Jurrien Timber's brilliant first-half performance helped earn Arsenal Under-21s a 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League 2.
Goals from Timber, Amario Cozier-Duberry, Harrison Wood, and Junior Nsangou provided brilliant viewing at Ewood Park.
The main talking point from Lancashire was the eagerly-awaited return to action for senior team star Jurrien Timber, who opened the scoring on the night in brilliant fashion.
The Dutch international received the ball at the edge of the penalty box and curled a powerful effort into the top-right corner to fire the Gunners into a deserving 8th-minute lead.
The match marked Timber's first competitive match since he suffered an ACL injury in the Gunners' opening match of the Premier League season in August 2023.
In a dominant start for Arsenal, Blackburn's first good chance came just shy of the 30-minute mark as Junior Nsangou's lob rebounded against the post.
The visitors' second of the evening came in the 36th minute from 12 yards as Amario Cozier-Duberry calmly slotted home a penalty kick earned by Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.
Rovers were quick to respond and net a goal of their own just moments after the spot-kick through striker Harrison Wood.
Wood's effort found its way past Brian Okonkwo, and a second goal on the stroke of half-time would soon come for Blackburn.
Junior Nsangou's audacious backheel inside the six-yard box sent the home side down the tunnel with the scoreline level.
With Arsenal hopeful of Timber playing a part in their upcoming title chase, the 22-year-old was withdrawn at half-time and replaced by Elian Quesada-Thorn.
Rovers started the second half on the front foot, with a blocked tap-in and a strike inches wide of the post preventing the home side from leading the match for the first time.
Blackburn failed to capitalise on their excellent start to the half and allowed Arsenal to find their feet once again as the match crept towards the final minutes.
With both teams searching for last-minute glory, neither side could find the back of the net; a sharing of the spoils meant the final scoreline was 2-2 at Ewood Park.
Blackburn's final match of the Premier League 2 season sees them host Sunderland, meanwhile Arsenal travel to Liverpool; both matches take place at 13:00 GMT on 28th April.
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