GRAEME Souness celebrated his third anniversary as Blackburn boss with a glass of champagne after Rovers put the fizz back into the title-race.

Almost three years ago to the day, Rovers were a club going nowhere.

A languid 1-0 defeat at the hands of Crewe Alexandra in front of a half-empty Ewood left them marooned in mid-table in the First Division, a million miles away from the days when they had an influence on the destiny of the Premier League title.

But, thankfully, the board in their wisdom decided it was time for some strong medicine and they turned to Souness as the man to administer it.

The first goal was promotion, a feat he achieved in his first full season.

Then came the task of consolidating the club's position in the Premiership, which he did with something to spare as Rovers finished a highly creditable 10th.

And the revolution has gathered pace again this term with Rovers now on course for another European campaign - maybe even in the Champions League - after this fourth straight victory.

That might sound fanciful but why not set your aims high?

Manchester United, Newcastle, Chelsea and now Arsenal (twice), have all perished at the hands of Rovers this season so the next eight games should hold no fears.

But regardless of what happens between now and May, no-one can take away the fact that Rovers have now taken six points off the champions-elect.

There might have been an element of good fortune about their victory at Highbury back in October, but this was fully deserved and no-one would have toasted it more than a grateful Sir Alex Ferguson, who saw Manchester United's title ambitions kept firmly alive.

"I think he owes me a drink after that but this was always going to be a tricky game for Arsenal," said Souness.

"It was a good time to play them sandwiched as it was in between two Champions League games.

"But don't take anything away from us. We worked very, very hard for that win and I felt we deserved it.

"I doubt whether I'll ever be involved in a game again against Arsenal where I felt we were comfortable for a good 70 to 75 minutes.

"Normally, you are sat there biting your nails but today, the way we played, I think we were up for the challenge.

"We were right in virtually every position."

Make no mistake about it, this was no fluke. Rovers were worthy winners on a day when they out-fought and out-thought a team who some rate as the finest in Europe right now.

Gunners fans will no doubt point to the fact that Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell and David Seaman were all missing through injury and their task became even more thankless when Martin Keown limped off with a hamstring strain in the 17th minute.

But don't forget that Rovers were missing key men, too.

Lucas Neill, Andy Cole and the two Davids, Thompson and Dunn, would normally expect to make Souness's starting line-up.

But the way their deputies performed, their absence was barely noticed as Rovers had heroes all over the park.

Craig Short and Henning Berg were colossal at the back and their policy of defending deep denied Thierry Henry the kind of space he normally thrives off.

And what about the performance of Vratislav Gresko, who's starting to look the answer to all Souness's problems at left-back?

For me, though, it was in midfield where the real battle was won.

Tugay was a model of efficiency in the centre, controlling the tempo of the game like a conductor would an orchestra.

And in Garry Flitcroft he had the perfect accomplice as the Rovers skipper repeatedly disrupted the Gunners' rhythm with a vital foot-in.

That enabled Duff and Keith Gillespie to work their own magic down the flanks and with those two on fire, Rovers always had an outlet going forward.

Gillespie, in particular, was on top note and his pace on the right proved simply too hot for Giovanni Van Bronckhorst to handle.

Souness also singled out Hakan Sukur for special praise after the Turk got the chance to make his first start in the absence of Cole.

His desire to chase and harry defenders put the Gunners under the cosh and no-one felt the heat more than Pascal Cygan who had a personal nightmare for the Londoners.

Rovers emerged with all guns blazing and exposed the Gunners' defensive frailties inside the opening six minutes.

Gillespie, the source of so much danger on the right, whipped over a pinpoint centre from the byeline but Sukur got his bearings all wrong and completely mis-timed a free header at the near post.

Then in a rare moment of danger at the opposite end, Friedel had to react sharply to palm aside a dipping free kick from Henry.

But the game's defining moment came in the 17th minute when Keown pulled up with a hamstring injury to be replaced by World Cup winner Gilberto Silva who was forced to operate as a make-shift centre-back.

From that point on, the visitors lacked their usual authority at the back and Rovers were quick to sense their chance by fashioning the opening goal five minutes later.

Flitcroft dispossessed Ray Parlour and sent Gillespie scampering clear all in one movement and the Northern Ireland winger's clever cut-back found Duff, who scuffed his initial shot, but Tugay's follow-up then looped up off Dwight Yorke and Duff made no mistake second time around, beating Taylor all ends up with a rasping right-foot volley.

It was a sweet moment for the winger after all his injury problems and his joy was unbridled.

And, but for the razor sharp reflexes of Taylor, he would have doubled his money soon after with a scorching left-foot volley only to see the Gunners keeper claw it to safety.

Robert Pires could have provided the defending champions with a lifeline shortly before the break but failed to get enough purchase on a close-range header.

And that proved to be crucial, as Rovers then made the points safe with a killer second on 52 minutes.

Duff was again instrumental, feeding a clever ball into Tugay 40 yards and as the Turk advanced, the Gunners backed off in anticipation of a pass to Gillespie, but the midfielder took aim and steered a right-foot drive inside the far corner.

From then on, the result was never in doubt and such was the ease with which Rovers defended their lead that Souness could even afford the luxury of introducing promising young striker Paul Gallagher from the bench in the closing stages.

It's a day the Academy youngster won't forget in a hurry - and neither will the 29,840 fans who were privileged to watch it.

ROVERS 2

Scorers: Duff 22, Tugay 52

ARSENAL 0

At Ewood Park Att: 29,840