Preamble: Afternoon/evening. Well, I hope you're all thoroughly enjoying the winter weather that the month of May has kindly brought us. At least by being stuck in this office my blood circulation has remained intact.

As for this match, a cursory glance at the league table shows me that a point would all but ensure Arsenal finish third this season, thus meaning they don't have to qualify for the Champions League, while a win will guarantee automatic qualification.

But, to be honest, it still means very little and any enjoyment in the match is likely to be drawn from the skills and flashy flicks that often accompany meaningless kickabouts at the season's end.

Anyway, I'll be back at 4.30pm. In the meantime have a listen to this ... then buy it if you like, it's pretty damn good.

The teams are in ...

Blackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Andrews,

Grella, Dunn, Pedersen, Olsson, Roberts.

Subs: Brown, Jacobsen, Emerton, Basturk, Hoilett, Di Santo, Jones.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Campbell, Silvestre, Traore, Eboue,

Diaby, Walcott, Nasri, Vela, van Persie.

Subs: Mannone, Eduardo, Djourou, Arshavin, Gibbs, Eastmond, Henderson.

So Vela makes his first start of the season for Arsenal. I expect he'll be employed just behind Van Persie. He's looked very impressive in the rare games he's played for the club and might be the man who, more than any other, will provide those fancy flicks I mentioned in my preamble.

Just to let you know, Colin Hendry and Craig Burley are picking their teams of the season, the catch being that they can't pick a player who was in the PFA team of the season. I'll list them above in a second ...

Colin Hendry's team of the season: (Discuss)

Jose Reina

Vedran Corluka, Michael Dawson, Nemanja Vidic, Gareth Bale

Dirk Kuyt, Frank Lampard, Tim Cahill, Ashley Young

Carlos Tevez, Fernando Torres

Craig Burley's team of the season (Discuss)

Shay Given

Steven Carr, Michael Dawson, John Heitinga, Leighton Baines

Steven Pienaar, Frank Lampard, Wilson Palacious, Florent Malouda

Carlos Tevez, Fernando Torres

4.51pm: Arsène Wenger says his team always try to play with the "handbrake off" which is an expression I quite like ...

4.53pm: An email: "Winter weather, Gregg? It's warm and sunny here in North London," writes Nick Dunkeyson. "Perfect barbecue weather (well, nearly). Have you perhaps relocated to Greenland?" No Nick. I'm just down the road in Kings Cross but when I got soaked in Dalston on my way into work on my bike this afternoon I can assure you that it felt like December.

4.58pm: The teams make their way out onto the pitch in front of a reasonable crowd at Ewood (probably 24,000 or so). Just time for one more email: "Kuyt? Torres? They do realise that Liverpool are seventh, right?" writes a disgruntled Aidan Gibson of Colin Hendry and Craig Burley's teams of the year. "Was Song in the PFA? If not how is he not listed here?" I don't think Song was in the PFA list Aidan. I'd have him ahead of Cahill, but Palacious has had a very good season too ... anyway, kick-off is imminent.

1 min: Peep! And Blackburn win a free-kick immediately. Pedersen swings the ball into the box but Campbell heads clear. "Surely Colin Hendry is laughing to himself and saying 'I got this one past them' when he's writing that team of the season," huffs Tom Hillyard. "Corluka? Vidic? The entire midfield not called 'Frank'? The forward line? Only Dawson, Lampard and Reina have any sort of a shout at this." Corluka at right-back is the weakest link for me Tom.

3 min: A dreadful miss by Vela! Silvestre plays a delicious ball out to the right which Eboue knocks down the line with pace to Walcott. He motors to the byline and clips the ball back to Vela with Robinson in no-man's land, but Vela scuffs the ball wide of the open goal when only seven yards out. You could see the flakes of rust come off his boot as he swung at that, the poor scamp ...

5 min: Traore, playing in the unfamilair left-back position, tries to do a stepover and loses possession cheaply. Dunn picks the ball up and jinks inside Diaby who leaves a leg dangling and downs the Blackburn midfielder 25 yards from goal in a central position. Pedersen stands over it ...

6 min: Pedersen whips the ball round the wall towards the top-left hand corner but Fabianski pounces over to pluck the ball out of the air and hold onto it.

7 min: Blackburn are snapping into every tackle as if this game actually means something to them, which is creditable, as it obviously means something to the Blackburn fans who are there. Meanwhile, the Colin Hendry/Craig Burley teams of the year debate rumbles on ... "How have both men chosen Torres over Bent?" wonders Alex Seelig. "Bent's scored, what, 24 goals this term? Torres, brilliant though he has been at times, has played half a season at best. Also, as a City supporter, I can tell you Given has not been the second best keeper in the league this year. Great shot stopper, yes, but when it comes to punching, catching, distributing and organising a defence, the man is just about woeful. His inability to come for a cross has cost us just as many (if not more) points as his brilliant saves have earned us." Hmm, interesting point about Given, Alex.

10 min: Eboué dwells on the ball when only 15 yards from goal after Vela pulls a cross back to him after a handy run down the left flank. He should have hit that when he had the chance.

12 min: Walcott has looked a threat everytime he gets the ball on the right. He wins a corner after hitting a flat cross against Givet.

Goal! Blackburn 0-1 Arsenal (Van Persie 13):

14 min: Van persie's cross is headed clear for a corner on the other side, which Nasri takes. The Dutch striker makes his way into the box and takes up position on the far post. Sagna flicks on Nasri's near-post corner and Van Persie rises above his marker to head in with ease from the six-yard box.

16 min: The Colin Hendry/Craig Burley 'teams' of the season debate continues ... "Gareth Bale? At left-back? When all of his good performances have been at left-wing?" writes Adrian Cooper in high-pitched words. "That's an odd choice from Colin Hendry. And hasn't Craig Burley picked two left-wingers in Malouda and Pienaar? There's a reason that Hendry and Burley are pundits and not managers, isn't there?" Indeed Adrian.

18 min: Rovers have reverted to pumping long balls into the box already. It's not a bad tactic. Samba charges in at Fabianski twice, the first attempt led to the wobbles and a dropped catch which he is lucky not to see land at the feet of a Blackburn player, instead of team-mate Campbell.

19 min: Arsenal's fans start having a pop at the volume of support at Ewood Park from Blackburn's fans. It must be one of the most boring chants ever. Every Premier League ground's home fans are generally pretty quiet these days. It's hardly a surprise. Rovers win a free-kick after Van Persie was adjudged to have backed into Samba. The big defender legs it up to the edge of the box where the ball will be lumped up to him. This time the much-maligned Fabianski punches above the crowd of players pretty impressively.

23 min: Oh dear! A long throw-in from Rovers puts Fabianski under pressure again. The ball is flicked into the box where the keeper runs into Campbell's wardrobe-shaped midriff and lands flat on the floor clutching the ball and his body in pain. He'll get some treatment and allow me to look at your emails.

25 min: Ebouè drives into Blackburn's half and has his heels clipped by Grella as he looks up to pass the ball. That's a booking for Grella. "Unbelievable that Torres makes that line up," yelps Josh Harris. "Bent has had a productive season to say the least (24 goals in 36 apps) and Hodgson's princess-ly kiss has transformed Zamora from frog to prince for 'fairy-tale team of the season' Fulham." Send your letters of disgust to Craig Burley and Colin Henry c/o ESPN.

27 min: This is one hell of a bitty game. Arsenal win a free-kick from a cynical foul from Dunn which Van Persie hits straight into the wall and then Rovers win a free-kick 30 yards out after another long ball from Blackburn. Pedersen clips it into the box looking to put Fabianski (who recovered from his injury, I might add) in further discomfort, but Campbell jumps highest and clears.

29 min: Pass, pass, pass, peep! Van Persie turns sharply 30 yards from goal and is hacked at and then dragged down by the industrial Nelsen. Van Persie avoids the wall with this powerful effort but Robinson parries it wide for a corner. Nasri whips the ball in but Robinson punches clear. More emails to come ...

33 min: MBM answers your queries section

"Gregg, not to suggest disinterest in this dead rubber, but is there going to be a Football Weekly today?" asks Simon McGrother. Yes Simon. Here it is ... it's all about squeeky bums and Fulham apparently.

34 min: Another foul leads to a Blackburn free-kick on the right corner of the Arsenal box. Pedersen drives it around the wall viciously but Fabianksi parries it over the bar from a central position. The corner is swung into the back-post where at least five Rovers players surround Fabianski, who does well to claw the ball away from under the bar before being shoved into the post. Does anyone have the number for that anti-bullying service?

36 min: If you're going to do a dumby, let your team-mate know about it. Andrews runs onto a square ball 25 yards from goal and looks set to hit it, but instead he runs past the ball, leaving it for Dunn, who carries on trotting into the area before stretching back and falling over at an awkward angle. With his injury record that could have been nasty!

39 min: Here's Gary Naylor: "Van Persie looks like he's about to transform into a werewolf in that photograph. That's ridiculous, because footballers do not transform into werewolves – not since Roy Keane stopped playing anyway. And I'm sure you'll join me in congratulating Everton Ladies on their FA Cup win." Ah yes! the Toffees' ladies won 3-2 in extra-time I believe. Being a big Marine FC fan I have no qualms about congratulating the blue-half's ladies ...

Goal! Blackburn 1-1 Arsenal (Dunn 43 min)

43 min: That was a messy goal! A long ball forwards was headed out for a corner by Arsenal. The ball was whipped in by Pedersen to the backpost where Fabianski flapped at it as Samba headed it down towards Roberts. A scuffed clearance was worked out to Andrews who drove a ball in low towards Dunn at the backpost, who pounced on a deflection to knock home.

Half-time: Van Persie gets an elbow in the face, which looked accidental. He gets a little treatment and is back onto his feet to hear the whistle blown for half-time. That was a strange half in which Big Sam's tactics were spot on. It wasn't pretty to watch but his plan of crowding Fabianski and targeting him finally paid off. The corner came in right on top of him with Samba applying the pressure and he was unable to get a strong hand on the ball. Sets the second-half up nicely. Your emails to follow ...

Half-time emails

"When you said it was a messy goal you didn't mean it was a brilliant solo goal scored by an Argentinian did you?" parps Ian Copestake. No Ian, I just like five-letter words that easily come to mind, like sarky.

"As an Irishman, I find Alex Seelig's attitude to Shay Given to be extremely ungrateful," harrumphs Mark Grassick. "Surely, Given has cost them far fewer points than their extremely expensive and bumbling defenders?"

"Can we have an enormous shout out to Oxford United (and a tiny one to York City), who will be at Wembley on 16 May for the Blue Square Premier play-off final? asks Frank Webster. No Frank, I'm afraid not. An MBM isn't the forum for such a thing. Oh!

45 min: The second half is delayed for a few seconds while Sol Campbell ambles on to the pitch with all the time in the world. Thankfully, Walcott ups the pace somewhat when the match resumes with a zippy run down the right which leads to a corner. The ball is whipped into the nearpost but Samba clears.

47 min: Salgado bodychecks Sagna and Arsenal play a short free-kick and keep possession. Diaby finds Walcott again on the right, but with his way blocked off he turns and passes the ball backwards, which reminds me of this email from Ian Copestake in reference to Arsène Wenger's comments before the match. "Liverpool have also been a team playing with the handbrake off all season which explains why they have raced uncontrollably backwards."

50 min: Salgado sends Nasri tumbling to the turf. Traore picks the ball up after some tippy-tappy stuff in the middle of the park and completely mishits his ball out to Walcott. Pedersen picks up possession and looks long for Roberts, but the ball is overhit and Arsenal pick up possession again. This is all a bit dreary. Anything good on the telly?

52 min: Some dreadful defending by Blackburn and a misjudgment by Robinson leads to an Arsenal corner. Walcott skinned his marker before playing in what is becoming his usual low, disappointing cross, but Nelsen fails to clear and then Van Persie barges into Samba, which completely bamboozles Robinson and should have been a free-kick. The corner is wasted anyway, mind ...

55 min: Shock! Blackburn play some decent football and nearly score. Instead of lumping it upfield Rovers keep possession in Arsenal's half before Pedersen plays a neat return pass with Dunn. He races into the box one-on-one with Fabianski but watches the ball get parried away as he tries to dink it over him. With the ball almost out of play Campbell tries to block Pedersen's attempted cross but sends him tumbling. It was probably a penalty, but does it still count if the ball was out of play? The ref doesn't give it. I'll let you decide on that one ...

58 min: Blackburn sub. Junior Hoillett comes on for Grella and is immediately involved. He races up on the overlap past Dunn, who is now on the right and stings Fabianski's palms with a fierce strike. The Rovers players crowd Fabianksi again as the ball is curled in, but the keeper punches safe under immense pressure.

62 min: Arsenal settle down after a good 10-minute spell for Blackburn. They keep possession and entice a foul from Andrews some distance from goal. Possesesion-play is resumed and Arsenal find Walcott on the right, who floats a delicious ball in to the backpost (as if to spite me) which Van Persie collects with instantaneous control. He turns inside Salgado expertly, but then appears to have his heels clipped as he prepares to strike. That was a penalty as far as I could see.

65 min: There's a fair bit of filth going on out there. Plenty shirt-pulling and incidents off the ball. I suppose when cultures clash this kind of thing can happen, even in meaningless games. Vela, whose most notable contribution was to miss from six yards in the third minute, is replaced by Arshavin.

Goal! Blackburn 2-1 Arsenal (Samba 68min):

68 min: Blackburn's bull-boy tactics work brilliantly again. Arsenal concede a corner after a long throw causes havoc in the box. Pedersen clips it into the six-yard box where Samba leans into his marker among a crowd of seven players standing in front of Fabianksi, he then flicks a header past the keeper, who can't jump past the crowd to punch clear and looks like a little boy lost.

70 min: Blackburn have got their tails up after that goal. A couple of attacks lead to a free-kick, which Dunn sends skimming past the far post by only a couple of inches.

71 min: "I haven't seen that much of Blackburn this season but had heard that Salgado had been having a few problems earlier in the season adjusting to the Premier League/Blackburn's style. Has he attempted to get back in favour with the locals by disguising himself as former favourite Tugay?" asks David Wall. It's a good point David, he's a spit for him. I suppose he's old and slow like Tugay too.

73 min: Walcott goes one-on-one with Givet and chases him all the way to the byline. The Arsenal winger bashes the ball off Givet's nose and then crashes into an advertisement board for Eto jeans. Has anybody ever bought a pair of Eto jeans? I imagine they're horrific - like those jeans that used to have cartoon characters on their pockets in the late 80s. Prove me wrong, please. Oh, the corner comes to nowt in case you're interested.

76 min: Nasri is penalised for what didn't appear to be much by my reckoning. Dunn takes the frree-kick and Rovers keep possession.

77 min: Eboué is replaced by Eduardo as Wenger looks for the point.

78 min: "Excellent typo on 68mins. Though comparing yourself to Fabianski may be a touch demeaning to yourself," quips Phil Wainwright. Ah, I see that rogue M would suggest I am very much like Fabianki and a 'little boy lost." I can often appear that way in Guardian Towers where there are some awfully tall sub-editors. Arsenal have regained their composure after conceding the goal, but Blackburn are defending gamely.

81 min: Arsenal win a corner after Walcott's cross deflects off Givet. In stark contrast to Fabianki, Robinson punches clear under no more pressure than a single man stood a yard away from him. I think it was Van Persie if it helps you to paint a head-picture.

83 min: Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass. Sagna crosses into the Blackburn box but it's played too close to the front post and is cleared easily. Sagna is shoved by Samba while jumping and lands heavily. That'll have winded him. Suck it in son, suck it in. Dunn has a pop at Wenger as he's substituted. He's replaced by Phil Jones, who's a defender. Expect Blackburn to sit deep and try to hang on for the win. And that's the end of my short sentences.

87 min: "Hey Blackburn fan following from Argentina here," writes Niall Waters. MBMer conjures up pictures of the barrio and kids playing football in the street and other stereotypical Argentinian things that are probably far from reality. "I think Jason Roberts doesn't get the credit he deserves. How he has managed to convince Sam Allardyce and a few managers before him that he is good enough to play top-flight football is quite remarkable. Good work Jase." Cheeky Niall ...

90 min: Blackburn look too strong for Arsenal, who have resorted to lumping the ball forwards themselves. Apparently, Jason Roberts has been awarded the Peter Taylor the Jewellers man-of-the-match award. Did you hear that Niall? I think Roberts might have recently bought a sovereign ring from said jeweller. He's been hardworking but far from MOM in my humble one ...

90+3min: Arsenal are faced with a wall of blue and white as they tap the ball around in front of the penalty area. They can find no way through. Arsène Wenger turns away in disgust and heads into the tunnel without shaking Sam Allardyce's hand as the final whistle is blown.

Full-time:

It might not have been pretty but Big Sam got his tactics spot on and exposed Arsenal's all-too-familiar weakness between the sticks. It might have bordered on the boundaries of legality at times, but the high balls in and the crowding of Fabianski paid off with two goals. Wenger will likely moan about it, but sometimes Arsenal need to show more aggression when facing such tactics – and today they didn't. Thanks for all your emails. Enjoy the rest of your bank holiday.