Blackburn - 0 Arsenal - 2:When Robbie Savage pleads for an opponent not to be dismissed, Arsene Wenger fails to see a dreadful challenge on one of his players, Blackburn's fans stand to applaud a goal by the visiting team and Arsenal secure a third successive win in an area of the country where they are supposed to be fragile, it is clear that all is not as it seems in the Premiership. Indeed much more of this and Arsenal might be expected to overhaul Manchester United in the title race.

Sunday will reveal much about that unlikely possibility. United visit the Emirates and, with Arsenal 15 points behind the Premiership leaders with 15 matches to go, nothing less than a victory will keep Wenger's faint hopes alive. Having already defeated United this season and run into form, a home win would not be a surprise although Savage's theatrical reaction to Gilberto Silva's petulance means the Brazilian will be missing.

Wenger admitted that "by the letter of the law" Gilberto had to be sent off because he had kicked out at Savage but the Blackburn midfielder's disgraceful play-acting after he had initially fouled the Brazilian hardly helped the situation. Savage urged Rob Styles, the referee, to rescind the decision when he brandished the red card yet that conversation would probably not have taken place had the Welshman stayed on his feet and not collapsed to the floor.

Savage, who admitted there was a time when he would have cheated, was contrite. "I was shocked when it was a red card. I said to the referee he shouldn't send him off but he said, 'if he kicks out at you, he has to go'. I thought it was a yellow card for him at best and it shouldn't have been anything for me, either. He definitely made contact and, if people think I went down easily, they should watch Match of the Day. I have gone past all those old days of feigning injury."

Arsenal, despite playing with 10 men for 77 minutes, outplayed, outfought and out-thought Blackburn, with Thierry Henry setting up Arsenal's first goal, headed in by Kolo Toure, before adding a sublime second that brought Ewood Park to its feet. "A sensational goal," said Wenger.

That Henry's strike came from a Blackburn free-kick said everything about Arsenal's wonderful ability to turn defence into attack with extraordinary alacrity. Henry was deep in his own half when he picked up possession, a swift change of pace allowing him to ghost up the left before cutting inside to exchange passes with Cesc Fabregas. With the ball moving away from him, Henry whipped a stunning shot over the head of Brad Friedel and into the top corner.

"It's always nice when you have a guy who can read what you have in your mind," said Henry, paying tribute to the creator. Fabregas was the game's outstanding performer, controlling midfield by finding space and manipulating the ball with consummate ease. He was also on the receiving end of a reckless challenge by Tugay that could have brought a red card.

Blackburn, whose only defeats in the last eight matches have come against Arsenal, were left to rue Matt Derbyshire's profligacy, the striker missing two excellent openings either side of Toure's goal. Not that Mark Hughes, who revealed Steven Reid has suffered a potentially serious setback in his bid to return from a knee injury, felt the outcome was undeserved. "Thankfully you don't come up against a side of Arsenal's quality every week," said the Blackburn manager. Guardian Service