BLACKBURN defender Markus Babbel today insisted his 'goal' against Arsenal should have counted.

The former German international thought he had snatched a valuable point for Rovers at Highbury when he rose to head home Barry Ferguson's cross in the 59th minute.

However, referee Andy D'Urso controversially refused to let the effort stand after claiming the 31-year-old had infringed Arsenal defender Kolo Toure.

"It wasn't a foul because I jumped first and didn't touch him with my hands," said Babbel.

"It was a normal challenge, especially in England. If you watch Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry or any other top strikers, how many goals do they score like that?

"If that happened 20 times, nineteen would be given as goals but unfortunately this one wasn't.

"When you play against a team like Arsenal you don't get many chances so when you score a regular goal and it gets ruled out like that, it does make you a little bit angry.

"But that's football, I guess. Sometimes you have the luck on your side and sometimes you get decisions against you, but we've got to live with it and handle it."

Babbel also won support off his manager, Graeme Souness, who said that some referees would not have blown for a foul in that instance.

"If the same thing had happened at the North Bank End in the second half then it might have stood," said Souness.

"But I can see in the referee's defence where he was standing. I've seen them blow for fouls in the past and I've also seen those given."

Rovers ended up losing the game 1-0 after Dennis Bergkamp's 11th minute goal ultimately proved decisive.

That result sent Arsenal back to the top of the table and they remain unbeaten in the Premiership this season.

However, Babbel insists Rovers should take heart from their performance, especially in the second half when they threatened an equaliser on a number of occasions.

"I thought it was a very good performance, especially in the second half," added Babbel.

"Highbury is not an easy place to play a good style of football but I thought we did very well and we were a little unlucky not to get something.

"We came close to an equaliser but couldn't quite score in the end."