Arsenal moved five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League after a 2-0 win over Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium.
Philippe Senderos headed the Gunners into an early lead but Brad Friedel produced a string of fine saves to keep Rovers in the game before Emmanuel Adebayor secured the three points in injury time.
The home side flew out of the traps and took the lead with just four minutes on the clock when Senderos rose unmarked to power a header from Eduardo's corner past a helpless Friedel.
Steven Reid headed tamely wide at the other end before the Gunners threatened again when a fine passing move ended with Mathieu Flamini bursting into the area but the French midfielder's volley was pushed out by the legs of Friedel.
Blackburn improved as the half progressed and came close to drawing level in the 37th minute when Benni McCarthy miscued his header from Brett Emerton's excellent centre, with a diving Roque Santa Cruz just failing to make contact at the far post.
David Bentley's free-kick from 30 yards was nervously pushed round the post by Jens Lehmann as Rovers started the second half brightly, while at the other end Alexander Hleb's fierce drive from the edge of the area cannoned back off the post.
Adebayor was denied three times by the excellent Friedel and Cesc Fabregas whistled an effort wide from distance as Arsene Wenger's men pushed for a second.
Fridel had to extend himself again when Hleb launched an effort goalwards while Rovers were forced into a reshuffle when skipper Andre Ooijer limped off with a hamstring injury with nine minutes to go.
The win was finally wrapped up in injury time when Hleb broke into the area and fed Adebayor who skipped past Zurab Khizanishvili before lashing his effort past Friedel - scoring in his ninth successive game in the proccess.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted he was surprised to find his young side with such a comfortable cushion at the top of the league.
"We are just happy to be where we are," he told Setanta Sports. "We didn't expect to be after this weekend.
"But I feel it is very important to keep a great sense of humility.
"There's still a long, long way to go. You could see yesterday with the results, this league is very tight - the day you are not at your best you can lose to anybody."
Of tonight's game he added: "We had a great start, the first 20 minutes were outstanding and when we dropped the pace Blackburn came into it.
"But we had a good defensive performance and they didn't create many chances."
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes was happy with his side's display despite suffering a first defeat of 2008.
"I was really pleased with how we went about our job tonight," he told Setanta Sports.
"Not many teams can come to the Emirates and take Arsenal on in a passing game and we certainly did that.
"I certainly don't think we deserved a two-goal difference."
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