Premier League - Arsenal romp past Blackburn

Eurosport - Sun, 15 Mar 01:20:00 2009

Andrei Arshavin scored his first Premier League goal as Arsenal romped to a 4-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates Stadium.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Arsenal-Blackburn Andrei Arshavin Theo Walcott - 0

The Russian netted the Gunners' second after an own-goal by Andre Ooijer gifted Arsenal the lead in just the second minute.

Substitute Emmanuel Eboue swooped twice in the final two minutes, once from the penalty spot, to seal all three points and extend Arsenal's unbeaten run to 15 games.

The result saw Arsene Wenger's side into fourth place while Rovers remain perilously close to the drop zone on 30 points, just one ahead of Stoke who occupy the final relegation spot.

The hosts got off to the best possible start, Arshavin apparently bundling the ball over the line after the effervescent Theo Walcott had delivered a cross into the danger area.

Initially the goal was given to the Russian but was later credited to Blackburn defender Ooijer, the Dutchman having got the final touch in the near post scramble.

Walcott posed a constant danger throughout and the England international appeared to enjoy getting the upper hand on three different left-backs employed by Blackburn over the 90 minutes - Gael Givet, Stephen Warnock and then Martin Olsson.

Givet and Warnock were both forced off through injury, although their departures from the pitch may well have come as a relief to both of them, given the run-around Walcott had given them.

But for all his pace and skill, for the most part the flying winger still lacks an end product - the shot he dragged wide of the mark just after the break was testament to that.

That chance came at the start of a dominant period of play for Arsenal, during which Walcott teed up Nicklas Bendtner to slice wide of the mark before himself launching a flying volley which Paul Robinson had to paw round the post.

While Walcott was busy wooing the crowd, Bendtner could do nothing right and he infuriated the assembled masses with a string of misses that smacked of a player lacking confidence.

The Dane's best chance of the day came in the 64th minute when he was played through on goal but he was foiled by Robinson, who was quick to come off his line.

A minute later, Arshavin showed him how to do it with a brilliant piece of finishing having beaten his man Danny Simpson at the by-line. The playmaker advanced on goal, waiting for Paul Robinson to go to ground before lifting the ball into the roof of the net.

Bendtner was withdrawn 15 minutes later and with he could only watch from the bench as Eboue - on as an 83rd minute replacement for Samir Nasri - found the net twice in four minutes.

The two chances were the type an out-of-sorts striker dreams about, the first being laid on a plate after Robinson could only parry Arshavin's shot into Eboue's path. All that was left to do was stab over the line.

And then the Ivorian stepped up to convert a penalty in the second minute of time added on after Carlos Vela had been tripped by a clumsy Olsson challenge.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. Dioup Showed Arrogant on the pitch, Arsenal Can be­ booked as third place even second.

    From aishat.abba, on Thu 19 Mar 2:14PM

  2. Thank you spurs !!!

    From , on Mon 16 Mar 8:21AM

  3. with the return of edwardo desilva, theo walcot, galas­ i think thing gone be more fruitful and to do with­ benthender let him be on bench for a while to see how­ to score rather than spoiling our chances. Arshavin is­ awounderful player.
    JOHNSON, An Arsenal fun from juba­ south sudan. LET GUN THEM

    From johnson, on Mon 16 Mar 6:55AM

  4. Well done Arsenal!! I'm a fans of Arsenal since­ 1998. Recently, their performance is not fantastic as­ past. Hope them will be better.
    Fabregas is the hope of­ the future Arsenal. I believe, what he can do more!! He­ can make a difference. The history is created by­ someone. If you want to be this guy, you should know­ more how can you create the history.
    I believe you will­ be the brightest star of the world of football. Arsenal­ can help you to achieve you dream.

    MAKE A­ DIFFERENCE
    Good Luck

    Fans form Hong Kong

    From Edmond, on Mon 16 Mar 6:27AM

  5. a

    From GaborP, on Mon 16 Mar 5:23AM

  6. Bendtner is not bad player, but he doesnt have enough­ experience,
    Arshavin show fantastic football, i'm­ sure,what he can do more...
    good luck Arsenal.

    From kkeskinbayev, on Mon 16 Mar 3:50AM

  7. i believe bendtner still need a chance..he had a decent­ game against blackburn..he is helping his teammate­ create chances but the only thing that matters is the­ finishing..he should work more harder in training and­ prove to the fans that he deserve a place at arsenal..

    From pujai, on Mon 16 Mar 2:00AM

  8. come on u gooners

    From nibnobjunior, on Sun 15 Mar 8:00PM

  9. come on the gooners(Y)
    Fabregas is theee one

    From jodieclennan.oxox, on Sun 15 Mar 7:34PM

  10. PLS MR, WENGER DONT EVER USE BENDTNER 4 D REST OF D­ SEASON MATCHESS LET HIM GO NO PENSION NO GRATITUDE WE­ ARE OK WIT HIM HE CAN KILL US LET HIM GO.

    From babaa4160, on Sun 15 Mar 1:10PM

  11. PLS MR, WENGER DONT EVER USE BENDTNER 4 D REST OF D­ SEASON MATCHESS LET GO NO PENSION NO GRATITUDE WE ARE­ OK WIT HIM HE CAN KILL US LET HIM GO.

    From babaa4160, on Sun 15 Mar 12:58PM

  12. Brilliant score for the Gunners they aswell deserved­ the win Blackburn still in a bit of a mess at the­ bottom. Are Rovers in the Relegation zone again in BPL?

    From Nath, on Sun 15 Mar 11:56AM

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    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP

    ALL MATCHES ON­ INTERNET: PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP,­ CARLING CUP, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP AND MUCH MORE

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    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Sun 15 Mar 11:20AM

  14. when big boys return,arsenal will be leading force,go­ arsenal

    From crnjakjurica, on Sun 15 Mar 10:42AM

  15. I have always believed in Arsene' arsenal, and i­ hope they will get something at the end of the season.­ Ashavin is a great asset and can only get better.­ Eboue, great game and luck you had, hope you get more­ of those magic moment.

    From JamesB, on Sun 15 Mar 10:27AM

  16. Giv betnder a chanc,he works hard.probably a sub in­ 70mins.wel dne walcot,eboue,arshavn,SONG,denilsn,toure­ n oda,u dd made my day.
    up gunners!!!

    From solomon k, on Sun 15 Mar 9:49AM

  17. I was watching sunday supplement the other week and­ listeing to all those @#$% saying arshavin is no good­ and wont fit in the EPL! He proved all them wrong­ yesterday what a player

    From Michael, on Sun 15 Mar 9:34AM

  18. Al Hadj­i Diouff is a beast!!!

    From becoshop, on Sun 15 Mar 9:20AM

  19. SAM SAM DOIT AGAIN SAM U WILL GET THERE IN THE END POSS­ ON SKY AGAIN OUT OV A JOB

    From mcpluker, on Sun 15 Mar 8:39AM

  20. They were lucky not to have finished the game with 9­ players on the pitch
    I think the Ref was blind diouf­ should have gone for that very bad tackle on the­ Goalkeeper and pedeson what can i say he should serve a­ ban for CHEATING as that is all you can call that he is­ a BLATENT CHEAT

    From LEX, on Sun 15 Mar 8:07AM
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