American goalkeeper Brad Friedel made six saves, but let two past him as first place Arsenal topped visiting Blackburn 2-0 on Monday night to move five points up on the competition.

The Gunners did not take long to score in this contest. Switzerland international Philippe Senderos scored in the fourth minute off the corner from Eduardo, heading the ball into the bottom left of the goal from six yards out. It was the second goal of the season for the center back.

Friedel made a nice save 20 minutes into the game. Cesc Fàbregas put a ball down the right side for Mathieu Flamini, who put a shot on target that the American blocked with his legs.

Dave Bentley had a chance for Blackburn a few minutes later, but his shot from 20-yards out was caught by Jens Lehmann.

Blackburn had another opportunity to tie the game in the 37th minute. Brett Emerton's cross went to Benedict McCarthy, who headed wide left of goal from 12 yards out. The match went to the locker room with the score 1-0.

Blackburn's first chance of the second half only took a minute. A Gilberto Silva foul on Bentley resulted in a free kick from 25 yards out on the right side. Bentley struck the ball well, but Lehmann was able to tip it around the post.

Aliaksandr Hleb came close to the 2-0 a couple minutes later, his shot from 18 yards out hitting the post. Shortly thereafter, Arsenal had another chance to extend their lead through the foot of Emmanuel Adebayor, but Friedel made a kick save.

Friedel then made twin stops on Adebayor in the span of a few minutes. First, the keeper made another save with his feet, then kicked away a shot taken 18 yards out on the left side.

Arsenal's defense did a good job of keeping Blackburn from scoring late and Emmanuel Adebayor put the dagger in the match with a goal in the 90th minute. The Togo striker's right-footed shot from 12-yards out went into the bottom left of the goal, tying him with Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo as top goal scorer of the season with 19.

Blackburn drops down to eighth in the table, with their next match a league game against Bolton.

Scoring
ARS - Philippe Senderos 2 (Eduardo) 4'
ARS - Emmanuel Adebayor 19 (Aliaksandr Hleb) 90'

Line-ups
BLA - Brad Friedel; Brett Emerton, André Ooijer (Maceo Rigters 80'), Zurab Khizanishvili, Stephen Warnock, David Bentley, Tugay (Aaron Mokoena 77'), Steven Reid, Bruno Berner, Benni McCarthy (Jason Roberts 77'), Roque Santa Cruz

ARS - Jens Lehmann; Bakary Sagna, William Gallas, Philippe Senderos, Gaël Clichy, Cesc Fàbregas, Mathieu Flamini, Gilberto Silva, Aliaksandr Hleb, Emmanuel Adebayor, Eduardo