Arsenal v Blackburn: Gunners to take revenge for previous defeat

Blackburn may be unbeaten in their last three away games and already beaten Arsenal in the Premier League this season, but lightning is unlikely to strike twice with another success at the Emirates.

The last time Blackburn did the double over Arsenal in the top flight was in the 2002/03 campaign, which was also when they last collected an away victory over the Gunners.

It is 9/1 that Blackburn repeat their double success over Arsenal and in the process secure their first ever win at the Emirates.

Blackburn would almost certainly accept a draw from the fixture as they continue their fight with relegation and their chances of obtaining this result are enhanced by the fact that Arsenal are still winless in the Premier League in 2011.

The draw is potentially the value bet of the encounter at 9/2.

Yakubu was the chief tormentor of Arsenal at Ewood Park with a double, but he will be missing this time as he serves the final game of a three-match suspension.

This will be a boost for Arsenal, while they have triumphed in seven of their last eight home games with Blackburn.

Arsenal’s odds are 2/7 to beat Blackburn and the visitors have failed to keep an away clean sheet in their 14 Premier League outings on the road since drawing at the Emirates last season.

This bodes well for Arsenal and there is a strong possibility that either Robin Van Persie or Mikel Arteta will be responsible for the first goal of the game.

Van Persie has netted ten goals in 12 appearances against Blackburn and is 2/1 to open the scoring.

Arteta has scored more goals against Blackburn than any other Premier League club and is a more tempting 14/1 to break the deadlock, while he is 7/2 to find the target at any time in the 90 minutes.