If Arsene Wenger's experiences with Arsenal are anything to go by, it is easy to guess what has been happening in the Frenchman's domestic life. Having finally fixed a leak that troubled him throughout last season, the manager will have seen his normally reliable fridge expire.
No sooner have Arsenal rediscovered the art of winning away than their home form in the Premiership has collapsed. Bolton and now Blackburn have stolen late equalisers at Highbury, where Leeds won. Seven points surrendered at home compares with nine in the whole of last season.
"What's positive for everyone is that Manchester United are dropping points as well. But we need to rectify the fact we concede goals at home," said Wenger. Some of their attacking was outstanding, with Robert Pires particularly eye-catching, but defensive lapses are costing them.
Patrick Vieira bemoaned a "lack of organisation and discipline" in allowing the lively David Dunn a goal in the 89th minute. By then Arsenal had four strikers on and Vieira suggested it might help to concentrate more on stopping goals. "We have to kill the game by staying really strong defensively or keep the ball," he said. "It's difficult because on our ground we want to do well for the crowd, but maybe sometimes we are going forward too much."
Arsenal's defence is being rebuilt and this four were together for the first time. Lauren and Giovanni van Bronckhorst will not look back with fond memories, nor goalkeeper Richard Wright. Martin Keown has not reached last season's form and there was no great leader in the back five.
Blackburn, helped by their keeper Brad Friedel, deserved a point. And Rovers boss Graeme Souness believes Dunn to be an outstanding prospect. "He's got that ability," Souness said. "He's very powerful. If he gets level with you he can hold you off, a bit like Gascoigne."
Dunn's opportunism was plain for the watching Sven-Goran Eriksson. Long-range goals with both feet followed a fine effort in front of Eriksson against West Ham. Dunn's mistake allowed Arsenal their third, but he atoned.
Matt Jansen enabled Keith Gillespie to put Blackburn ahead via a deflection. Pires, from Bergkamp's pass, and Bergkamp, fed by Pires, had Arsenal in front before Dunn scored from 25 yards after Lauren's error. Thierry Henry's low shot looked enough for Arsenal but they let it slip, Wright's block setting up Dunn to score first time.
ARSENAL: Wright, Grimandi, Keown, Upson, Lauren, Vieira, Pires (Wiltord 75), Parlour (Kanu 69), van Bronckhorst, Bergkamp, Henry. Subs Not Used: Ljungberg, Taylor, Luzhny. Booked: van Bronckhorst. Goals: Pires 48, Bergkamp 53, Henry 78.
BLACKBURN: Friedel, Berg, Bjornebye, Short, Tugay, Flitcroft, Dunn, Gillespie (Bent 70), Johnson (Hignett 58), Neill, Jansen (Hughes 84). Subs Not Used: Filan, Johansson. Booked: Bent, Short. Goals: Gillespie 41, Dunn 58, 89.
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).
