Fabregas inspires Arsenal to romp

Steven Nzonzi had nodded Rovers ahead in the fourth minute before Thomas Vermaelen smashed home an equaliser.

David Dunn's deflected effort put the visitors back in front, but Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin saw Arsenal lead 3-2 at the break. Captain Fabregas got the goal his performance deserved just before the hour, and then helped set up substitute Walcott on 75 minutes with Nicklas Bendtner cracking in a sixth late on.

Rovers took a shock lead when Paul Robinson sent a long free-kick from deep inside the visitors half into the Arsenal penalty area. Nzonzi got up above Vermaelen and flicked the ball goalwards, which looped over Vito Mannone.

Vermaelen fired Arsenal level when referee Peter Walton allowed play to go on despite a foul, and Abou Diaby fed Fabregas. He laid it back into the path of the centre-back, who took a touch before slamming the ball into the bottom corner to chalk up a fifth goal of the season.

Rovers went ahead once more when Franco Di Santo got away down the right and fed the ball to Dunn on the other flank. The midfielder cut back into the area, and his shot cannoned off William Gallas.

The lead did not last long as van Persie latched onto Fabregas' defence-splitting pass and dispatched a low strike into the far corner.

Arsenal maintained their pressure and completed the turnaround after 36 minutes. Fabregas was again the provider, this time playing Arshavin into the left side of the penalty area and the Russian drilled in an angled drive.

Fabregas finally got his goal when Tomas Rosicky hooked a loose ball back along the edge of the Rovers penalty area and it dropped just right for the Arsenal captain, who crashed a half-volley past Robinson.

Walcott marked his return from injury with a goal when he side-footed home Fabregas' pass following a quick counter by Arshavin and Bendtner smashed in a sixth from 20 yards.