Posted on Saturday, 4th February 2012 by Tony Merakli
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?
Leave us your thoughts and comments below
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Tags: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alex Song, Anthony Modeste, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Blackburn, Emirates Stadium, Francis Coquelin, Gael Givet, Laurent Koscielny, Mikel Arteta, Morten Gamst Pederson, Paul Robinson, Robin Van Persie, Steve Kean, Theo Walcott, Thierry Henry
Posted in View From The Sphere | Comments (21)
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February 4th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
The squad has it in them, they have to always remember to move the ball faster, believe in themselves and have fun.
Excellent TEAMWORK!
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February 4th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Good teamwork. Always remember, yes you can.
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February 4th, 2012 at 4:53 pm
First of all, that our team has the quality to win any game…second, arsenal clearly plays better wit pacy passings and aggression..third. The cmbination of song, Arteta and rosicky is the best we have evr had..fourt, that chamberlain is a far far better player cmpared to walcot and fift is that Aron ramsey is and was alway the problem arsenal had in middle…he shld b benched regularly..
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February 4th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
you play football with your heart and soul. no matter the skill, this two are paramount for victory!! this si what arsenal demonstrated today.
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February 4th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
one thing for sure.. SONG-ARTETA-ROSICKY combination is currently our best trio.. Rosicky should start from now on.. he truly deserves it,no doubt… i think Ramsey will be loaned out next season when jack and Diaby come back,given that Wenger extends Rosicky contract which i think he must..
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gunny Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Spot on, the difference was Rosicky instead of Ramsey!
Great win.
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February 4th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
i love Arteta n Rosicky combination… Arteta moves it to the left & right while Rosicky moves it forward.. Song is solid as well.. they are very creative and combine fantastically well..
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February 4th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
I think oxlade chamberlain is the best winger we have in our squad, he deserves to be in the starting 11.. Today i was proud to be an Arsenal fan and i hope that we’ll be seeing the same quality in each and every game
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February 4th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
1/ Oxlade-Chamberlain must be first choice.
2/ Arsenal play well when allowed to exploit the channels but should have a genuine winger to play in place of Walcott when teams are set up to defend against that.
3/ Arteta is key to the team and key to Arsenal dominating possession, at least until Jack is back.
4/ RvP is also key to convert every chance that comes his way.
5/ Rosicky is a better player than Ramsey although the young lad shouldn’t be ruled out because there’s a huge difference in experience between them.
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February 4th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
The truth be said only wenger knows why he plays ramsey ahead of rosicky. Wenger should stop this fantasy of his and give us the real deal. Ramsey is to slow and over elaborates when in possesion. Rosicky and ashervin will do better at the attacking midfield position
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February 4th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
what do you think would happen when gervinho comes back from ACN?Which of these two do you think would be sacrified in place gervinho,AOC or Walcott?
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February 4th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
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!!!!
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February 5th, 2012 at 1:37 am
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
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February 5th, 2012 at 4:15 am
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
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February 5th, 2012 at 4:43 am
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.
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February 5th, 2012 at 5:45 am
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.
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February 5th, 2012 at 9:16 am
1. Blackburn are woeful
2. errrmmm
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February 5th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
The difference was Rosicky for Ramsey. No less, no more.
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February 5th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
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.
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February 5th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
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.
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February 8th, 2012 at 3:41 am
rosicky play better than ramsey….ramsey shud be bench warmer in future.
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