Wenger salutes "amazing" Arsenal as Henry rewrites history

Arsenal's Thierry Henry scores a goal against Blackburn. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed his side's record-breaking unbeaten run as "amazing" and then demanded his team never let their guard drop.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed his side's record-breaking unbeaten run as "amazing" and then demanded his team never let their guard drop.

The Premiership champions surpassed Nottingham Forest's 26-year-old feat of 42 English league matches unbeaten when they defeated Blackburn Rovers 3-0 at Highbury on Wednesday to claim their place in history, but Wenger is in no mood to rest on his laurels.

"I think it's something amazing, to look at the number of goals we scored in the 43 games and the number of victories we have had. The quality of football was good, and in the modern game it's something amazing," the French boss said.

"If you change a fraction of the attitude or the form of the players, it can become difficult to win. We have to show that we are intelligent and humble.

"Don't wait until it doesn't work to become rigorous again," he warned.

"When it goes well, be vigilant and rigorous. If you think we can become easy, it will change quickly. At this moment in time we have to show that we are intelligent people and be more demanding from each other."

Blackburn thwarted early shots from Thierry Henry and Gunners goalkeeper Jens Lehmann kept out close-range efforts from Craig Short and Jon Stead without knowing too much about it.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry (2nd L) celebrates with teammates Jose Antonio Reyes (L) and Fredrick Ljungberg (C) as Robert Pires (2nd R) and Francesc Soler (R) join in after their win over Blackburn.

But five minutes after half-time, talisman France striker Henry broke the deadlock.

Dennis Bergkamp crossed from the right side of the penalty area and Henry dashed between the Rovers centre-halves, giving America goalkeeper Brad Friedel no chance with his six-yard toe-poke high into the net.

Henry was the provider eight minutes later when Spaniard Cesc Fabregas became Arsenal's youngest scorer in the league. From the Frenchman's left-wing corner, Gilberto, on his 100th Arsenal appearance, directed a far-post header downwards back across Friedel, 17-year-old Fabregas deflecting the ball in for 2-0.

With 11 minutes to go, Henry set up Jose Antonio Reyes, who had replaced Bergkamp three minutes earlier.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry makes a cross as he plays Blackburn during their Premiership match at Highbury in London. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed his side's record-breaking unbeaten run as "amazing" and then demanded his team never let their guard drop.

The Frenchman broke through with a pacy run, and though his shot was well saved by Friedel, just when it seemed Henry had delayed too long with the rebound, he squared for Spain striker Reyes to drive in a sidefoot shot at the far post to round off the night and put the champions into the record books.

Arsenal's unbeaten streak stretches over three campaigns, beginning with a 6-1 home thrashing of Southampton on May 7, 2003.

The Gunners won the Premiership last season without defeat in all their 38 top-flight matches, a feat not achieved since Preston North End, survived all their 22 matches unscathed in the 1888/9 season.

Forest's run spread over two seasons and the Gunners have a better win record and goal difference. Forest won 21 of their 42 matches, whereas Arsenal have won 30. Forest scored 58 goals and conceded just 22 during their run but Arsenal struck 92 times and let in 31.