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

Comment 27 - 46 of 86

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  1. we love arsenal -- We do

    From andyvanopslagh, on Sat 14 Mar 8:28PM

  2. donneysbeck, on post 51, you are a pervert! Take your­ nasty thoughts out of here!

    From rocco.lazy, on Sat 14 Mar 8:23PM

  3. Com'on GUNNERS,thats u're all about.Blackburn­ has been given a proper footballing lesson!!!Welldone­ Ebue now u've scored one over the boo boys.Arsen­ KNOWS!!!!

    From kazibweyasin, on Sat 14 Mar 8:07PM

  4. is it me or has wengers hair never got longer or­­­ shorter or even changed shape or style, i think i­­­ detect a WIG!

    From tmarmsi, on Sat 14 Mar 8:03PM

  5. Bendtner bendtner. i think lacks just some confidence­ but we he age on our side we have time to mould him­ into a big player.. he has eduardo and van pirse and­ adebayor to teacxh him how to deal with pressure and i­ think he is a good player for arsenal.. i like the guy­ and we should give him a break let the guy be.. dont­ forget he kept us in the champions legue with the last­ minute goal then we all loved him but if he miss some­ chance we boo thats not nice.. he created chances for­ us today and he played well.. Bendtner we love and and­ support you in good and in bad.
    Bendtner we love and­ and support you in good and in bad.
    Bendtner we love­ and and support you in good and in bad.
    Bendtner we­ love and and support you in good and in bad.
    Bendtner­ we love and and support you in good and in bad.­
    Bendtner we love and and support you in good and in­ bad.

    From james_86se, on Sat 14 Mar 7:53PM

  6. I really don't understand why bendtner plays ahead­ of Carlos Vela. He has shown time and time again that­ he needs 5 chances to get a shot on target let alone­ score. Vela needs to play more games to find his feet­ but given the chance he would be so much better than­ Bendtner.

    And i hope that even though eboue scored 2­ goals that he is offloaded at the end of the season

    From alankshort, on Sat 14 Mar 7:46PM

  7. I HOPE WITH ARSHAVIN,S BRILLIANT DISPLAY ARSENAL WILL­ SEE THE NEED TO SPEND MONEY TO BRING IN QUALITY AND­ EXPERIENCED PLAYERS TO ADD TO THE YOUNG TEAM.TIME TO­ STOP THIS EXPERIMENT OF ONLY BUYING TEENAGE PLAYERS FOR­ 2M AND 3M.ARSENAL CAN START WINNING TROPHYS IF THEY ADD­ 2 OR 3 WORLD CLASS PLAYERS.HOW MANY CHANCES DOES­ BENDTNER NEED TO PROVE HE IS A STRIKER.LUCKY TO HAVE­ WENGER AS MANAGER.MOST MANAGERS WILL NOT GIVE THAT MANY­ STARTING OPPORTUNITIES TO A WASTEFUL STRIKER LIKE­ BENDTNER.

    From valach, on Sat 14 Mar 7:44PM

  8. #18 or shouldi say #2 well you are a no good scum

    From dercute, on Sat 14 Mar 7:17PM

  9. go back 2 tottenham emirates. nob jockey

    From adam, on Sat 14 Mar 7:17PM

  10. QUITE RIGHT NO PLACE FOR RACIST @#$% IN THE GAME,AS A­ CLARET,WELL DONE GUNNERS AS FOR THE @#$% IE BBRFC­ LOOKS LIKE SAMS AS GOOD AS BRIAN KIDD A TRUE FOOTBALL­ MASTERMIND !!!!!

    From paul c, on Sat 14 Mar 6:58PM

  11. Am anums micheal Up up arsenal i really like what­ arsenal play to day they should go ahead .i hop arsenal­ is going to being in second or third posstion and also­ i thank arshavin i play that you should keep it up.

    ­ Up up arsenal down down villa and also chelsea.

    From SWEETBOY, on Sat 14 Mar 6:57PM

  12. well in arsenal f*ck aston villa they have no chance,­ small squad and there players are off form. comon u­ spurs

    From LYNNE, on Sat 14 Mar 6:54PM

  13. Am anums micheal Up up arsenal i really like what­ arsenal play to day they should go ahead .i hop arsenal­ is going to being in second or third posstion and also­ i thank arshavin i play that you should keep it up.

    ­ Up up arsenal down down villa and also chelsea.

    From SWEETBOY, on Sat 14 Mar 6:53PM

  14. Post 24

    your right mate (Post 18 is out of order) Call­ himself a Arsenal Fan I think not!!

    WELL DONE GUNNERS­ BY THE WAY

    From DAVID, on Sat 14 Mar 6:52PM

  15. Bendtner is a good player, but sometimes i hate to see­ him starts [ truth is most of the time]. I think we­ should give him another chance, he's still young­ though.
    congarats Gunners....

    From aLaMaK, on Sat 14 Mar 6:49PM

  16. i cannot agree more with @la_carlamms.... right to the­ point... in fact i think Arsenal should not only leave­ Bendtner at home but also offload this clumsy waster of­ chances asap ;) x

    From jutrobins, on Sat 14 Mar 6:47PM

  17. Arshavin made a difference today. Ever since he arrived­ at Emirates Arsenal started showing the game we have­ been awaiting for and hadnt lost yet. So all credits to­ Wenger as well.

    From Serik, on Sat 14 Mar 6:45PM

  18. john luc i can tel u back bendtner lacks in on­ word:
    talent

    From scumyspurs, on Sat 14 Mar 6:38PM

  19. Bendtner should play midfield.He did great today to­ make himself available;)..but in front of goals he lack­ of confidence...

    From Jean Luc, on Sat 14 Mar 6:33PM

  20. why didnt van persie play?

    From Chimichurri, on Sat 14 Mar 6:32PM
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