Sam Allardyce shrugged off Arsene Wenger’s criticism of his side’s play by admitting Rovers beat the Gunners ‘fair and square’ at Ewood Park, on this day in 2010.

David Dunn and Chris Samba got the goals as Rovers avenged the 6-2 mauling they received at the Emirates earlier in the season.

Robin Van Persie headed home Bacary Sagna's flick on from a Samir Nasri corner in the 14th minute as the Gunners threatened to run riot again.

But Rovers hit back just before the break, as from Morten Gamst Pedersen's set piece, Keith Andrews smashed the ball across the box and Dunn equalised with his 10th of the season.

The winner midway through the second half again came from a Pedersen corner, but this time there was no scramble as Samba headed his side in front.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Wenger felt goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was fouled for both Rovers goals, a viewpoint Allardyce disagreed with, instead saying it was a case of Rovers doing their homework.

He explained: “If you expose the opposition's weaknesses enough then eventually they will be exposed and the amount of balls we put on the keeper, which has been a weak link for Arsenal, is our main tactic and our main tactic has paid off by us beating Arsenal fair and square.

“He has said it before about me and my tactics but we do know these tactics work well against Arsenal and we know these tactics have worked well again in securing our 10th win in the Premier League.

“We haven’t got the resources Arsenal have and we can’t afford to buy the players they buy and we have to use our resources to the maximum.

“We used those resources to the maximum against a side who should be out of sight on a football field with the resources they have. Just six or seven months ago they were out of sight when they beat us 6-2 at Emirates.

“Now they have come to Ewood Park and they have been beaten fair and square by a Blackburn side that didn't want to give up.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Meanwhile, Allardyce admitted he had no idea whether Morten Gamst Pedersen had played his last game at Ewood Park.

The Norwegian was yet to sign the new contract on offer to him and, his current deal expires in the summer, leading Allardyce to say: “Who knows? It is up to Morten.”

One player who did put pen to paper was 18-year-old Phil Jones, agreeing a long-term deal through to 2015 as reward for his incredible progress.

And Allardyce said any potential suitors would need to stump up serious money to prise the youngster away from Ewood Park.

He said: “When you look at Chris Smalling’s situation, he plays four (league) games and he is sold for £10million.

“That’s how quickly things happen when a new player emerges on the scene like him and Phil Jones. They create a stir in the world of football.

“When they play consistently well then it’s bound to attract some of the big boys.

“I do fear a big club will come and take him, and it doesn’t matter he is currently on a longish-term contract because if they offer enough money we would have to sell him. It’s as simple as that.

“But the money would have to be rather large, to say the least, so I’m very confident he’ll be here (next season).

“I don’t see a club stumping up the sort of money that would be in my mind to even consider letting him go.

“But you always get speculation when a young lad emerges who has been so impressive as he has been over the seven (league) games he has played so far.”