GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)
606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on the action
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**By Jonathan Stevenson **
1343: While Hanna, below, prepares for another four hours of pounding away at the treadmill, Arsenal begin to pound away at Blacvburn. They get it out to the right where Andrey Arshavin floats over a cross and Cesc Fabregas loops a header against the crossbar.From Hanna, via text on 81111: "I thought I’d be clever and watch Chelsea v Liverpool at the gym cos my tv’s broken. I thought it started at 1.30. I don’t know how long I can last, Stevo."1339: Good test of Arsenal’s title credentials now - make no mistake, Blackburn will not come out to play, they will sit on exactly what they’ve got. For 84 minutes if they have to.
Rovers goal: He doesn’t do scripts does he, Big Sam Paul Robinson pumps a very long ball indeed into the Arsenal box and Thomas Vermaelen is beaten in the air by Steven Nzonzi, who heads the ball on, up and over young Vito Mannone.1336: GOAL Arsenal 0-1 Blackburn****1336: Some terrific messages coming in from emotional Arsenal fans about the appearance of Thierry Henry on the Emirates pitch. Easy to forget when you support another team just what a special player he was for Arsenal. Talking of special players, AZ Alkmaar coach Ronald Koeman is among the spectators.From Shed End Boy Since 1988 on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A57981342)"Stevo, any chance you could give a shout out to the Cheltenham Town supporters who won their second ever game this morning, beating AFC Seymour from Gloucester 4-3 AET in the County Cup. CTSFC had 10 men for the last 40 minutes, cracking performance. Ta."1332: I love football, me. Arsenal v Blackburn, the first part of a brilliant Sunday offering, gets up and running in north London, courtesy of our referee Peter Walton.1328: The teams walk out at Arsenal, we’re not far off getting under way. It’s a decent October afternoon and the atmosphere is very, very contented. Can Blackburn spoil Monsieur Wenger’s party1325: Arsenal did the double over Blackburn last season, thrashing Rovers 4-0 bothhomeandaway.At the Emirates this afternoon, Barcelona striker Thierry Henry walks out on to the pitch prior to kick-off and takes the adulation of the crowd.From Luke, Birmingham, via text on 81111: "Stevo, here’s my predictions: Arsenal 2-0 Blackburn. Everton 1-1 Stoke. West Ham 3-1 Fulham and Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool."1318: There’s a little cracker going on north of the border, though right now they’re taking a deserved breather after a 45 minutes of furious end-to-end action.If you’d like to follow events from Ibrox Park at all, Thomas McGuigan is in the chair.1315: In-form and flying at home, it’s hard to see past an Arsenal win today. Though hope for Blackburn comes in the knowledge that Sam Allardyce is the English manager who has caused Arsene Wenger the most problems during his stint on these shores, with the Gunners gaffer winning eight of their 19 meetings.From Pickles91 on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A57981342)“If you look at the league it really, really is close if Liverpool win today and Arsenal win their games in hand. Even Spurs and Man City are close enough. Hope Arsenal win it though, the way they play is just incredible.”**1308: Arsenal **make one alteration from the team that beat Olympiakos in midweek, with Bacary Sagna replacing Emmanuel Eboue. **Blackburn **ring the changes as they opt to bring in Gael Givet, Martin Olsson, Brett Emerton and Keith Andrews for Chris Samba, Ryan Nelsen, Vincenzo Grella and Morten Gamst Pedersen. 1305: It’s astonishing to think that it is 13 years since a bespectacled Frenchman few people had ever heard of walked into Highbury and played his part in revolutionising the British game. Wenger’s first match in charge was against today’s opponents Blackburn in October 1996, with Live From Studio Five co-host Ian Wright bagging a brace in a 2-0 win at Ewood Park. I wonder what Melinda Messenger was doing that day…1300: Stevo’s Predos:
Arsenal 4-1 Blackburn
Everton 2-1 Stoke
West Ham 2-1 Fulham
Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool
Lawro’s predictions1257: Arsenal v Blackburn line-ups:
Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Rosicky, van Persie, Arshavin.
Subs: Szczesny, Walcott, Ramsey, Silvestre, Eboue, Gibbs, Bendtner.
Blackburn: Robinson, Jacobsen, Givet, Chimbonda, Olsson, Emerton, Andrews, Nzonzi, Diouf, Dunn, Di Santo.
Subs: Brown, McCarthy, Pedersen, Kalinic, Hoilett, Salgado, Jones.
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)From Roverdamus on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A57981342)"As long as Rovers don’t get totally embarrassed like last season, then I won’t be too upset. Can’t see us getting anything out of the game, but I live in hope."1253: But enough of all that. Chelsea v Liverpool kicks off at 1600 BST, that’s four o’clock in your old-fashioned English hours. A good hour prior to that, Everton entertain Stoke at Goodison and West Ham and Fulham go all London on us at the Boleyn Ground. Firstly, however, Arsenal’s longest-serving manager pits his wits against Big Sam’s Blackburn.1249: Oh, how I love Chelsea-Liverpool meetings. It’s the time of the season (or five times) when I get most accused of bias. If you get furious about how it’s going, feel free to take it out on me via text on 81111 andon the 606 thread too.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A57981342)I can take it, honestly. I’m here for you.1245: In the last five years, Chelsea and Liverpool have met a mind-numbing 25 times. There have beensome absolute shockers in that time,as I’m sure Jorge Valdano would happily agree (Google it). But if they are all going to belike the last one,I’d happily watch them all day every day.