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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
BLACKBURN 0-4 ARSENAL: ADEBAYOR gets his hat-trick as the rampant Gunners split the Blackburn defence open once again
Brett Emerton's shot is blocked on the edge of the area and Arsenal come away with the ball
Manuel Almunia makes a great save to his right from Benni McCarthy's shot
Paul Ince can only stand and watch as his team are soundly beaten
Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere are on for Emmanuel Eboue and Robin van Persie, Eboue being stretchered off following Warnock's challenge
BLACKBURN 0-3 ARSENAL: ADEBAYOR gets his second from the penalty spot, giving Paul Robinson no chance
Stephen Warnock is booked for the challenge on Eboue
Emmanuel Eboue wins a penalty after some uncertainty from the officials from a quick break by Arsenal, Warnock challenging him in the area
Emerton send in a free-kick from the right of the penalty area but Almunia gathers
Rovers make their final substitution with Matt Derbyshire coming on for Danny Simpson
Keith Treacy puts in a great ball but it's just too close to Almunia
Samba almost undoes his previous good work with a casual header which almost reaches Adebayor but Nelsen intervenes
Christopher Samba puts in a great challenge in the area to deny Emmanuel Adebayor
Jason Roberts and Morten Gamst Pedersen are off for Blackburn with Keith Treacy and Benni McCarthy coming on
Pederson has taken a knock to his nose after stopping another Arsenal move and is temporarily off the pitch
Arsenal's passes are being cheered on by their fans much to Rovers' frustration
Theo Walcott goes off to applause from both sets of fans and is replaced by Alexandre Song
Rovers come forward but Almunia is commanding his area well
The Rovers free-kick goes over the wall and over the bar
Denilson gets a booking for deliberate handball just outside the area
Blackburn haven't recovered from that Arsenal goal on the stroke of half-time
Another passing move from Arsenal ends with Denilson shooting straight at a grateful Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson somehow keeps out Kolo Toure's header and then a blistering shot from Emmanuel Eboue
Arsenal are looking for their third but Kolo Toure, continuing his run from the back, can't make contact with Theo Walcott's cross
William Gallas just does enough to put off Jason Roberts as Brett Emerton sends in a wicked cross
Theo Walcott shows his pace with a run and shot that Paul Robinson does well to hold on to
Blackburn kick off the second half as they bid to salvage something from this game, no changes from either side
Half-time: BLACKBURN 0-2 ARSENAL. The Gunners are slightly lucky to be two nil up after weathering Rovers' pressure
BLACKBURN 0-2 ARSENAL: ADEBAYOR heads the away side further ahead from Denilson's perfect cross following a wonderful Arsenal move
Arsenal are keeping possession as Blackburn chase the ball
Roque Santa Cruz heads wide from Brett Emerton's cross as Blackburn look for the equaliser before half-time
Morten Gamst Pedersen sees his 25-yard free-kick beat the Arsenal wall but go wide of Manuel Almunia's goal
Arsenal almost extend their lead but Robin van Persie's left-foot volley is inches wide
Blackburn look certain to equalise but Andrews can't make contact with Roberts' cross and Arsenal scramble the ball behind
Bacary Sagna clears well to deny Roque Santa Cruz as Rovers come forward
Gael Clichy concedes a corner from Morten Gamst Pedersen's cross but Blackburn can't capitalise
Brett Emerton's shot is comfortably saved by Manuel Almunia down to his left
Arsenal are controlling possession but can't find their second goal just yet
Cesc Fabregas's 30 yard shot is charged down by Stephen Warnock
William Gallas returns to the action after being treated on the sidelines for the last two minutes
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
Jason Roberts is caught in possession but Emmanuel Adebayor is offside
Morten Gamst Pedersen is down after a challenge from Emmanuel Eboue but soon gets back to his feet
Roque Santa Cruz looks a threat but Rovers can't the ball to him often enough
A Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick is easily gathered by Manuel Almunia
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
Brett Emerton's cross almost meets Morten Gamst Pedersen but the ball goes behind him and the chance has gone
Rovers are allowing Walcott too much space and can't afford to concede a second goal
Arsenal break away after a Blackburn corner is defended but Theo Walcott shoots wide from outside the area
There's a flurry of Rovers corners as the home side try to get back into the game but they amount to nothing
BLACKBURN 0-1 ARSENAL: Theo Walcott shows some magic and sets up Robin van Persie who finishes well with his left foot
Arsenal win a free-kick after an Andrews challenge on Fabregas
A Cesc Fabregas corner is well defended by Rovers
Brett Emerton beats Gael Clichy but the ball flashes across the penalty area and trundles out harmlessly
It's far from a sell-out for Rovers although Arsenal are well represented in the stands
Arsenal get the game underway in the bright sunshine at Ewood Park
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
Emmanuel Adebayor bagged a hat-trick as Arsenal cruised to a comprehensive victory at Ewood Park. Robin van Persie got the Gunners off to the perfect start when he opened the scoring after eight minutes, before Adebayor then took centre stage with a lethal treble as Arsene Wenger's side picked up their first away points of the new season. In contrast, there was precious little to cheer for Wenger's opposite number, Paul Ince, whose side shipped four goals for the second successive game. Ince made two changes to the team that lost 4-1 at West Ham a fortnight ago with Danny Simpson and Keith Andrews both coming in for their home league debuts in place of the injured Andre Ooijer and Vince Grella. Meanwhile, England hat-trick hero Theo Walcott started on the left-hand side of Arsenal's midfield, fresh from his stunning exploits against Croatia in midweek. It took the speedy winger just eight minutes to pick up from where he left off in Zagreb, leaving a couple of Rovers players trailing in his wake when he embarked on a mazy dribble across the edge of the penalty box. He then coolly fed the unmarked van Persie, who prodded a low shot beyond the sprawling Paul Robinson from six yards out to give the visitors the lead. Rovers almost restored parity two minutes later when Roque Santa Cruz curled in a left-footed shot that looked destined for the back of the net until Kolo Toure somehow headed it over for a corner. However, Arsenal always looked threatening on the break and they should have doubled their advantage when Adebayor sent Walcott scampering clear, but for once the England man fluffed his lines. Rovers created several promising openings at the opposite end, but they lacked the decisive touch needed to take full advantage. Then right on the stroke of half-time, Arsenal inflicted a major psychological blow when they conjured a killer second goal. Brazilian midfielder Denilson was afforded far too much time and space to deliver a cross from the left and Adebayor rose unchallenged to send a powerful downward header past Robinson. The Gunners continued to turn the screw after the re-start with Toure and Emmanuel Eboue both bringing the best out of Robinson with two efforts in the space of 30 seconds. Arsenal grabbed a third goal in the 81st minute when Adebayor confidently tucked away a penalty following Stephen Warnock's foul on Eboue. The in-form Gunners striker then completed his hat-trick deep in injury time after skilfully rounding Robinson when sent clear by Denilson.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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