• Date: Sat 13 September 2008
  • Venue: Ewood Park
  • Ref: Dean, M
  • Attendance: 23,041
0 - 4
Arsenal

Arsenal

van Persie (8)

Adebayor (45)

Adebayor (81)P

Adebayor (90)

Blackburn Rovers vs Arsenal

Team Lineups

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Robinson
Christopher Samba
Ryan Nelsen
Stephen Warnock
Danny Simpson (Matt Derbyshire, 73)
Steven Reid
Morten Gamst Pedersen (Keith Treacy, 69)
Brett Emerton
Keith Andrews
Jason Roberts (Benni McCarthy, 69)
Roque Santa Cruz

Arsenal

Manuel Almunia
Gael Clichy
William Gallas
Bacary Sagna
Kolo Toure, K
Emmanuel Eboue (Aaron Ramsey, 82)
Cesc Fabregas
Pereira Neves Denilson
Theo Walcott (Alexandre Song, 64)
Emmanuel Adebayor
Robin van Persie (Jack Wilshere, 84)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Full-Time: BLACKBURN 0-4 ARSENAL. An impressive display from the Gunners, but Blackburn's defence was breached far too easily and Paul Ince has much to think about

90
Goal
 

BLACKBURN 0-4 ARSENAL: ADEBAYOR gets his hat-trick as the rampant Gunners split the Blackburn defence open once again

90

Brett Emerton's shot is blocked on the edge of the area and Arsenal come away with the ball

86

Manuel Almunia makes a great save to his right from Benni McCarthy's shot

85

Paul Ince can only stand and watch as his team are soundly beaten

82
Substitution
 

Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere are on for Emmanuel Eboue and Robin van Persie, Eboue being stretchered off following Warnock's challenge

81
Goal
 

BLACKBURN 0-3 ARSENAL: ADEBAYOR gets his second from the penalty spot, giving Paul Robinson no chance

80
Yellow Card
 

Stephen Warnock is booked for the challenge on Eboue

79

Emmanuel Eboue wins a penalty after some uncertainty from the officials from a quick break by Arsenal, Warnock challenging him in the area

78

Emerton send in a free-kick from the right of the penalty area but Almunia gathers

74
Substitution
 

Rovers make their final substitution with Matt Derbyshire coming on for Danny Simpson

74

Keith Treacy puts in a great ball but it's just too close to Almunia

73

Samba almost undoes his previous good work with a casual header which almost reaches Adebayor but Nelsen intervenes

72

Christopher Samba puts in a great challenge in the area to deny Emmanuel Adebayor

70
Substitution
 

Jason Roberts and Morten Gamst Pedersen are off for Blackburn with Keith Treacy and Benni McCarthy coming on

67

Pederson has taken a knock to his nose after stopping another Arsenal move and is temporarily off the pitch

66

Arsenal's passes are being cheered on by their fans much to Rovers' frustration

64
Substitution
 

Theo Walcott goes off to applause from both sets of fans and is replaced by Alexandre Song

63

Rovers come forward but Almunia is commanding his area well

61

The Rovers free-kick goes over the wall and over the bar

61
Yellow Card
 

Denilson gets a booking for deliberate handball just outside the area

59

Blackburn haven't recovered from that Arsenal goal on the stroke of half-time

57

Another passing move from Arsenal ends with Denilson shooting straight at a grateful Paul Robinson

55

Paul Robinson somehow keeps out Kolo Toure's header and then a blistering shot from Emmanuel Eboue

51

Arsenal are looking for their third but Kolo Toure, continuing his run from the back, can't make contact with Theo Walcott's cross

49

William Gallas just does enough to put off Jason Roberts as Brett Emerton sends in a wicked cross

48

Theo Walcott shows his pace with a run and shot that Paul Robinson does well to hold on to

Second half
 

Blackburn kick off the second half as they bid to salvage something from this game, no changes from either side

Half time
 

Half-time: BLACKBURN 0-2 ARSENAL. The Gunners are slightly lucky to be two nil up after weathering Rovers' pressure

45
Goal
 

BLACKBURN 0-2 ARSENAL: ADEBAYOR heads the away side further ahead from Denilson's perfect cross following a wonderful Arsenal move

44

Arsenal are keeping possession as Blackburn chase the ball

43

Roque Santa Cruz heads wide from Brett Emerton's cross as Blackburn look for the equaliser before half-time

41

Morten Gamst Pedersen sees his 25-yard free-kick beat the Arsenal wall but go wide of Manuel Almunia's goal

40

Arsenal almost extend their lead but Robin van Persie's left-foot volley is inches wide

38

Blackburn look certain to equalise but Andrews can't make contact with Roberts' cross and Arsenal scramble the ball behind

38

Bacary Sagna clears well to deny Roque Santa Cruz as Rovers come forward

35

Gael Clichy concedes a corner from Morten Gamst Pedersen's cross but Blackburn can't capitalise

32

Brett Emerton's shot is comfortably saved by Manuel Almunia down to his left

31

Arsenal are controlling possession but can't find their second goal just yet

30

Cesc Fabregas's 30 yard shot is charged down by Stephen Warnock

29

William Gallas returns to the action after being treated on the sidelines for the last two minutes

28

Robin van Persie's shot goes into the side netting and Emmanuel Adebayor isn't too happy that his team-mate didn't pick him out instead

26

Jason Roberts is caught in possession but Emmanuel Adebayor is offside

25

Morten Gamst Pedersen is down after a challenge from Emmanuel Eboue but soon gets back to his feet

24

Roque Santa Cruz looks a threat but Rovers can't the ball to him often enough

23

A Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick is easily gathered by Manuel Almunia

20

Rovers try to carve out an opening from Keith Andrews' pass to Roque Santa Cruz, but with his back to goal he can't control the ball and Arsenal get it away

16

Brett Emerton's cross almost meets Morten Gamst Pedersen but the ball goes behind him and the chance has gone

14

Rovers are allowing Walcott too much space and can't afford to concede a second goal

11

Arsenal break away after a Blackburn corner is defended but Theo Walcott shoots wide from outside the area

10

There's a flurry of Rovers corners as the home side try to get back into the game but they amount to nothing

8
Goal
 

BLACKBURN 0-1 ARSENAL: Theo Walcott shows some magic and sets up Robin van Persie who finishes well with his left foot

6

Arsenal win a free-kick after an Andrews challenge on Fabregas

4

A Cesc Fabregas corner is well defended by Rovers

3

Brett Emerton beats Gael Clichy but the ball flashes across the penalty area and trundles out harmlessly

2

It's far from a sell-out for Rovers although Arsenal are well represented in the stands

1
Kickoff
 

Arsenal get the game underway in the bright sunshine at Ewood Park

Awaiting Kickoff
 

The atmosphere is building at Ewood Park as Keith Andrews prepares to make his debut for Rovers and England hero Theo Walcott returns for Arsenal