Gunners crush Blackburn

The headlines will go to the £15million Russian and substitute Emmanuel Eboue, who scored twice at the end.

Arshavin netted after 65 minutes and may yet be credited with a second after his heavily deflected shot gave Arsenal the lead after just 80 seconds, while Eboue benefited from a tap-in and a penalty.

Arsenal took inside two minutes to score. Nicklas Bendtner turned Morten Gamst Pedersen before rolling a pass to Theo Walcott on the right. Walcott cut the ball into the six-yard box where both Alexandre Song and Arshavin were waiting at the near post.

The Russian got the first touch but a heavy deflection off Andre Ooijer means it was in all honesty an own goal.

El-Hadji Diouf looked Rovers' most likely creator, twice finding space behind Bacary Sagna.

With 10 minutes to play before the break Samir Nasri almost made it two, rattling the woodwork with a vicious free-kick.

After the interval, the hosts came out in inspired form and Walcott was the key. First he outpaced Stephen Warnock only to drag his shot well wide, then he handed Bendtner the simplest of scoring chances. With the goal gaping, the Danish striker made only the lightest of contacts.

And with just five minutes of the half gone Walcott volleyed a loose ball in the area but Paul Robinson saved. Collecting the ball wide on the left, Arshavin drove straight for goal. He ghosted past Danny Simpson and lifted his ball expertly into the roof of the net.

Substitute Eboue poked home the third after Robinson pushed out another Arshavin effort with three minutes left. And the Ivorian then stroked home from the penalty spot after Carlos Vela was clumsily fouled by Martin Olsson.