-Hadji Diouf, Jones, Pedersen, Grella, Mame Diouf, Kalinic.

Subs: Bunn, Olsson, Emerton, Dunn, Nzonzi, Hoilett, Chimbonda.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Clichy, Diaby, Song, Fabregas, Walcott, van Persie, Arshavin.

Subs: Fabianski, Rosicky, Vela, Wilshere, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Blackburn Rovers 3 Norwich City 1

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Mame Biram Diouf marked his first start for Blackburn with a hat-trick as the Premier League side eased past Norwich to reach the Carling Cup third round.

The Senegal international, on a season-long loan from Manchester United, headed in after Chris Samba flicked on Morten Gamst Pedersen’s long throw.

Mame Biram Diouf

Mame Biram Diouf scores his third goal of the evening

Blackburn keeper Mark Bunn saved well from Simeon Jackson and Grant Holt before Diouf, 22, tapped in his second.

Diouf nodded in a third before Jens Berthel Askou headed a consolation.

Manager Sam Allardyce had given his loan star two substitute outings in the Barclays Premier League but chose tonight’s cup fixture against npower Championship opposition to give him his first start and he did not disappoint.

Diouf, who made six appearances for United last season and also sat on the bench for their Carling Cup final win over Aston Villa, was heavily involved from the outset.

Blackburn

* 13 Bunn
* 02 Jacobsen
* 04 Samba (Jones 61)
* 05 Givet (Olsson 81)
* 39 Chimbonda
* 07 Emerton
* 11 Grella (Nzonzi 61)
* 12 Pedersen
* 14 Linganzi
* 23 Hoilett
* 41 Diouf

Substitutes

* 34 Fielding,
* 03 Olsson,
* 28 Jones,
* 33 Morris,
* 15 Nzonzi,
* 25 Judge,
* 10 Diouf

Norwich

* 13 Rudd
* 02 Martin (Hughes 72)
* 22 Ward
* 28 Francomb
* 33 Berthel Askou
* 04 Gill
* 14 Hoolahan (McNamee 68)
* 15 Fox
* 19 Lappin
* 09 Holt (Johnson 67)
* 10 Jackson

Substitutes

* 01 Ruddy,
* 08 Hughes,
* 11 Surman,
* 18 Smith,
* 24 McNamee,
* 16 Martin,
* 23 Johnson

Ref: MossAtt: 9,235

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