FOOTBALL Live

Sunday October 4, 2009 Finished Emirates Stadium

6 - 2

Arsenal

  • Vermaelen 17’
  • van Persie 33’
  • Arshavin 37’
  • Fábregas 57’
  • Walcott 75’
  • Bendtner 89’

Blackburn Rovers

  • N'Zonzi 4’
  • Dunn 31’

4 comments | Write your comment

  1. Fabregas inspires Arsenal romp

    Fabregas inspires Arsenal romp

    Arsene Wenger celebrated becoming Arsenal's longest-serving manager by watching his side register a 6-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Arsenal
    • Blackburn Rovers
    • 90'+2 There it is! All over at the Emirates and Arsenal record a 6-2 victory! What a way to celebrate Arsene Wenger's 13-year tenure in charge of the club!
    • 89' GOAL! It's another for Arsenal! Bendtner gets it, cutting inside before lashing right into the corner! 6-2 now!
    • 89' SONG! Must be! No! Robinson makes a terrific save from point blank range to push away the header!
    • 88' Bendtner and Van Persie link up well to win a late corner for the Gunners...
    • 85' This one's over... credit to Blackburn for putting up a fight though...
    • 81' Walcott! Ooh! He should have a second here, but his finish is weak and Robinson gets just enough on it to stop it crossing the line! Givet hacks clear!
    • 79' This is easy for Arsenal now... they're coasting towards victory.
    • 78' Real chance for Bendtner! But he shoots straight at Robinson after having been played in by a neat backheel!
    • 76' That should be that, so Wenger takes off Fabregas - to a standing ovation - and Arshavin. Bendtner and Ramsey come on in their place.
    • 75' GOAL! WALCOTT! What a lovely goal! Fabregas starts it on the edge of his own box before playing the telling pass at the other end as Walcott caps his return with a goal! 5-2!
    • 73' DIABY! Oooh! So close to a fifth, but the midfielder strokes his shot wide of the mark!
    • 72' OFF THE POST! Hoillet with virtually his first touch puts a volley against the upright with Mannone scrambling to get there! Replays show Vermaelen to have got a crucial head on it to direct it onto the post...
    • 70' McCarthy has a problem here and he's forced into heading back off the pitch... Hoilett comes on to replace him.
    • 69' Arsenal make a change now... and it's Theo Walcott who comes on to make his first appearance of the season! Rosicky departs to make way for the England winger...
    • 65' McCarthy had a chance to deliver a ball into the box from a Blackburn free-kick now... but it's a poor one from the South African and Mannone claims easily.
    • 63' Rosicky! Ooh! He unleashes a super strike that whistles just wide of Robinson's upright!
    • 62' Rovers make another switch as McCarthy comes on to replace Dunn... all or nothing for Allardyce now.
    • 59' Dunn heads off on another mazy run into the heart of the Arsenal defence... oooh! He's denied by Mannone!
    • 57' GOAL! FABREGAS GETS ON THE SCORESHEET AS ARSENAL TAKE A 4-2 LEAD! Twice the ball comes back to him from failed through passes, so he decides to go it alone, hammering a left-footed strike into the top corner! He deserves that one!
    • 56' Pedersen's first act is to launch a long throw into the Arsenal box... nothing comes of it though.
    • 55' Blackburn make a change... off goes Emerton and on comes Pedersen.
    • 51' Van Persie then lets off a shot from outside the box... it's easy for Robinson this time though...
    • 50' VAN PERSIE AT THE OTHER END! Another great save, nearly at point blank, denies the Dutchman!
    • 49' OLSSON! Oooh! What a strike, on the volley from 25 yards out! Mannone is forced into making a diving save and Blackburn have a corner!
    • 48' Nearly brilliant from Dunn, as he skips into the Arsenal box... but Vermaelen gets a telling touch and the hosts can come away with it.
    • 47' Dunn turns quickly and delivers a ball into the Arsenal box... but there's no one there to and Mannone can claim.
    • 46' Here we go! Back underway at the Emirates...
    • 45'+4 There goes the half-time whistle to bring the first half to an end... what an entertaining opening period! Five goals scored but it's Arsenal who head in with the lead at the break...
    • 45'+3 Van Persie is booked for an innocuous challenge on Chimbonda... in fact it might have been for dissent as the Dutchman mouthed off...
    • 45'+2 Sagna wins a corner as half-time approaches... it's taken short, but nothing comes of it as Fabregas's through ball runs to Robinson...
    • 45' Three minutes of added time to be played...
    • 44' Rosicky releases Van Persie on the right hand side.... he gives it to Rosicky who delivers a cross to the far post... FABREGAS! No! Great save by Robinson to repel the Arsenal skipper's header!
    • 42' Fabregas hits the deck in the box and looks expectantly at the referee... no dice says Peter Walton and play goes on.
    • 40' Diaby looks to play one over the top for Van Persie... but Robinson is out quickly to claim...
    • 38' Three goals in six minutes! Great entertainment at the Emirates... although Messrs. Wenger and Allardyce cannot be pleased with their teams' defending...
    • 37' GOAL! ARSENAL TAKE THE LEAD FOR THE FIRST TIME! Arshavin gets it, firing across Robinson after Fabregas, again, plays in a cute little ball for the Russian! 3-2 now! Madness!
    • 33' GOAL! VAN PERSIE LEVELS IT UP ONCE AGAIN! Rovers' lead lasts just two minutes as Fabregas slips a great ball through for the Dutchman, whose first touch is excellent... his second isn't bad either! He lashes it into the far corner and it's 2-2!
    • 31' GOAL! DUNN GIVES BLACKBURN THE LEAD AGAIN! Andrews breaks following that save by Robinson before feeding Dunn, who cuts inside and fires goalwards... it takes a hefty deflection off Gallas, wrongfooting Mannone and it's 2-1!
    • 30' Fabregas is again denied by a big hand by Robinson! Cracking strike, even better save...
    • 29' This doesn't look good for Di Santo, as he doubles up after taking a blow to the chest...
    • 28' Arsenal are building well here... as they usually do. Blackburn are happy to sit back for the time being allowing the hosts plenty of possession.
    • 26' Ouch! Mannone calls for the ball as he ventures outside his box to make a clearance... Gallas duly leaves it for him but Dunn clatters into him... no foul though...
    • 24' Di Santo nearly slips in Dunn... but he gets the ball tangled between his legs and Clichy is able to clear...
    • 23' Fabreags! Oooh! The Arsenal captain lets fly from distance and Robinson needs to be at his best to stop the shot! He spills it slightly but recovers in time, moments before Van Persie gets there...
    • 21' Fabregas looks to orchestrate things for Arsenal now... but Van Persie can't return his pass and the move breaks down.
    • 19' Van Persie goes for Chimbonda with apparent disregard for the ball... free-kick Blackburn and Chimbonda snubs the offer of a handshake from the Dutchman...
    • 18' Any striker would have been proud of that effort... let alone a centre-half! He really knows where the goal is...
    • 17' GOAL! VERMAELEN LEVELS THINGS UP! What a strike from the defender! It's laid off to him 25 yards out and he nets his fourth goal of the season with a cracking effort, low past Robinson and into the bottom right hand corner!
    • 16' Oooh! That's close to an equaliser as Andrews glances a header just past his own far post!
    • 15' Lovely footwork from Arshavin before he feeds Diaby... and he wins a corner!
    • 14' Sagna cuts inside and delivers a cross into the middle... cut out this time and Arsenal will have to build again.
    • 13' 'Come on Arsenal' is the chant from the stands as the home crowd look to lift their side...
    • 12' Di Santo is cautioned for a challenge in the build-up to the previous attack...
    • 11' Arshavin! Ooh! A cross-shot whistles wide of the far post!
    • 10' OFF THE BAR! Fabregas gets on the end of Arshavin's cross and nearly loops a header of his own into the back of the net! Robinson backpeddles... he won't get there but he's saved by his crossber!
    • 10' Diouf gets his first touch... and he's weclomed with a chorus of boos...
    • 9' Jacobsen hacks clear for Rovers, but Arsenal pick it up once again... they're enjoying more of the ball at the moment.
    • 8' That's a good ball in from Van Persie... but Rosicky can't get his head to it and Rovers come away with it.
    • 7' And now Rosicky plays a one-two with Van Persie before letting fly at goal! Well wide this time, but promising from the Gunners...
    • 6' Arsenal look to get back into it immediately... Van Persie and Sagna link up well down the right to win a throw...
    • 5' Nightmare start for Arsenal... that's the first Premier League goal Mannone has let in this season... and it has to be said he was slightly at fault...
    • 4' GOAL! NZONZI PUTS BLACKBURN INTO A SHOCK LEAD! It's real route one stuff from Rovers... Robinson thumps a free-kick from deep in his own half into the Gunners' penalty area... Nzonzi rises and loops a back-header over Mannone, who had ventured off his line slightly! Incredible start!
    • 3' He does! But it's weak and straight into the wall... disappointing from Andrews...
    • 2' Dunn breaks forward... and Gallas hauls him down! Free-kick to the visitors and Andrews may have a pop on goal here...
    • 1' Here we go... Blackburn get us underway at the Emirate...
    • - Thierry Henry has made an apperance on the Emirates pitch, to an understandably warm welcome. And here come the teams...
    • - Martin Olsson and Gael Givet come into the Blackburn side while Keith Andrews replaces the suspended Vince Grella.
    • - So, Theo Walcott returns to the Arsenal squad, but has to settle for a place on the bench alongside Nicklas Bendtner. Vito Mannone continues in goal in the absence of Manuel Almunia while Bacary Sagna replaces Emmanuel Eboue in the only change from the starting XI who beat Olympiacos.
    • - Today's referee is Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
    • - Blackburn: Robinson, Jacobsen, Givet, Chimbonda, Olsson, Emerton, Andrews, Nzonzi, Diouf, Dunn, Di Santo - Subs: Brown, McCarthy, Pedersen, Kalinic, Hoilett, Salgado, Jones
    • - The teams are in... Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Rosicky, van Persie, Arshavin - Subs: Szczesny, Walcott, Ramsey, Silvestre, Eboue, Gibbs, Bendtner
    • - More concrete team news as and when we get it.
    • - Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba face late fitness tests for Rovers while Vince Grella misses out through suspension.
    • - Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner are back in Arsenal's squad but Eduardo has been ruled out with a thigh injury.
    • - And just for good measure, Paul Robinson has conceded 41 Premier League goals in his last 14 league games against Arsenal.
    • - Robin van Persie has scored eight goals in seven appearances in all competitions against Rovers.
    • - The Gunners beat Blackburn 4-0 home and away last season and they are unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches against Rovers, winning the last three without conceding a goal.
    • - Rovers head into the game off the back of last weekend's 2-1 home win over Aston Villa but a trip to the Emirates is likely to be a different proposition.
    • - Games between Sam Allardyce's sides and Arsenal are historically bruising affairs but despite their differences over the years, Allardyce has said he hopes there is some mutual respect between he and Arsene Wenger. More here
    • - Arsenal utterly outplayed Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday and have not dropped points in the Premier League since defeat to Manchester City on September 12.
    • - Blackburn make the trip down to London to face in-form Arsenal at the Emirates.

  • Summary

    • 89' GOAL! It's another for Arsenal! Bendtner gets it, cutting inside before lashing right into the corner! 6-2 now!
    • 89' SONG! Must be! No! Robinson makes a terrific save from point blank range to push away the header!
    • 81' Walcott! Ooh! He should have a second here, but his finish is weak and Robinson gets just enough on it to stop it crossing the line! Givet hacks clear!
    • 78' Real chance for Bendtner! But he shoots straight at Robinson after having been played in by a neat backheel!
    • 75' GOAL! WALCOTT! What a lovely goal! Fabregas starts it on the edge of his own box before playing the telling pass at the other end as Walcott caps his return with a goal! 5-2!
    • 73' DIABY! Oooh! So close to a fifth, but the midfielder strokes his shot wide of the mark!
    • 72' OFF THE POST! Hoillet with virtually his first touch puts a volley against the upright with Mannone scrambling to get there! Replays show Vermaelen to have got a crucial head on it to direct it onto the post...
    • 63' Rosicky! Ooh! He unleashes a super strike that whistles just wide of Robinson's upright!
    • 59' Dunn heads off on another mazy run into the heart of the Arsenal defence... oooh! He's denied by Mannone!
    • 57' GOAL! FABREGAS GETS ON THE SCORESHEET AS ARSENAL TAKE A 4-2 LEAD! Twice the ball comes back to him from failed through passes, so he decides to go it alone, hammering a left-footed strike into the top corner! He deserves that one!
    • 50' VAN PERSIE AT THE OTHER END! Another great save, nearly at point blank, denies the Dutchman!
    • 49' OLSSON! Oooh! What a strike, on the volley from 25 yards out! Mannone is forced into making a diving save and Blackburn have a corner!
    • 44' Rosicky releases Van Persie on the right hand side.... he gives it to Rosicky who delivers a cross to the far post... FABREGAS! No! Great save by Robinson to repel the Arsenal skipper's header!
    • 37' GOAL! ARSENAL TAKE THE LEAD FOR THE FIRST TIME! Arshavin gets it, firing across Robinson after Fabregas, again, plays in a cute little ball for the Russian! 3-2 now! Madness!
    • 33' GOAL! VAN PERSIE LEVELS IT UP ONCE AGAIN! Rovers' lead lasts just two minutes as Fabregas slips a great ball through for the Dutchman, whose first touch is excellent... his second isn't bad either! He lashes it into the far corner and it's 2-2!
    • 31' GOAL! DUNN GIVES BLACKBURN THE LEAD AGAIN! Andrews breaks following that save by Robinson before feeding Dunn, who cuts inside and fires goalwards... it takes a hefty deflection off Gallas, wrongfooting Mannone and it's 2-1!
    • 30' Fabregas is again denied by a big hand by Robinson! Cracking strike, even better save...
    • 23' Fabreags! Oooh! The Arsenal captain lets fly from distance and Robinson needs to be at his best to stop the shot! He spills it slightly but recovers in time, moments before Van Persie gets there...
    • 17' GOAL! VERMAELEN LEVELS THINGS UP! What a strike from the defender! It's laid off to him 25 yards out and he nets his fourth goal of the season with a cracking effort, low past Robinson and into the bottom right hand corner!
    • 11' Arshavin! Ooh! A cross-shot whistles wide of the far post!
    • 10' OFF THE BAR! Fabregas gets on the end of Arshavin's cross and nearly loops a header of his own into the back of the net! Robinson backpeddles... he won't get there but he's saved by his crossber!
    • 4' GOAL! NZONZI PUTS BLACKBURN INTO A SHOCK LEAD! It's real route one stuff from Rovers... Robinson thumps a free-kick from deep in his own half into the Gunners' penalty area... Nzonzi rises and loops a back-header over Mannone, who had ventured off his line slightly! Incredible start!

Team lineup & ratings

  • Lineup

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Arsenal

      Manager: Arsène Wenger

      Captain: Cesc Fábregas

      Starting line-up

      • V. Mannone
      • B. Sagna
      • W. Gallas
      • T. Vermaelen Goal
      • G. Clichy
      • A. Song
      • C. Fábregas Goal Substitution Out (76′)
      • A. Diaby
      • T. Rosický Substitution Out (69′)
      • A. Arshavin Goal Substitution Out (77′)
      • R. van Persie Goal Yellow Card

      Subs

      • M. Silvestre
      • E. Eboué
      • N. Bendtner Substitution In77′ Goal
      • T. Walcott Substitution In69′ Goal
      • K. Gibbs
      • A. Ramsey Substitution In76′
      • W. Szczesny

    • Blackburn Rovers

      Manager: Sam Allardyce

      Starting line-up

      • P. Robinson
      • L. Jacobsen
      • G. Givet
      • P. Chimbonda
      • M. Olsson
      • K. Andrews
      • S. N'Zonzi Goal
      • B. Emerton Substitution Out (56′)
      • E. Diouf
      • D. Dunn Goal Substitution Out (62′)
      • F. Di Santo Yellow Card

      Subs

      • Míchel Salgado
      • B. McCarthy Substitution In62′ Substitution Out70′
      • M. Gamst Pedersen Substitution In56′
      • J. Brown
      • N. Kalinic
      • D. Hoilett Substitution In70′
      • P. Jones

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      10 -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      Goal - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      Goal Substitution Out76′ - -
      - -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out69′ - -
      Goal Substitution Out77′ - -
      Goal Yellow Card - -
      Subs
      Substitution In77′ Goal - -
      Substitution In69′ Goal - -
      Substitution In76′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      1 -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      Goal - -
      Substitution Out56′ - -
      - -
      Strikers
      Goal Substitution Out62′ - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Subs
      Substitution In62′ Substitution Out70′ - -
      Substitution In56′ - -
      Substitution In70′ - -

Comment 1 - 4 of 4

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. arsenal will be the champ

    From Shahmeer, on Fri 6 Nov 8:00PM

  2. arsenal were awesome in this match

    From David, on Sat 31 Oct 2:52AM

  3. fabregas man of the match

    From janisvitols, on Thu 15 Oct 5:05PM

  4. Vermalen ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From George, on Tue 13 Oct 11:05AM
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account