DAVID Dunn grabbed his first goal for Rovers since his return to Ewood Park from Birmingham City last January.

The 27 year-old midfielder cancelled out van Persie's first half strike to earn a share of the points.

But it was a tale of two goalkeeping gaffes as Rovers and Arsenal played out an enthralling encounter at Ewood Park.

The visitors were handed the lead when Brad Friedel spilled Eduardo's close-range shot on 18 minutes, Robin van Persie needing no second invitation to snap up the rebound.

Arsenal lead for just under an hour until it was Jens Lehmann's turn to commit a howler. David Dunn's 72nd minute effort allowed to slip through the German's grasp.

It was certainly a feisty affair, with both sides getting four booking apiece, Rovers had to play the final six minutes with ten men after captain Ryan Nelsen received his second yellow of the afternoon.

But Rovers held on with comparative ease ensuring that they would continue their unbeaten start to the season.

Boss Mark Hughes sprang something of a surprise ahead of the game as he made two changes to the starting line-up from the win over MyPa in midweek.

Brett Emerton returned to the starting line-up replacing Andre Ooijer, whilst Matt Derbyshire was preferred up front alongside Roque Santa Cruz, with Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts having to watch on from the subs bench.

The game started at a furious pace, Rovers looking lively in the early exchanges, particularly down the right where the returning Brett Emerton combined well with England absentee David Bentley.

Whilst at the other end good play and quick feet from Theo Walcott saw the former Southampton man feed the ball through for Eduardo to chase. Friedel raced out of his area to clear the danger.

Rovers countered that with chances of their own, Bentley saw an effort from 25 yards fly over, whilst Lehmann beat Derbyshire to the ball from a dangerous centre on the right from Emerton.

But for all of Rovers' good early work it was the visitors who took the lead on 18 minutes. A cross from the left found Walcott on the opposite side of the area, his header was somehow controlled by Eduardo, but from close-range his shot was saved by Friedel. Inexplicably the American didn't hold onto the ball, Fabregas nipped in, his effort was blocked by Dunn, but the rebound fell kindly to that Arsenal striker who never fails to score against Blackburn, Robin van Persie and he drove the ball home from ten yards out.

From that point for twenty or so minutes the game descended into a farce. The flowing attacking play from both sides was replaced by the nasty side of football, repeated fouls from both camps resulted in three yellow cards in quick time, Bentley and Samba for Rovers, Flamini for Arsenal. What had started out as an exciting match suddenly had a nasty edge to it. Robbie Savage added to the card count just before the break for a trip on Fabregas.

Just past the half hour mark Rovers were inches away from getting back on level terms. Predictably the chance came from a free-kick. Bentley swung the ball over from the left, Samba, pulling away at the back post, headed back into the centre and Ryan Nelsen must surely have thought he'd finally opened his Rovers account, his downward header beat Lehmann, but crashed off the foot of the post before Arsenal scrambled the ball away.

That was a rare opportunity for Rovers as Arsenal had the majority of pressure for the remainder of the half, including the amazing five additional minutes that the officials somehow deemed necessary to add. Theo Walcott wasted a superb opportunity for the visitors to double their lead when a mix-up between Nelsen and Warnock allowed the Arsenal winger to run

The two sets of players eventually left for their half-time cuppa, boos ringing out from three sides of Ewood Park, their target Alan Wiley and his assistants.

In contrast to the first half, the second half was a much better affair. Gone was the nastiness of the first period, replaced by an eagerness to attack.

That was in no small part to the way Rovers approached the game after the restart, going straight at their highly-fancied from the whistle.

Robbie Savage felt he should have won a penalty on 50 minutes, the Welshman ran onto a throughball into the area and went crashing to the ground, Alan Wiley was unmoved, replays showed that Toure did little to impede the run of the Rovers midfielder.

Unbowed, the home side continued to force the pace, Dunn saw an effort blocked by Toure, whilst a Roque Santa Cruz flick bounced wide of the far post from a Bentley free-kick.

Matt Derbyshire thought he'd got Rovers back on level terms when he headed down Bentley's deep cross, the ball hit Kolo Toure and was heading towards the back of the net before Lehmann did just enough to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Arsenal had offered little going forward, but were still dangerous on the break. Senderos headed narrowly wide at the back post from a Flamini centre.

But one of the many talking points came on 62 minutes, Pedersen's corner kick eluded the Arsenal defenders and Chris Samba was there to stretch out one of those giant legs, his effort was blocked on the line and Nelsen forced home the rebound, only to turn away and discover that the referee had blown for an infringement. TV replays offered no explanation as to why the goal wasn't allowed to stand.

Arsenal started to get more and more desperate as Rovers stretched the visitors, Eduardo and Clichy quickly followed Flamini into the book as the cards continued to flow.

Rovers finally got the goal that their second half display deserved and it was a goal made in Blackburn. David Dunn drove at the Arsenal defence at pace, he fizzed the ball into Derbyshire who obliged with and equally quick return, Dunn fired goalwards, but Lehmann was right behind the shot, but like Friedel in the first half, the goalkeeper made an uncharacteristic mistake by allowing the ball to slip from his grasp and into the back of the net.

Three minutes later Morten Gamst Pedersen latched onto Roque Santa Cruz's flick, but as he closed down on goal he smashed his left-footed effort into the side-netting.

But in a frantic ending to the game, Rovers were grateful for a fantastic block from David Dunn after Bendtner had eluded Friedel. Hleb fed van Persie, but his goalbound effort was brilliantly blocked by midfielder.

Rovers had to endure a nervy ending to the game when Ryan Nelsen received his second yellow card of the afternoon after bringing down van Persie. The Kiwi will now miss the match against Everton at Goodison Park next Saturday.

But Rovers held on with comparative ease in the remaining minutes, ensuring that their unbeaten start to the new campaign remains.

ROVERS: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen (c), Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Savage, Pedersen, Santa Cruz (sub McCarthy 88 mins), Derbyshire (sub Ooijer 85 mins).

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Tugay, Roberts.

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Sagna, Fabregas, Toure, Eduardo (sub Denilson 65 mins), Gallas (c) (sub Senderos 25 mins), van Persie, Hleb, Flamini, Clichy, Walcott (sub Bendtner 73 mins).

Subs not used: Almunia (GK), Song.

Booked: Bentley, Samba, Savage, Nelsen (Rovers), Flamini, Eduardo, Clichy, van Persie (Arsenal).

Off: Nelsen (Rovers).

Attendance: 24,917