Blackburn 0-4 Arsenal: Emmanuel Adebayor hits hat-trick as Gunners romp

Those who suggested Arsenal have neither the experience nor the physical presence to be a force in the Premier League would be well advised to reconsider as they swept imperiously to a resounding victory at Ewood Park.

The pre-match debate was whether Arsene Wenger would start with Theo Walcott after the 19-year-old's hat-trick heroics with England in Croatia. The postmatch verdict was that Walcott has the energy and durability to flourish as a star for club and country.

Walcott played his part, particularly in the build-up to the first goal from Robin van Persie in the eighth minute when his mazy run and acceleration took him past three challenges to set up the Dutchman for a clinical finish.

He also had one of the touches in the amazing 27-pass move that ended with Emmanuel Adebayor heading the second goal from a Denilson cross in first-half added time.

Walcott left the field after 63 minutes to rapturous applause from an appreciative Blackburn crowd, but this was no one-man show.

This was a triumph for Wenger's faith and patience in his young charges. If they were fragile last season it was when the going got that they could not cope. Not now.

A team managed by Paul Ince was never going to be less than physically committed, but Arsenal stood firm.

Adebayor completed a hattrick, converting a penalty nine minutes from time after Emmanuel Eboue was upended by Stephen Warnock, then ran on to a through ball from substitute Aaron Ramsey to ease round Paul Robinson.

Wenger said: "It crossed my mind to leave Walcott out after the last week. But I picked him to keep the balance of the team.

The most important thing is he has a team attitude. We know he can be dangerous."

There was a price to pay, however, for the victory.

Arsenal are already without Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby for the Champions League clash in Ukraine against Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday and Wenger said Gael Clichy and Eboue could join them.

Blackburn have conceded eight goals in their last two games and Ince said: "Some of the defending was suicidal. But we were well in this game until the second half.

"At this stage I am more interested in performances than league position."

DID YOU KNOW?

These two sides met eight times in the last two seasons. Rovers' only win was a 1-0 FA Cup 5th round victory at Ewood Park in 2007.

Stat Attack at EWOOD PARK. ATT: 23,041

How they rated

BLACKBURN

Subs: McCarthy 5 (Roberts), Treacy 5 (Pedersen), Derbyshire 5 (Simpson)

ARSENAL

Subs: Song 6 (Walcott), Ramsey 6 (Eboue), Wilshire 6 (Van Persie)

Possession

42% 58%

Story of the game

3 Shots on Target 9

7 Shots off Target 7

5 Corners 5

9 Fouls Conceded 9

4 Offsides 7

1 Yellow 1

0 Red 0

MAN OF THE MATCH 9

CESC FABREGAS

Astute, intelligent and the man who keeps everything ticking over in midfield. The heartbeat of Arsenal

MANAGERS

PAUL INCE 6

Shoddy defending let him down

ARSENE WENGER 8

Had his men firing on all cylinders

REFEREE

MIKE DEAN 8

Low foul count made it easy for him

Next four games

FULHAM (H)

NEWCASTLE (A)

MAN UTD (H)

BLACKBURN (A)

BOLTON (A)

HULL (H)

SUN'LAND (A)

EVERTON (H)