Two own-goals, by Alex Song and Laurent Koscielny, plus two Yakubu strikes on his debut, handed victory to Blackburn who at half-time had been staring a damaging defeat of their own in the face.
Gervinho and Mikel Arteta had earlier both scored their first goals for the Gunners to secure a lead at the break. Marouane Chamakh headed a late third for the Gunners to make it a nervy last five minutes but Blackburn held out