FULL TIME: Arsenal 7 Blackburn Rovers 1 (From This Is Lancashire)

FULL TIME: Arsenal 7 Blackburn Rovers 1

8:18am Monday 6th February 2012 in Football By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

BLACKBURN Rovers were blown away at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon with their survival hopes suffering a huge blow by Arsenal's 7-1 demolition.

Gael Givet received a straight red card just before half time with Rovers already trailing 3-1 but there were no excuses as Steve Kean's men were out classed from the outset.

Robin Van Persie scored a hat trick as Arsenal wingers Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ripped Rovers apart down the flanks.

Morten Gamst Pedersen had fired Rovers level on the half hour mark, with the visitors' only meaningful attempt of the match, but that was as good as it got.

Arsenal were first to every ball as they not only out played Kean's men but also out-fought them as they coasted to victory.

Rovers suffered the worst start imaginable as Arsenal took the lead within 90 seconds. Radosav Petrovic's poor clearance fell straight to Francis Coquelin on the right, he slipped the ball to Theo Walcott and his low cross was converted by the unmarked Robin Van Persie.

Buoyed by their early goal, Arsenal controlled the early exchanges as Rovers struggled to get possession of the ball.

The visitors gradually started to gain a foothold in the game although it was still the hosts doing most of the attacking, with Tomas Rosicky having a shot blocked on 20. David Dunn then deflected another Rosicky strike wide on 23 minutes before Per Mertesacker's downward header was deflected over the bar by Steven Nzonzi. As Rovers continued to afford Arsenal far too much space all over the park, Van Persie saw a clever chip go wide.

Incredibly Rovers found themselves level on 32 as, after Anthony Modeste had been bundled over by Laurent Koscielny, Pedersen curled a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.

Bradley Orr was given his Rovers debut on 35, replacing the injured Jason Lowe, but it wasn't long before the hosts regained the lead.

Alex Song's brilliant through ball set Walcott free and his cut back was converted by Van Persie on 37.

It was 3-1 two minutes later as Oxlade Chamberlain raced onto Van Persie's precise through ball, rounded Paul Robinson and tapped home.

It got worse for Rovers on 42 as Gael Givet saw red for a rash double footed lunge on Van Persie.

With Grant Hanley on for Dunn, Rovers attempted to regroup after the break but found themselves further behind on 52 minutes.

Van Persie's right wing corner was headed out by Nzonzi but Mikel Arteta was on hand to fire home the rebound from the edge of the penalty area.

A couple of minutes later, Rovers were 5-1 down as Walcott again tormented Rovers down the right and his lay off was converted by Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Van Persie completed his hat trick on 62 as he was left unmarked in the penalty area to rifle in Francis Coquelin's right wing cross.

Arsenal were content to play keep ball for the remainder of the half, before Thierry Henry profited from a Grant Hanley slip to make 7-1 in the dying seconds.