Arsenal 7 Blackburn 1

ROBIN VAN PERSIE netted a hat-trick as Arsenal went goal crazy at the Emirates. Van Persie opened the scoring in just the second minute and doubled his tally seven minutes before the break after Morten Gamst Pedersen had levelled matters with a cracking free-kick. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain extended Arsenal's lead in the 40th minute and things went from bad to worse for Blackburn when Gael Givet was red-carded for a lunge at Van Persie. Mikel Arteta made it 4-1 six minutes into the second half, while Oxlade-Chamberlain added his second three minutes later. Van Persie completed his treble in the 62nd minute and substitute Thierry Henry rounded off the scoring in injury-time. Full report to follow... Arsenal: Szczesny, Koscielny (Sagna 68), Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Coquelin, Song (Benayoun 72), Rosicky, Arteta, Walcott, Van Persie, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Henry 68). Subs not used: Fabianski, Park, Ramsey, Arshavin. Booked: Koscielny, Vermaelen. Goals: Van Persie 2, 38, 62, Oxlade-Chamberlain 40, 54, Arteta 51, Henry 90. Blackburn: Robinson, Lowe (Orr 36), Dann, Givet, Martin Olsson, Pedersen, Petrovic, Nzonzi, Hoilett, Dunn (Hanley 45), Modeste. Subs not used: Bunn, Formica, Rochina, Goodwillie, Vukcevic. Sent off: Givet (43). Booked: Modeste, Nzonzi, Martin Olsson. Goals: Pedersen 31. Att: 59,643 Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).