Arsenal thrash ten men Blackburn as Van Persie scores hat-trick

Arsenal thrashed Blackburn 7-1 at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon as the Gunners proved way to strong for a side that were sent down to ten men midway through the first half. Goals from Van Persie who scored a hat-trick, Oxlade-Chamberalain who scored two whilst goals from Arteta and Henry finished off the rout. The impressive win was Arsenal's first win of 2012 as they returned to top form and looked to catch up with Chelsea in fourth place. Arsenal made two changes to the side that drew with Bolton in midweek as Coquelin came in for Sagna at right back whilst Rosicky came in for Ramsey who was rested.

Celebration of Oxlade-Chamberlain's first goal

One minute into the game, Arsenal were ahead. Coquelin found Walcott inside the penalty area who then slid the ball across the face of the goal for Van Persie to tap the ball home.

Rosicky then tried a shot from outside the box. He picked the ball up from a Chamberlain pass before hitting a shot which deflected just wide of the goal and out for a corner.

Van Persie then tried an exact same shot as he had done in the week, he managed to turn Givet before chipping the ball to the back post with his weaker foot. However, this shot bounced wide unlike a similar effort which hit the bar against Bolton.

Just after the half hour mark, Blackburn equalised through a free kick after Koscielny had brought down Modeste. Pedersen stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner of the net. Szczesny managed to get a fingertip to the shot but it wasn't enough.

Six minutes later, Arsenal were back in front. Walcott was played through by Song who got into the penalty area before reaching the byline and cutting the ball back to Van Persie to finish for his second of the game.

Just two minutes later, The Gunners extended their lead to 3-1. Van Persie managed to find Oxlade-Chamberlain who ran clear of the defence before going round Robinson in the Blackburn goal and firing into an empty net for his first League goal for the club.

It then went from bad to worse for the visitors as they were sent down to 10 men after Givet had lunged in on Van Persie.

Arsenal then had one more great chance to get yet another goal before half time. Arteta's cross was flicked on towards the back post towards Vermaelen whose effort came off the post and out for a goalkick.

Just after Van Persie's first goal

The score at half time was 3-1 to Arsenal.

Shortly after the break, Arsenal found themselves 4-1 up. Van Persie's corner was cleared, but only as far as Arteta who drove the shot from the edge of the box into the back of the net via a deflection.

Three minutes later, Oxlade-Chamberlain had his second of the game to make it 5-1. Walcott managed to get down the right flank before cutting inside and then finding Chamberlain. He then took a touch to take it away from the defender before poking the ball home.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's brilliant game then continued as he beat two Blackburn players before reaching the penalty area and finding Arteta at the back post who volleyed over the bar.

Just after the hour mark, Van Persie had his hat-trick. Coquelin beat his man before cutting the ball back to Van Persie to sweep the ball home from eight yards out to make it 6-1 to Arsenal.

Thierry Henry then completed the rout with the last kick of the game to make it 7-1. Henry stole the ball off of a defender before bearing in on goal and finding Van Persie. He then played the ball back to the Arsenal legend to fire home off a defender for his second goal since re-joining the club on loan.

The final score finished Arsenal 7-1 Blackburn.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Coquelin, Mertesacker, Koscielny(67), Vermaelen, Song(72), Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain(67), Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Sagna(67), Benayoun(72), Ramsey, Arshavin, Park, Henry(67).

Blackburn: Robinson, Lowe(35), Givet, Dann, Olsson, Hoilett, Nzonzi, Petrovic, Dunn(45), Pedersen, Modeste.
Subs: Bunn, Orr(35), Hanley(45), Rochina, Vukcevic, Goodwillie, Formica.

My man of the match: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 59,643