Arsenal 7-1 Blackburn: Seventh heaven for Wenger’s boys

Arsenal moved up to fifth in the Premier League as they thrashed a sorry Blackburn Rovers side 7-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Much talk ahead of the game had been about Gunners' fans protesting with bin liners but the only thing rubbish about this match was Steve Kean’s side’s pitiful defending.

And now Arsene Wenger’s men find themselves just two points behind fourth placed Chelsea.

Robin Van Persie put the Gunners ahead after just two minutes with a close range tap in from Theo Walcott’s low cross.

But the early goal saw them take their foot off the gas and Rovers pulled level on 32 minutes when Morten Gamst Pedersen put a 25-yard free-kick beyond Wojciech Szczesny, who could only palm the effort into the roof of the net.

That goal brought the Gunners back to life and five minutes later their Dutch striker nabbed his second with a carbon copy of his first goal.

Alex Oxlade-chamberlain made the scoreline 3-1 before half-time when van Persie turned provider, with a fine through ball, and the ex-Southampton winger rounded Paul Robinson before slotting the ball home.

And to make matters worse for the visitors Gael Givet was given his marching orders for a two-footed lunge on van Persie.

Ten minutes after the break Mikel Arteta’s low, long range effort hit the back of the net to make it 4-1 to the Gunners.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who will have impressed all those watching the game with his clever runs and penetrating dribbles, smashed home following good work from Walcott.

Van Persie hit their sixth, dispatching the ball after Francis Coquelin’s cross from the right-hand side, before Thierry Henry, on as a substitute, finished off a sublime goal as he and his Dutch strike partner bamboozled their opponents.

Blackburn Rovers drop a place on goal difference after the mauling and now sit 19th, three points ahead of Wigan Athletic.