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What FIVE things did we learn from Arsenal against Blackburn?

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Arsenal bagged all three points against Blackburn after thumping the relegation strugglers 7-1 at the Emirates Stadium earlier this afternoon.

A hat-trick from Gunners captain Robin van Persie, two from youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and goals from Mikel Arteta and loanee Thierry Henry sealed an emphatic victory which pushed Arsenal from seventh to fifth in the Premier League.

The home side took an 82 second lead thanks to RVP. The Dutchman tapped the ball in from 6-yards after connecting with a low, accurate cross put in by Theo Walcott.

Blackburn then levelled in the 38th minute through a superb Morten Gamst Pederson free-kick, before Laurent Koscielny tugged back Anthony Modeste.

Shortly after Arsenal were back in front. Alex Song played a precise through ball to Theo who then picked out RVP to score his second of the game. Oxlade-Camberlain then got his first of the game after he was fed through by RVP. The 18-year-old ran onto the slide rule pass from the Dutchman, rounded Paul Robinson and slotted the ball home to put the Gunners 3-1 up and in a comfortable lead.

Things went from bad to worse for Rovers after defender Gael Givet was sent off for a two-footed tackle on RVP, effectively ending their hopes of gaining anything from the game.

Six minutes into the second half Arsene Wenger’s side were 4-1 up. Arteta latched on to a loose ball and drilled it low and hard into the bottom left hand corner of Robinson’s goal after Blackburn failed to deal with the initial corner.

Three minutes after Chambo got his second of the game. Walcott set up the youngster having made a darting run into the box and passed it to the unmarked Englishman who then buried it low and hard from around the 14-yard mark. 5-1.

Unfortunately for Steve Kean’s men Arsenal were not done yet.

On the 62nd minute Wenger’s side were 6-1 up after Van Persie turned in a low cross from Francis Coquelin for his 22nd Premier League goal of the season.

Arsenal legend Titi Henry, who came on to replace Chambo in the 67th minute, even got in on the act, upping his goal record for the Gunners. The 34-year-old Frenchman played a lovely one-two with RVP and, even though it took a deflection, scored Arsenal’s final goal of the game.

The result leaves Arsenal temporarily sitting in fifth place, two points behind fourth placed Chelsea, who play Manchester United tomorrow afternoon, and 9 adrift of rivals Tottenham, who travel to Anfield on Monday night.

So what FIVE things did we learn from the Gunners today?

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21 comments

  • real gooner!!! says:

    The main thing i learned from our demolition of blackburn is that all the doubters, idiots and glory supporters (the BINMEN!!!) should stay away on their stupid protest every GAME!! as without you scumbags booing the mighty arsenal for any mistake or just for the hell of it we play much better!!
    i find it hilarious that all you idiots who had a ticket and stayed away missed our 2nd best performance of the season!! hahahahaaha justice!! a quote from you lot….YOU dont know what your doing!!! lol! oh the irony!! so yeah please stay away for the rest of the season and we will win every game 7-1!!! 😀
    up the arsenal!!!!

  • Rambo says:

    1. Rosicky’s moves the ball quicker than Ramsay
    2. Coquelin reminds me of Flamini
    3. Walcott should focus as a winger
    4. The ox is fearless
    5. Arsenal play well without Samba

  • steve cole says:

    1. Wenger got it right with signing the ox ( future great )
    2. The team finally played like a team charging the most ezpensive ticket prices in the leauge ( thank you boys )
    3. van persie is the best captain we have had since patrick viera .
    4. Henry can still score goals ( more goals, 2 , in 4 limited sub apperances than chamack all season or bentner on loan for that matter , buy class , they often deliver .
    5. The Kosmeister was a great signing , Ramsey was not missed at all , strange that an aging passed it rosicky played far better than Ramsey in that roll , Makes you wonder what we will be like when Wiltshire comes back and takes that roll

  • Kc says:

    1. Change of tactics-use of TWO wingers.
    2. Rosicky shows that we needed a better and more creative attacking midfielder. Buy!
    3. Coquelin will become the new Flamini.
    4. Walcott has to step up, when Gervinho returns.
    5. Heart in the mouth when RVP was viciously attacked. Thought our season was over.

  • Namusole says:

    So 4 knw wenger now where exactly the problem is.Ok .Ramsey is a good player but he is too selfish for ball passing.Let him rest for atleast ten matches.

  • vyvafc says:

    1. Blackburn are woeful
    2. errrmmm

  • Rufus says:

    The difference was Rosicky for Ramsey. No less, no more.

  • goonerob says:

    What really stood out for me was that we should start with the Ox and Walcott in all games, their pace will disrupt even the most well organised defence and creates space for RVP and others to take advantage of. Having the Ox start also puts pressure on Theo to up his game and it showed yesterday, he was very good. My own opinion is that because the front 3 performed so well it makes the job of the midfield that much easier so I think that some are being a bit harsh on Ramsey as he has been forced to play every game due to injuries and it has obviously taken it toll. We now need to keep it up and stuff the Spuds when they visit the Emirates.

  • Stuart says:

    It’s clear to me that the return of Henry or at least a result of it, was not so much for him to play and score goals but more to instill the team ethic of past teams such as the invincibles. Seeing the players grouping together after a goal and celebrating together is something we have not seen done so religiously and passionately since 2006, there is definitely a greater team spirit amongst the team.

    I’ve heard (from a reliable source) that the team used to stay for hours after training (around 2004 era) just having a mess around and practicing tricks etc but since the departures of Lunjberg, Pires, Henry et all, this stopped and the players just went to training then went straight home.

    The quality is there, just the team spirit is what’s been really missing.

  • padin says:

    rosicky play better than ramsey….ramsey shud be bench warmer in future.

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