BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Robbie Savage today insisted he and his team-mates can take plenty of positives from Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Highbury.

Three outstanding finishes from Arsenal trio Cecs Fabregas, Thiery Henry and Robin Van Persie condemned Mark Hughes' side to a fifth away defeat of the season in the Premiership.

However, Savage reckons the 3-0 scoreline rather flattered the Gunners on a day when Rovers actually carved out the greater number of goalscoring chances.

"Three nil flattered them," said Savage.

"I know the scoreline says 3-0 but we are deeply disappointed because at half-time we felt we were still in the game, just as we did at Chelsea.

"If anything, I thought we actually played better in the first half than we did at Chelsea.

"I've been to Highbury in the past with Birmingham and we got a 0-0 draw but we got absolutely battered that day. I don't think we had a shot or a corner.

"But this was completely different, even though we finished up losing.

"We created loads of chances, even in the second half, but the goals just came at the wrong time.

"The one just before half-time came at a point when we were well on top in the game and anyone who says any different is a liar.

"I know people will probably go on about how good Arsenal were but, to be honest, for the majority of the game, I thought we were the better team.

"I think the way we performed was a credit to the manager and the players, and it's a sign of just how confident we are at the moment."

Rovers made the worst possible start, conceding a goal to Fabregas with barely four minutes on the clock.

However, the visitors then mounted a spirited recovery and, with a bit more luck in the final third, they might have gone in level at the break.

They were dealt a hammer blow just seconds before half-time, though, when Henry pounced to score his 100th Premiership goal at Highbury; no other player has scored a century of goals at the same ground in the history of the Premier League.

Some later argued that a spat between Savage and Jose Antonio Reyes just prior to that had prompted Arsenal to move up a gear.

Savage went in strongly on the Spaniard, who then appeared to clip the Rovers player as he got to his feet, prompting the Welshman to clutch his face.

Savage's reaction wound up the crowd, but Hughes later played down suggestions that it also fired up Henry and Co.

"I don't know if that was of any consequence, to be honest," said the Rovers boss.

"The guy raised his hands. What kind of contact was made, I don't actually know because I haven't discussed it with Robbie yet, but it's not something we are going to take issue with."

Savage added: "The way we play, we like to tackle. I know what I'd like to say about it, but I'm not going to."

In a fiery climax, Hughes was also involved in a spot of argy-bargy with Arsene Wenger.

Angry at what he perceived to be a case of time wasting, Hughes knocked the ball out of Wenger's hands when the Arsenal boss was slow to return it.