BLACKBURN Rovers will go into Friday’s rearranged Under-21s Premier League match at Stoke City (3pm) with praise from boss Eric Kinder ringing in their ears after they earned a second 0-0 draw of the season with Arsenal.

Just as in October’s reverse clash, the sides could not be separated in Monday night’s entertaining Leigh Sports Village encounter.

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And Kinder, who continues to take charge of Rovers U21s on matchdays after being appointed as the club’s head of academy, said: “Any draw against a side as big as Arsenal is satisfying.

“We were under a lot of pressure at times but I thought we could have nicked it at the end when Devarn Green hit the post when he should have scored.

“I thought we stuck at it really well and we deserved what we got. A 0-0 draw against Arsenal is pleasing.”

Arsenal dominated the first half but they could find no way past the outstanding David Raya, who made one sensational stop from Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

And, having kept the Gunners at bay, Rovers grew in confidence after the restart.

Dean Rittenberg wasted an excellent chance before Green who, along with Connor Mahoney, was an unused member of the first team’s squad for Saturday’s Championship win at Charlton, struck the post.

Former Accrington Stanley loanee Matt Macey was in goal for the Gunners.