Source: Telegraph
Arsenal 6 Blackburn Rovers 2: match report
Arsenal underlined their status as the Premier League's great entertainers this afternoon by recovering from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to ultimately inflict a resounding 6-2 defeat on Blackburn Rovers. [LNB]The catalyst both for the comeback and the emphatic victory was captain Cesc Fàbregas, who produced a remarkable individual performance to score once and provided the assist for four goals. In eight league matches involving Arsenal this season, there have now been a total of 34 goals. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League actionPremier League tableTelegraph player raterPremier League fixturesWatch Ukraine v England live onlineThierry Henry was introduced to the Arsenal supporters shortly before the game and barely had time to take his seat before Blackburn took a fourth minute lead. Perhaps predictably, the goal derived from some direct football, although there was little mitigation for such sloppy Arsenal defending. [LNB]Paul Robinson had sent a hopeful direct clearance into the Arsenal penalty area and Steven Nzonzi easily rose above Thomas Vermaelen to send a looping header in the direction of the goal. The immediate expectation was that it would easily be dealt with by Vito Mannone, but the Italian had wondered just a few yards from his goal-line and was powerless to stop the ball sailing over his head and into an empty goal. [LNB]The Arsenal response was immediate. Cesc Fàbregas cleverly escaped his marker on the far post to meet Andrei Arshavin's cross and guide it beyond Paul Robinson and onto the crossbar before forcing a good diving save from the former England goalkeeper. [LNB]When the equaliser did arrive, it was inevitable that Fàbregas should be involved, although it again owed most to the ball-playing quality of Vermaelen. Fàbregas had fed Abou Diaby's pass into the path of Vermaelen, whose left-footed finish from the edge of the penalty area underlined his unlikely status as Arsenal's top goalscorer this season with five. [LNB]Blackburn, though, again took the lead. This time the long clearance came from El-Hadji Diouf who found Keith Andrews to release David Dunn into space on the right of the penalty area. Dunn's shot then deflected off William Gallas and beyond Mannone. [LNB]With Fàbregas increasingly influential, the lead lasted just two minutes. A perfectly judged through-ball split the Blackburn defence and was comfortably finished by Van Persie. Moments later Fàbregas produced a similarly precise pass for Arshavin to crucially put Arsenal ahead shortly before half-time. [LNB]Fàbregas continued to assert his authority early in the second half, forcing another save from Robinson before finally getting the goal that his performance had merited. [LNB]This time Tomas Rosicky was the creator, guiding the ball into the path of Fàbregas, who shot a left-footed volley into the top corner. As he celebrated, Fàbregas made a point of kissing his badge and pointing to the Arsenal supporters. [LNB]It was a fabulous goal, but Theo Walcott, who was making his first appearance of the season, arguably produced the best moment of the afternoon by finishing a fabulous team goal. The move had been started by Fàbregas on the edge of his own penalty area and he then raced forward to cushion Arshavin's cross into the path of Walcott, who stroked the ball beyond Robinson in front of a watching Fabio Capello. Walcott looked sharp despite having not played a competitive game since June and only the outstretched leg of Robinson denied him a second. [LNB]Arsenal, though, did finally add a sixth when substitute Nicklas Bendtner, who had missed the midweek win against Olympiakos because of a car accident, brilliantly cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Robinson and in off the post. [LNB]While some of Arsenal's football was truly magnificent, there were familiar moments of defensive concern. Vermaelen was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he appeared to trip Dunn and he then denied David Hoilett with an extraordinary diving header onto the post after a badly judged clearance. [LNB]EmailPrint .at15t_email {display:none !important;}Share|tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/6256538/Arsenal-6-Blackburn-Rovers-2-match-report.html';tweetmeme_style = 'compact';tweetmeme_source = 'TelegraphNews';Email|Printhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/6256538/Arsenal-6-Blackburn-Rovers-2-match-report.htmlTelegraphNews Arsenal
