Arsenal extend lead to five points

Senderos struck after just four minutes at the Emirates Stadium and the Gunners could have added more, only for Brad Friedel to put in a polished performance to keep the visitors in the game.

Mark Hughes' men threatened at times but Arsenal held on, with Emmanuel Adebayor adding a second in stoppage-time to take advantage of their title rivals dropping points at the weekend.

Their opener came as early as the fourth minute after Tugay received a poor pass in midfield, with Eduardo racing through but getting denied through a combination of Andre Ooijer and then Zurab Khizanishvili.

There were tame calls for a penalty but it mattered little as Senderos headed Eduardo's corner powerfully beyond Friedel after slipping the attentions of Benni McCarthy.

Arsenal have been guilty of failing to kill off teams in the past, and without a second goal for the hosts, Blackburn edged their way back into the game.

Brett Emerton's cross from the right pierced the Arsenal defence but McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz could only glance their headers when power was required.

Santa Cruz also hooked over the crossbar from Stephen Warnock's cross late in the first half as the visitors pressed again.

Alexander Hleb struck the post at the other end after Eduardo picked him out on the edge of the area, then Friedel was forced to save with his legs again when Adebayor sped past Ooijer and got a shot away.

But the second came in stoppage time, Adebayor rifling into the bottom corner with a precise shot from Hleb's pass.