Thierry Henry ended Arsenal's frustrations with a brilliant free-kick to help earn a hard-fought victory over Blackburn and maintain their nine-point advantage in the title race.

This was by no means Arsenal's most fluent performance of the season. At times their passing was mesmeric but the intricate series of darts and probes led to little in the way of concrete chances and they never hit the heights they have displayed this season.

Sadly for Blackburn, they did not have the personnel to take advantage of a relatively mediocre day for Arsene Wenger's men - had young strike duo Paul Gallagher and Jon Stead been fit it might have been a different story.

Arsene Wenger though will be well-satisfied, especially as Robert Pires made sure of the points with a late strike. This comparable match last season ended 2-0 to the home side and began the poor run which led ultimately to Manchester United overhauling the Gunners.

Last year's defeat came just after Arsenal had been knocked out of the Champions League and of course it is a different story this season, and certainly to win 2-0 at medium pace is certainly the way of champions.

Until his goal Henry had endured a frustrating afternoon - even to the point of making clear his disgust at the service he received, from Gilberto in particular. Despite his goal, this was a day when he was outshone by Jose Reyes, who tormented Lucas Neill, and Patrick Vieira - the real difference between the sides in the middle of the park.

Blackburn defended forcefully, Michael Gray the pick of the crop, while Brett Emerton's forays provided some outlet.

Rovers made a spirited start to the game and claimed the first attempt on goal when Tugay's skill earned Matt Jansen a glimpse of the target but he fired straight into the body of Sol Campbell.

There was more defending for Arsenal to do when Craig Short met Emerton's corner Ashley Cole was forced to clear his looping header off the line.

Arsenal finally put some passes together and Vieira produced a fabulous surging run to the edge of the penalty area followed by a delicate pass to put in Pires. The French winger should have gone for goal himself but elected to try to pass across to Henry and Blackburn were able to clear.

The chance reasserted the Gunners' authority and Blackburn spent a tense period defending in depth as Arsenal probed for another opening. That came soon enough when Henry spun 15 yards out and forced Brad Friedel to parry away his sharp strike with the defenders appealing in vain for an offside flag.

Henry then nicked the ball away from Friedel just as he threw it into the air to punt and slid the ball into the empty net only for referee Alan Wiley to rule the goal out for a foul by the French striker.

Having been comparatively static for the opening half-hour, Arsenal starting turning on the style.

First Pires linked with goal before landing a 20-yard shot on the roof of the net, then Reyes hit a left-footed thunderbolt on the run that flashed just past the corner of Friedel's goal.

But it was not all one-way stuff and when Emerton produced a deep cross Jansen had a go with his head but was hopelessly wide.

Henry should have done better with his head too soon afterwards but was equally wasteful.

As half-time approached Andy Cole gave Blackburn some confidence by bringing a good sprawling save out of Jens Lehmann before Henry was a couple of yards too high from 25 yards.

Arsenal began sluggishly again in the second half, Vieira being guilty of giving the ball away in the middle of the park on a couple of occasions, but Blackburn were unable to turn the advantage into efforts on goal.

Martin Andresen's hustling presence in the centre of midfield continued to be effective, though he was booked for overstepping the mark against Vieira.

In the 57th minute Short was penalised for clipping Henry's heels 30 yards from goal, producing an angry response from the Rovers defenders.

They had reason to be fearful. From a short run-up Henry curled a peach of a free-kick past Friedel's despairing dive and inside the post to give Arsenal the breakthrough.

Immediately, Henry looked livelier, though he was booed by the Blackburn fans who reckoned he had made too much of Short's challenge.

Pires had a deflected shot saved before Vieira headed clear Emerton's wickedly curving free-kick.

Reyes nutmegged Neill twice in a matter of minutes before trying to find Henry but both times the move just broke down.

Dwight Yorke came off the bench to replace Jansen and almost had an immediate impact, deceiving Ashley Cole before setting up Andy Cole for a cross-cum-shot that just eluded Jonathan Douglas.

Three minutes from time Pires ended the contest. Vieira swung a pass out wide to Gilberto, the Brazilian advanced and hit a scuffed shot which bobbled past Friedel, came off the far post and came to Pires, who slammed the ball home.

Teams

Blackburn Friedel, Neill, Todd (Babbel 84), Short, Gray, Emerton, Tugay, Andresen, Douglas (Gresko 77), Cole, Jansen (Yorke 73).

Subs Not Used: Johansson, Enckelman.

Booked: Andresen.

Arsenal Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Silva, Edu, Vieira, Pires (Cygan 89), Reyes (Clichy 77), Henry.

Subs Not Used: Kanu, Bentley, Stack.

Booked: Edu.

Goals: Henry 57, Pires 87.

Att: 28,627

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).