Tweet
Arsenal 6 - 2 Blackburn Rovers
PreviewReportMatchLive CommentaryGameCastMatch Action
Fabregas dismantles Rovers
GettyImages
Cesc Fabregas played a starring role in Arsenal's victory.
Updated: October 4, 2009, 3:45 AM ET
Cesc Fabregas produced a virtuoso display as Arsenal saw off the challenge of Blackburn at Emirates Stadium to claim a 6-2 victory.
• Allardyce fumes at penalty decision
The Gunners captain had a hand in all but one of the six goals, getting on the scoresheet himself during the second half as the home side recovered from going behind after just four minutes when Steven Nzonzi headed Rovers into a shock lead.
Arsene Wenger's young side once again showed their character to recover and record a third successive Premier League victory, a sixth in all competitions, which reduces the deficit on the sides above them and with the benefit of a match in hand.
Before kick-off visiting Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was given a warm reception by the Emirates Stadium faithful, the Barcelona forward having admitted he would one day love to return to his old club in some capacity - perhaps even as Wenger's eventual successor.
Rovers, though, had not read the script and took the lead on three minutes.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson sent a long free-kick from deep inside the visitors half into the Arsenal penalty area.
Nzonzi got up above Thomas Vermaelen and flicked the ball goalwards, which looped over Vito Mannone - the first goal conceded in 359 minutes since the Champions League game in Liege.
At least going behind meant Arsenal would need more urgency in their attack.
Andrey Arshavin got away down the right and clipped the ball back to Fabregas, whose header dropped onto the top of the crossbar.
Belgian Vermaelen then more than made up for his error in judgement when firing Arsenal level on 16 minutes.
Referee Peter Walton allowed play to go on despite a foul, and Abou Diaby fed Fabregas on the edge of the Blackburn area.
He laid it back into the path of the centre-back, who took a touch inside before slamming the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot to chalk up a fifth goal of an impressive debut season.
Robinson made a couple more good saves before Rovers went ahead once more.
Franco Di Santo got away down the right, and fed the ball through to David Dunn on the other flank.
The midfielder cut back into the area, and his shot cannoned off William Gallas' leg and wrong footed Mannone.
The lead did not last long though, as in the 33rd minute 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 on 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.
Blackburn had a strong claim for a penalty at the start of the second half.
Dunn dribbled into the box, but despite looking to have been caught by Vermaelen's outstretched leg, the referee waved play on.
Defender Martin Olsson let fly from 25 yards and Mannone had to dive the full length of the goal to make an acrobatic, one-handed save.
At the other end, Van Persie collected Fabregas' chip into the six-yard box on his chest but Robinson reacted quickly to make the block.
Fabregas finally got his goal following more patient build-up on 57 minutes.
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.
To their credit, Rovers refused to lie down and another determined run from Dunn tested Mannone, the keeper making a parry to beat away the midfielder's shot from 18 yards.
Walcott, hoping to make an impression on England manager Fabio Capello, was introduced for the final 22 minutes replacing Rosicky.
Rovers hit the woodwork when Vermaelen deflected substitute David Hoilett's shot into the ground onto the post.
Diaby drilled an effort just wide following Fabregas' clever backheel, before Walcott marked his return with a goal on 75 minutes when he side-footed home Fabregas' pass following a quick counter by Arshavin.
Fabregas was given a standing ovation after he was replaced by Bendtner, who should have scored when clean through on 80 minutes, but shot straight at Robinson.
Walcott had another effort scrambled off the line by Gael Givet before Bendtner - fit again after suffering minor injuries in a car crash - smashed in a sixth from 20 yards.
Allardyce fumes at penalty decision
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce was furious with referee Peter Walton for not awarding his side a penalty and send off defender Thomas Vermaelen for what replays suggested was a trip on David Dunn at the start of the second half.
"I don't want to detract from Arsenal but it was a blatant penalty,'' Allardyce said. "There is no doubt in my mind that the position of the referee was excellent. He just didn't, unfortunately, give the decision in our favour. It is human beings in a very big pressure position.
"In the big pressure pot that is this league, you have got to get the major decisions right otherwise you don't stay in this league too long, not as a manager or a player, so as a referee you have got to be judged the same. They are fully professional now so if they are not good enough, we should find someone who is.
"That decision wasn't good enough for me today and it had a major effect on the course of this game. I try not to say too much publicly and say it through the system, but unfortunately the system is not working. So I have to be heard and people may say it is bitter or twisted, but I know I am 100% right because I am very professional in what I do. "I research everything and [referees boss] Keith Hackett knows I am right.''
Allardyce felt if the decision had gone Blackburn's way, then the visitors could well have got something from the game.
"At that particular stage you would see us getting a penalty, probably scoring it, them going down to 10 men - because it is a red card for stopping a goal-scoring opportunity - and the balance swings in our favour,'' he said.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed his team's majestic performance, played out in front of both Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and England manager Fabio Capello.
"When we are confident we have a flow that looks like the goals will come at any moment and from anywhere,'' said the Arsenal manager. "They enjoy what they do. They enjoy to play together and that for me is most important.
"There is some strength coming out of this team, we have to add some discipline defensively. We looked always like we would score goals. It's difficult to have so many people going forward and as well have everybody straight away defending well.
"It's a consequence of our philosophy a little bit.''
Fabregas kissed the badge on his shirt after scoring, a signal to those who doubt his commitment to the Arsenal cause. Wenger said: "It's the best answer to play well on the football pitch and to show you are happy to be where you are.
"We are in a strong position, despite the fact we have lost two games. If you look at the away games we had, it was at places where other teams can drop points - Manchester, Everton and Fulham. We should have won the two games in Manchester but that made our resolve even stronger.
"But let's not just look at Manchester United. We have also Chelsea, Liverpool and maybe Manchester City. The most important thing is for us to play at that level and get stronger and stronger.''
Fabregas insisted he sees his long-term future at the club and told Sky Sports: "I am committed to this club, it is my seventh season here. It is hard to hear people saying I am not committed or something. It was a good time to show I love this club.
"We did not do well in the first 10 to 15 minutes and were a bit shaky defensively. But after the goal we did well and it was a good game.
Asked about his own display, he added: "I am happy with all the team's performance. We can do better - it is just one more game in the race for the title.''