Babbel battles with Henry

A SOLITARY Dennis Bergkamp goal was enough to send Arsenal to the top of the league, but Rovers pushed them all the way today at Highbury.

The goal came on eleven minutes when Kolo Toure took on Vratislav Gresko down the right, rounded the Slovakian to feed Bergkamp who had the simplest of chances from just ten yards, and made no mistake.

But it could have been so different had Dwight Yorke converted an opportunity after just twenty seconds. From the kick-off, Rovers worked the ball wide to Brett Emerton, he switched it through midfield and over to the left to Lucas Neill. His centre found Yorke, but the Tobagan put his shot narrowly wide.

Graeme Souness stuck with the same starting eleven that played at St Andrews a week earlier, meaning Andy Cole and the returning from injury Garry Flitcroft had to settle for places on the bench.

The first half was played at a pulsating pace, with both sides playing neat attractive passing football, but the home side always had the upper hand when it came to creating clear cut chances.

French winger Robert Pires spurned a host of first half chances, he curled a superb shot against the upright, before heading wide on a couple of occasions.

Barry Ferguson was inches away from putting Rovers back on level terms, Lucas Neill's cross from the left was inviting, but whilst the Scot dived headlong towards the ball, he just couldn't reach it.

At the other end, Thierry Henry thankfully left his shooting boots at home, twice shooting straight at Friedel when in good opportunities.

Graeme Souness made a tactical switch at the start of the second, bringing on Steven Reid for Vratislav Gresko and they got a lot more joy out of the left side of midfield.

Whereas Arsenal had the majority of the attacking play in the first half, Rovers certainly had the majority of the play in the second half.

But it was Arsenal who had the first chance of the second half when Bergkamp pounced on a wayward pass by Emerton, drove at the Rovers defence before playing in Freddie Ljungberg. The Swede saw his shot well saved by Friedel, who got to the rebound before the Arsenal midfielder.

From then on it was a case of Rovers pressing for an equaliser and having to get back sharpish when Arsenal hit them on the break.

Andy Cole came on for Paul Gallagher - who had a quiet game - and Rovers looked more threatening.

On the hour mark Rovers thought they had got back on level terms when Markus Babbel rose to head in Barry Ferguson's floated cross, but referee Andy D'Urso brought Rovers' celebrations to an abrupt halt as he deemed that Babbel had climbed all over Toure to gain an advantage.

Arsenal then had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the game, when from a Steven Reid corner, he reacted quickly to stop the ball deflecting goalwards, alas the ball arrived too quickly to Dwight Yorke, and although he stuck out a leg, the ball ballooned over the bar.

Rovers were enjoying their best spell of the game, and they almost got the goal their play warranted when, Lucas Neill, out on the left flank, played the ball inside to Andy Cole, he in turn fed Barry Ferguson who was charging into the penalty area. The Scot struck the ball first time across the goalkeeper, but Lehmann made a fantastic one-handed save to deny the Rovers midfielder. To make matters worse for Rovers, the German international managed to grab the second ball before Yorke could pounce.

In the final fifteen minutes, Arsenal took off Bergkamp and Ljungberg and stiffened their midfield with Parlour and Edu, as the home side looked to sit on what they had.

Rovers were only threatened by the occasional break through Henry or Pires, but on all occasions, they had the men rushing back to deny the home side increasing their lead.

Souness threw on Dino Baggio as the last throw of the dice for Rovers, but they couldn't find a way through past a resolute Arsenal defence.

As if to emphasis the pressure Rovers had put Arsenal under, former Gunners manager George Graham described Arsenal's rearguard action as the best he has seen all season.

Rovers may travel home from the capital pointless, but they can be proud that they pushed the league leaders all the way this afternoon in this exciting encounter.

Rovers World will bring you all the post match reaction from Highbury on tomorrow's edition.