FA Cup

CHANCE-TAKING PROVES THE DIFFERENCE AS BLACKBURN PROGRESS

How Arsenal didn't score in that game, I'll never know. They dominated for 90 minutes, creating countless chances, corners, the lot. Jake Kean and co managed to keep the clean sheet, though, and all it took was one counter-attack, topped of by Arsenal fan, Colin Kazim-Richards to cost the hosts a chance of silverware.

IT'S ALL OVER!

That's it! Blackburn Rovers hang on to snatch the unlikeliest of results. It has finished Arsenal 0 - Blackburn Rovers 1.

CHAOS

Arsenal bombard the Blackburn Rovers area from both sides, but the visitors somehow scramble clear, risking life and limb. Scott Dann blocks a shot with his face, before Mikel Arteta strikes into the side-netting. That might just be all she wrote.

SLOPPY

Nacho Monreal makes a good run but instead Mikel Arteta picks out Arsene Wenger on the touchline. The boss isn't impressed with the Spaniard's sloppiness, and he slumps in his seat.

GREAT CHANCE!

Jack Wilshere receives the ball a little fortuitously, and he makes the most of the chance, finding Theo Walcott at the back post. The rapid winger makes good contact but heads straight at Jake Kean. Another chance wasted, and they might not get many more of that calibre.

FIVE MINUTES TO GO...

There's less than five minutes of normal time to play and it's evident that Arsenal are panicking. They lack composure in the final third, but Abou Diaby threatens with a thunderbolt from outside the area. Jake Kean makes the save.

CROWDED

The Blackburn Rovers penalty area is totally congested, which makes it so difficult for Arsenal to get a shot away. A decision goes against Arsenal now; Theo Walcott is brought down in the area but a wrongly-awarded offside flag comes to the visitors' rescue.

DRIVING RUN

Nacho Monreal bursts into the penalty area unchallenged, but instead of crossing the ball, he shoots, skewing his effort well wide.

BACKED INTO A CORNER

Arsenal have really come to life as they stare fifth-round defeat in the face. The FA Cup is their best chance of a long-awaited trophy this season, but they don't really want a replay. They need to score soon!

MORE ON THAT GOAL

Well, those big names didn't help, did they? Immediately Blackburn Rovers break the deadlock. Martin Olsson tested the keeper and Szczesny failed, parrying the ball straight to COLIN KAZIM-RICHARDS, who makes no mistake with the rebound.

GOOOAAALLL

One chance, one goal! Blackburn Rovers take the lead out of nowhere! It's Colin Kazim-Richards.

TRIPLE CHANGE

Arsene Wenger shakes things up dramatically with a triple change. Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and (surprisingly) Tomas Rosicky leave the field, with a trio of big names entering the fray - Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere.

ANOTHER CHANCE GONE

Credit to the Blackburn defence, but the languid style of Gervinho didn't help the Gunners there. The live wire, Tomas Rosicky managed to thread the ball through to Gervinho, but the frontman took too long and a Blackburn Rovers defender recovered superbly to quell the danger.

CROSSBAR!

Ooh, that deserved a goal! Tomas Rosicky drifts inside and unleashes a sweetly-struck belter that looked destined for the goal. The crossbar comes to Blackburn's rescue, though.

BLACKBURN CHANGE

Here's the first change of the game, and it's a former Arsenal man coming on for the visitors. David Bentley is greeted with hostile boos (probably because of his time at Spurs), as he comes on to replace Marcus Olsson.

TIME FOR A CHANGE?

Arsenal are struggling for new ideas at the moment; in fact, Blackburn have been venturing into the Gunners' half a little more in these past few minutes. A replay would be a disaster for Arsenal, so it might be time to throw on those big names to get the job done soon.

TACTICAL CHANGE

Arsene Wenger has changed things around abit here, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain moving over the the left wing and Gervinho to the right. Both players seem to cut inside on their preferred foot, so I'm not too sure what they have been asked to do now.

RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS?

Abou Diaby takes matters into his own hands, trying to catch the keeper off-guard from 35 yards. He gets a massive cheer from the crowd, even though his effort went more than comfortably wide.

CHAMBERLAIN CROSS

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain creates some space on the right, and his cross is met by Olivier Giroud. The ball had gone out, though and the ref halts play. Jake Kean makes the save from Giroud's effort anyway.

GIROUD HEADER

There's an aerial threat at the other end but Jake Kean is equal to Olivier Giroud's header.

GOOD START FOR VISITORS

Blackburn Rovers have started the second half brightly. Morten Gamst Pedersen's cross was deflected behind by Thomas Vermaelen, whose outstrectched leg could have diverted the ball anywhere. The resulting corner provides the visitors with their first clear-cut chance, but Jason Lowe's header is too tame.

KICK OFF

The second half has begun, with both sides unchanged at the break. Santi Cazorla was going through a rigorous warm-up during the interval, though, so Arsene Wenger may have to delve into the big boys to get this game won.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

It's as one-sided a half as you're likely to see, with Blackburn Rovers barely encroaching into the Arsenal half. Despite the domination, the hosts haven't troubled Jake Kean too much, other than those chances from Diaby and Vermaelen, both from corners. Gervinho also had a golden opportunity through on goal, but dragged the shot wide.

ARTETA EFFORT

Mikel Arteta's free kick is well-struck, beating the wall. It's straight at the keeper, who has no problems dealing with it, other than stinging hands, that is. That's the last action of the half - it's goalless at the break.

SUPER CHANCE SPURNED

Ooh, that's the best chance of the game for Arsenal, and it really should be 1-0. The possession finally comes to something worthy of note, as Tomas Rosicky works the ball through to Gervinho, who is one-on-one with the keeper but drags his shot wide. He falls to the ground with his head in his hands, and Rosicky runs over to console him.

DOUBLE ACT

Blackburn Rovers put together a rare attack, with Olsson crossing and Olsson heading it across goal, with nobody in attendance. Don't worry, there's no witchcraft going on here, it's Martin and Marcus, the twins. It is pretty confusing to watch, though.

LONG-RANGE EFFORT

Nacho Monreal goes for glory, and his long-range effort isn't too bad, actually. It takes a slight deflection and travels over the bar, but the corner doesn't produce a chance this time.

FINAL BALL LACKING

It's still all Arsenal at the Emirates, with Blackburn Rovers chasing shadows at the moment. They are moving the ball from side to side very well, but the final delivery is lacking so far. In fact, Olivier Giroud has barely seen the ball in this first half.

CORNERS CAUSING PROBLEMS

Arsenal's frequent corners are causing problems now, with Jake Kean coming to the rescue once again for Blackburn. This time he flaps Thomas Vermaelen's powerful header away.

HALF A CHANCE

Something tells me that Blackburn Rovers are going to have to make the most of these half-chances if they are to take anything from this game. Morten Gamst Pedersen drifts a cross in, and Scott Dann has a chance to test Wojciech Szczesny with a close-range header. I'm guessing he expected Diaby to clear it, as he looked surprised when the ball came to him, and consequently misses the target.

CRANKING UP THE PRESSURE

There's a goal coming soon, surely! Arsenal are really turning the screw now. Gervinho found a way through, but his squared ball wasn't met. The deliveries are looking better now, and we've just seen the best chance of the game. It came from another corner; Tomas Rosicky took it and Abou Diaby headed the ball brilliantly, only to see his bullet header stopped by a superb save from Jake Kean.

OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN

There's no question of his potential quality, or even his current ability, but you do have to ask questions of his decision making and reading of the game. He's a bit like Walcott was in his younger days in that respect. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has certainly got the skills, but just seems to dilly-dally on the ball a bit, failing to spot the correct move.

ALL ARSENAL

The Gunners have settled and are now showing the full extend of their quality, earning corners aplenty in the process. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's deliveries have lacked potency and brought about little danger so far, but are suddenly looking a lot more menacing.

CHANCE WASTED

Gervinho finds himself in a promising position following a good display of pace. He dithers on the ball for way too long, though, and Morten Gamst Pedersen comes out of nowhere to poke the ball away.

NO PENALTY

Gervinho plays an overlapping ball to Tomas Rosicky, who has looked the most dangerous player for Arsenal so far. The ball in is good and stopped only by Scott Dann, who slides in to deflect it behind. There's a question of handball but in truth the appeals were half-hearted. A corner is given instead, but it comes to nothing.

CAUTION

Bradley Orr becomes the first man to go into the book.

HEADER WIDE

Arsenal earn a semi-dubious free kick from a handball, and Tomas Rosicky's delivery is dangerous towards the near post. Abou Diaby tries to glance a header towards goal, but fails to trouble the keeper.

NOTHING CLEAR-CUT

There's been some decent play in the middle of the park, with Tomas Rosicky and Morten Gamst Pedersen orchestrating the play for their respective sides. The forwards - Colin Kazim-Richards and Olivier Giroud - have been relatively quiet, though.

ARSENAL COME FORWARDS

There's a good pace to this game already, with Arsenal manufacturing an attack of their own now. It's Tomas Rosicky directing the move, finding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in space on the right. The England youngster can't quite find the final ball, though.

BLACKBURN GO CLOSE

Francis Coquelin concedes a free kick for a rash challenge on Jordan Rhodes. The resulting set piece is excellently delivered by Morten Gamst Pedersen. It beats everyone, swinging in towards the back post, begging for the slightest touch. Nobody can get that decisive contact with the ball though, and it goes behind.

KICK OFF

Mike Dean gets this fifth round tie underway.

BLACKBURN LINE-UP

A few familiar faces will be returning to Premier League turf, including Morten Gamst Pedersen and Scott Dann. Colin Kazim-Richards will be providing the attacking threat with Jordan Rhodes, while loanee Karim Rekik only makes the bench.

ARSENAL LINE-UP

Arsene Wenger opts for a pretty strong side, with captain Thomas Vermaelen back in the heart of defence, accompanied by Laurent Koscielny, who was also doubtful before this game. Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski are rested (starting on the bench), with Gervinho Gervinho, Tomas Rosicky, Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming in to the side.

TEAM NEWS

Thomas Vermaelen could be included in the squad after recovering from an ankle problem. Jack Wilshere and Laurent Koscielny are both still doubtful. The visitors' squad is relatively injury free, with Karim Rekik – on loan from Man City – a potential starter.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

This is the eighth FA Cup meeting between the two sides; Arsenal are leading 4-3 head-to-head, although Blackburn are playing well in this campaign and are yet to concede an FA Cup goal this term.

MATCH PREVIEW

Today's game sees the most successful club in FA Cup history, Arsenal, take on former Premier League side, Blackburn Rovers, who are looking for their most fruitful FA Cup run since reaching the semis back in 2007 with a win over the Gunners today.