Arsenal came from behind twice to hammer Blackburn Rovers 6-2 in a game which
showed that Arsene Wenger's side have the spirit and the skill to be real
challengers for trophies this season.
Blackburn took a shock lead after four minutes when the tall Steven N'Zonzi
outjumped all the Arsenal defenders to meet a long ball forward from Paul
Robinson as he sent a looping backward header over the back-peddling Vito
Mannone.
The Gunners came close to equalising five minutes later in similar fashion
when Cesc Fabregas met an Andrey Arshavin cross from the right but his
looping header was tipped over by Robinson.
N'Zonzi almost scored at the wrong end when he headed an Arsenal corner back
across his own goal but just over his own bar.
Thomas Vermaelen continued his dream start to his career with the Gunners with
his fifth goal of the season in the 15th minute, and what a goal it was.
He began the move with a driving run inside the Blackburn half. He was hacked
down but referee Peter Walton played a good advantage.
The Belgian defender picked himself up to receive a pass from Fabregas,
before teeing himself up for a left-foot 25-yard drive that screamed into the
visitors net.
Robinson denied the Gunners with a fine save from Fabregas and then started
an attack that lead to Blackburn re-taking the lead on the half-hour.
The ball fell to El Hadji Diouf and then Brett Emerton who picked out David
Dunn.
The midfielder, who could have been sent off minutes earlier for a challenge
on Mannone, fired a shot towards goal and his effort deflected off William
Gallas before rolling into the left side of the goal, with the Gunners keeper
already diving the other way.
Arsenal were level again within two minutes when Fabregas' ball beat the
offside trap, allowing Robin van Persie to race into the Blackburn penalty area
and shoot low and hard across goal into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Fabregas did the same again in the 37th minute, but this time Arshavin was the
beneficiary, the Russian again beating Robinson with a shot from the left side
of the area.
The Blackburn keeper was on hand to deny Fabregas a deserved goal after the
Spaniard was picked out by a clever cross with the outside of the boot by Tomas
Rosicky but his header was well claimed by Robinson.
Mannone was on-hand to keep his side in the lead just after the re-start with
a fine save from a crisp Martin Olsson shot.
Fabregas gave Arsenal a 4-2 cushion on 57 minutes with a left-foot half-
volley from 20 yards out that winged its way into the top left corner of the net
leaving Robinson rooted to the spot.
Vermaelen saved the Gunners in the 73rd minute when he headed another Olsson
effort onto the post and to safety.
It was 5-2 in the 75th minute though when Fabregas turned defence into attack
with a ball to Arshavin.
The Spaniard sprinted to the other end of the pitch to receive a return pass
that he helped on its way to substitute Theo Walcott to fire a low drive across
goal and into the bottom left corner of the net beyond Robinson.
Fabregas was then substituted to deafening applause, the Spaniard having
contributed four assists and a goal of his own.
Arsenal continued to press for goals with Aaron Ramsey taking over the mantle
of chief provider.
Walcott, van Persie, Abou Diaby and Nicklas Bendtner all went close before
Ramsey set up Bendtner to score Arsenal's sixth , the Dane smashing the ball
home from just outside the area in off the right post.
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