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Arsenal, win-less in the Premier League in 2012, and with just one point from their last four matches were in desperate need of 3 points as they entertained relegation threatened Blackburn Rovers in the early kick-off on Saturday. The Gunners though didn't just get the points they craved, but also put in a performance and then some against 10-man Blackburn with Robin van Persie continuing his hot run of form with yet another Premier League hat-trick. Van Persie had good support though with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain making a strong statement about his England credentials by grabbing a brace, with Mikel Arteta and substitute Thierry Henry also getting on the scoresheet. Blackburn were only very briefly in this game with Morten Gamst Pedersen drawing them level midway through the first half, and were already two goals down when Gael Givet was sent off. The result will heap plenty of pressure on Rovers manager Steve Kean, while ease some off the shoulders of Arsene Wenger.·

The Gunners made two changes to the side that were held to a goal-less draw in midweek with Aaron Ramsey making way for Czech veteran Tomas Rosicky, while Bacary Sagna, recently back from a long injury was not risked for two straight games with Francis Coquelin replacing him at right back. Robin van Persie looking for his 20th Premier League goal of the season had the English winger paring of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for company.

Blackburn meanwhile continued to be bereft of their best players with Nigerian striker Yakubu serving out the final match of his three game suspension, while the giant Congolese defender Chris Samba was also left out following his request to leave the club in the winter transfer window. Anthony Modeste led the line with Junior Hoilett and David Dunn providing support.

With murmurs of discontent doing the rounds at the Emirates, Arsenal did their bit on the pitch to get the fans on their side with the opening goal inside two minutes. Coquelin showed his ability to pick a pass and played Walcott through on the right, who for once this season was pin point with his delivery, finding Robin van Persie, who made no mistake from close range.

Arsenal continued to dominate the first half hour, but failed to find a second goal despite some consistent pressure. For once, one could not accuse Arsenal of not shooting, but a host of their chances came with lots of Blackburn players in the box and nothing really clear cut presented itself.

Back up the other end, Modeste had Blackburn's only real sight of goal, but failed to get on the end of a chipped pass and was booked for going in too hard on Szczesny. Blackburn's next effort though, about 20 minutes later saw them conjure up an equalizer their performance barely deserved, but it more or less summed up the kind of season Arsenal were having. Modeste won a free-kick just outside the box with Koscielny grabbing hold of the striker, and Morten Gamst Pedersen stepped up with that classy left foot of his and dispatched the ball into the top corner. Szczesny should really have done a lot better in goal, with the keeper getting a weak hand on the ball and pushing it into his own net.

The Blackburn goal awoke the Gunners from their slumber and Arsenal wasted little time in reclaiming their advantage with the Walcott - Van Persie combination working wonders. It was Alex Song this time who split the Blackburn defence wide open and Walcott ghosted in on the blind side of Olsson to set up Van Persie for his second of the day.

Arsenal soon got the cushion they were looking for as Van Persie turned from goal scorer to provider, playing a beautiful reverse pass through for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who rounded the keeper perfectly to score his first ever Premier League goal.

Any hopes that Blackburn had of a comeback were soon scuppered when Gael Givet made an uncharacteristic two-footed lunge on Robin van Persie, and duly received his marching orders. Blackburn though did get a temporary reprieve when Thomas Vermaelen hit the post when it was perhaps easier to score from point blank range at the end of the half.

The second half appeared to start in slow motion with Blackburn putting 10 men behind the ball, while Arsenal appeared to be going through the motions with the game already in the bag. Despite that early lack of urgency, Arsenal did find a fourth goal in the 50th minute with Mikel Arteta latching on to a poor clearance from an Arsenal corner, and finding the back of the net via a deflection from Blackburn substitute Bradley Orr.

Oxlade-Chamberlain soon made it 5 for the Gunners, though Theo Walcott did all the hard work for this one, creating his third of the day, with a mazy run down the right before finding the Arsenal teenager, who finished expertly at the far post through the legs of the defender. The goals were now flowing freely for Arsenal, who celebrated a 6th and a hat-trick for Van Persie, who stroked in an excellent finish with his weaker right foot from a good cross from Coquelin.

Arsenal made a flurry of substitutions around the half mark, and though there were no boos around the stadium, the removal for Oxlade-Chamberlain, his exit did cost the Gunners some sharpness in the final third. There was limited goal mouth action in the final half-hour, but there was just about enough time on the clock for Thierry Henry to get himself on the scoresheet for his first Premier League goal in 5 years. The on-loan Frenchman robbed Hanley of the ball just inside the Blackburn half, but bereft of the pace that typified his early Arsenal days, had to wait for an exchange of passes with Van Persie before slotting the ball home, albeit with the help of a massive deflection from a Blackburn defender.

The final whistle couldn't come sooner for Steve Kean, who will head back home to Blackburn knowing that they have plenty to do if the Rovers are going to stay in the Premier League this season, while the smile on Arsene Wenger's face would say plenty about the mood at the Emirates today.

Teams:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Koscielny (Sagna 68'), Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Coquelin, Song (Benayoun 72'), Rosicky, Arteta, Walcott, van Persie, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Henry 68').

Subs: Fabianski, Sagna, Park, Henry, Ramsey, Arshavin, Benayoun.

Blackburn: Robinson, Lowe (Orr 36'), Dann, Givet, Martin Olsson, Pedersen, Petrovic, Nzonzi, Hoilett, Dunn (Hanley 45'), Modeste.

Subs: Bunn, Formica, Orr, Rochina, Goodwillie, Vukcevic, Hanley.

Final Score: Arsenal 7-1 Blackburn (Van Persie 2', 38', 61' Pederen 32', Oxlade-Chamberlain 40', 55', Mikel Arteta 50', Henry 94')

File Photograph Copyright: Ronnie Macdonald