Arsenal gunned down again

The defeat is Arsenal's tenth in the Premiership this season but comes hot on the heels of their 1-0 away win against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Morten Garnst Pedersen got the goal after only 18 minutes and Arsenal never fully recovered. Despite having numerous chances to get back on level terms, the Gunners were unable to avoid an eighth league defeat away from home.

Arsenal started the game well; their passing game seemed to be in place and both full backs, Emmanuel Eboue and Mathieu Flamini were getting forward. For all their possession though, Arsenal failed to create any real chances.

They were made to pay for it when brilliant work from Craig Bellamy left Philippe Senderos flailing and enabled to the Welshman to cross for Pedersen to stick home. Blackburn grew in confidence after that and in the 32nd minute Andy Todd could have made it 2-0 to Rovers but his header went wide.

Arsenal's best chances in the first half came in the 37th and 45th minutes. Senderos made firm contact with an Henry corner at the near post but Brad Friedel in the Blackburn goal did well to close the angles.

Then just before half time, Arsenal managed to break quickly with Jose Antonio Reyes but the Spani ard was selfish and went for goal on his own. He lost control of the ball and the chance went begging.

Blackburn dominated the early stages of the second half, despite Robert Pires replacing Reyes for Arsenal. The Gunners did not create chances until after the hour mark saw a good header from Senderos just graze the roof of the net.

That seemed to be a catalyst for Arsenal's second win. Their passing became more incisive and in the 67th minute Cesc Fabregas found himself with a bit of time and space but could only shoot at the keeper.

Arsenal's best opportunity to get back on level terms came from Emmanuel Adebayor. The Togolese international found himself in close proximity to the goal, with time to control the ball but he scuffed his shot and Friedel made the save without too much trouble.

The Gunners did all they could, even brining on young Italian striker Arturo Lupoli but it was not enough. They would have conceded a second goal if not for the timely intervention of Jens Lehmann in front of Bellamy in the 89h minute.

Blackburn were the more determined side on the day and they deserved the win. An eighth defeat away from home this season sees Arsenal slip further down the league table.

Second half goals by Frank Lampard and Arjen Robben gave Chelsea a 2-0 home win over second-bottom Portsmouth as the Champions bounced back from their midweek Champions League loss to Barcelona.

England midfielder Lampard slotted home the breakthrough goal for the champions at Stamford Bridge after 65 minutes and Dutch winger Arjen Robben made sure of the points with their second on 78 minutes.

The laboured victory on a heavy pitch extended Chelsea's lead at the top over Manchester United to 15 points.

Chelsea looked jaded after their 2-1 defeat by Barcelona and took their time warming up against Harry Redknapp's side, who now look firm candidates for the drop.

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba lined up the precious opener for Lampard, with the England midfielder making up for what had been a disappointing performance with a fine finish.

Robben did the same after being set up by a superb ball over the top of Portsmouth's defence by Icelandic striker-cum-midfielder Eidur Gudjohnsen.

The win lifts Chelsea to 69 points, well clear of Manchester United (54), who face Wigan Athletic in Sunday's League Cup final in Cardiff. Third-placed Liverpool, on 51, play Manchester City amidst Sunday's league games.

In a pulsating encounter at St James' Park, Newcastle United overcame a jittery first-half performance to finally take the win against Everton thanks to a second period brace from Nolberto Solano, with the second goal being a real peach of an effort.

Despite suffering a number of close shaves in the opening period, Newcastle were able the regroup during the break, and never looked back as a great performance in the second 45 minutes eclipsed their visitors from Merseyside.

Twice in the opening half, Emre was forced to clear David Weir headers off the line from set pieces, perhaps giving Newcastle fans the belief that it wouldn't be Everton's day.

Sure enough, in the 64th minute, the little Peruvian winger affectionately known as Nobby popped up in the box to get on the end of a Charles N'Zogbia cross from the left to bundle the ball home and set the Magpies on their way.

With less than a quarter of an hour left, Nobby left his indelible mark on the match.

Receiving the ball on the right-hand edge of the area, he cut inside and unleashed a lovely curling effort at the opposite corner off the outside of his right foot, killing the game there and then.

Although Everton huffed and puffed in the closing stages, they never looked like getting back in the match, especially after losing the influential Tim Cahill just after the second goal.

The win now leaves Newcastle firmly in mid-table in eleventh place, ahead of Everton on goal difference, knowing that a strong finish to the season will give them an outside chance of UEFA qualification.

Birmingham improved their chances of avoiding the drop with a vital victory over a Sunderland side who are all but resigned to second division football next season.

Striker Emile Heskey gave the Blues their 39th-minute winner at St Andrews, heading home unchallenged at the far post after winger Jermaine Pennant had curled over a free kick.

Heskey could have added a second after the break but was denied by a sharp save from keeper Kelvin Davis.

Villa will be happier with the point earned at the Valley after soaking up plenty of pressure from Alan Curbishley's side.

First half scoring chances for Charlton's Darren Bent and Radostin Kishishev went begging, while Villa failed to create any until a fine curling shot from attacking midfielder James Milner was parried away on the stroke of halftime.

Chances continued to fall for the two mid-table sides after the break but neither were able to capitalise.

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