Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.
90
REMINDER: Stay online for our post-match debate. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
90
ALL SMILES: Henry and RVP walk off arm in arm after a magnificent win. Arsenal climb to fifth and this could be just the boost they need with big games to come
Full Time IT'S ALL OVER AT THE EMIRATES! Arsenal have thrashed Blackburn thanks to a hat-trick from Van Persie, two from Oxlade-Chamberlain and one apiece for Arteta and Henry
90
THE ICING ON THE CAKE! Henry tries to set up RVP, the captain returns the favour and Henry scores thanks to a deflection. Wonderful scenes!
90
GOAL! - Scott Dann 7 : 1 THE LEGEND HAS DONE IT! HENRY SCORES FOR ARSENAL!
90
BENAYOUN WITH THE SHOT! Good strike but straight at Robinson after good approach play from RVP and Rosicky
90
WE'RE INTO STOPPAGE TIME: Arsenal fans are starting to head home or back into the concourse to enjoy some special post-match activities
90
CORNER TO BLACKBURN: The away fans applaud ironically. There aren't many of them in that corner but a few hundred hardy souls have stuck this out. The corner comes to nothing though
89
NZONZI FOULS HENRY: Good turn from the legend and the Rovers man is lucky not to get a second booking there
88
PROFESSIONAL JOB: Arsenal have worked very hard off the ball today, against 11 men and 10. It makes such a difference
87
REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match debate. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
86
PENALTY SHOUT! Walcott to RVP inside the box and he is barged off the ball by Hanley. Nothing given
85
Yellow Card VERMAELEN IS BOOKED: He challenged Modeste from behind and the ref decides that's one foul too many. Unnecessary yellow card
84
BLACKBURN GET A FREE-KICK: Pedersen lofts it into the box but it's headed behind. Goal kick to Arsenal
83
WALCOTT TRIES TO FIND HENRY... and that's headed away before the Frenchman can take it on the volley
82
SZCZESNY GETS A TOUCH: He hasn't had many all game in all honesty. Even Blackburn's goal was completely against the run of play
81
ROSICKY GOES DOWN IN THE BOX! That looked like a shove but Andre Marriner is having none of it. Orr did appear to get something on the ball
79
THE TEMPO HAS DROPPED: The departure of the Ox saw to that. Arsenal are just keeping the ball, switching the play and not really penetrating now
77
HENRY GOES PAST ONE... he advances on goal but can't beat the next man and fails to find RVP. The crowd are willing Thierry on and we got a glimpse of the old magic there
76
VAN PERSIE CURLS IN THE FREE-KICK... and that's headed away. We want seven!
75
RVP WILL PLAY THE FULL 90: Some might have expected the skipper to get a rest but he'll see this game out. Meanwhile Benayoun wins a free kick
74
SAGNA SWINGS IN A CROSS... and that almost reaches Rosicky. Arsenal get a corner, it comes out to Coquelin and he fires over the bar
73
REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match debate. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
73
TACTICS: We now have Sagna at left back, Vermaelen in the centre, Rosicky playing deeper in Song's role and Benayoun behind RVP with Henry to the left
72
Substitution SONG IS THE MAN TO GO OFF: A chance for him to get a rest so a slight reshuffle for the last 18 minutes or so
71
HERE COMES YOSSI: He'll be Arsenal's final sub today and is stripped off at the touchline
70
WALCOTT DOES WELL AGAIN: No goals for him but three assists and a lot of joy down the right flank. He deserves a lot of credit
69
RELIEF FOR ROVERS: They will be glad to see the back of Oxlade-Chamberlain - they just could not handle him
67
Substitution OFF COMES KOSCIELNY: And Sagna replaces him. Good chance to rest Laurent - he's played pretty much every game
67
Substitution DOUBLE CHANGE FOR ARSENAL: Henry comes on to a massive ovation after Oxlade-Chamberlain leaves to a massive ovation. Arsenal's past, present and future in one substitution
66
THERE GOES THE OX AGAIN: Pace, skill, attitude... Alex appears to have it all. He gets down the left again but that's a good challenge from Orr
65
WALCOTT WITH THE LOW CROSS: And it flicks up off a defender... Robinson tips it over for a corner. In it comes and Walcott lashes a shot high and wide
64
WELL DONE KOSCIELNY: It's not really about the defence today but Laurent was called upon there and sprinted back to clear the danger as Modeste went down the left
63
'HE SCORES WHEN HE WANTS!' The home fans rise to RVP and you wouldn't bet against him scoring even more today. Blackburn are in tatters
62
CLINICAL AGAIN! This time Coquelin is the creator and his low cross is expertly turned past Robinson by Van Persie
62
GOAL! - Robin van Persie 6 : 1 HAT-TRICK FOR VAN PERSIE!
60
REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match debate. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
59
AMAZING FROM THE OX! A superb run down the left from Alex, tricking one defender and then another. He floats a cross to the back post and Arteta volleys over. What a goal that would have been!
58
VERMAELEN IS OK: He hobbles off, hobbles on again, Pedersen's free kick hits the wall and on we go
57
VERMAELEN FOULS HOILETT: Pedersen will line this one up 25 yards from goal and Vermaelen is down injured. Surely not another problem for Thomas? Colin Lewin is on to administer treatment
56
FIFTH PLACE BECKONS: Arsenal will climb above Liverpool and Newcastle if they win - and fourth-place Chelsea have Manchester United on Sunday
54
ANOTHER ASSIST FOR WALCOTT: Superb run from right to left from Theo. Once again he keeps his head to pick out the Ox and he turns inside his marker before finding the bottom corner
54
GOAL! - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 5 : 1 OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN GETS ANOTHER ONE!
53
THIS COULD BE ANYTHING: Arsenal are streaming forward at every opportunity and, frankly, Blackburn can't live with them
51
FINE FINISH FROM THE SPANIARD: Van Persie delivered the corner, it was half-cleared, Koscielny got a touch but Arteta called for the ball and leathered a shot into the bottom corner
51
GOAL! - Mikel Arteta 4 : 1 ARTETA GETS IN ON THE ACT!
51
COQUELIN WITH THE CROSS: And it's turned behind for a corner - nearly an own goal in fact
50
PENALTY SHOUT! Coquelin goes down in the box but Marriner waves away the appeals
49
ORR TRIES HIS LUCK: A rare flowing move from the visitors ends with Orr curling a left-footed shot at Szczesny
48
BE PROFESSIONAL: That has to be the message to the Arsenal players. They are well in charge but they need to keep their focus and keep playing as a team. More goals in the offing if they do
47
EARLY CORNER: Walcott's cross is turned behind... Arsenal take this one short but there's an offside as the ball is returned to Oxlade-Chamberlain
46
GET YOUR E-MAILS IN: Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will take your calls after the final whistle. For now, e-mail them your thoughts on the game via www.arsenal.com/studio
Kick Off ARSENAL ATTACKING THE NORTH BANK... as they kick off this second half
45
THE PLAYERS ARE OUT: We're just waiting for the ref and then we can get started
Half Time THE REF BLOWS HIS WHISTLE... and brings an eventful half to an end. Walcott has set up two goals for Van Persie and Chamberlain's first Premier League strike has put Arsenal well in charge. Rovers were briefly in the game but Givet's red card has given them a lot to do
45
GOAL DIFFERENCE: Arsenal are two up and a man up - surely this is a day when they can rack up a big score? Goal difference might be crucial come May
45
WALCOTT ON THE CHARGE: He surges through the middle and finds Vermaelen but the move breaks down with RVP
45
NOW THE REF IS HURT: Andre Marriner takes a blow to the face and needs a breather. More stoppage time to add
45
VERMAELEN HITS THE POST! Arteta's cross is flicked on by a defender and Thomas' volley cannons off the woodwork
45
INTO STOPPAGE TIME: And we have five minutes to be added on after the subs, the injuries and that red card for Givet
45
Substitution BLACKBURN CHANGE: Off comes Dunn and on comes Grant Hanley as Steve Kean looks for damage limitation
43
TWO-FOOTED CHALLENGE: Givet went in on RVP with both feet, his studs were showing and he caught teh Arsenal skipper. RVP is OK, but Givet is off
43
Red Card IT'S GET WORSE FOR ROVERS! GIVET IS SENT OFF!
40
WONDERFUL MOVE! Rosicky goes down but RVP plays on and picks out the Ox with a supreme reverse pass. Chamberlain takes the ball past Robinson and finishes it off for his first Premier League goal
40
GOAL! - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 3 : 1 YEEESSSS! IT'S OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN!!
39
Yellow Card OLSSON IS BOOKED: That's another yellow card - it hasn't been a nasty game though
38
IT'S THE SAME COMBINATION! Song finds Walcott with a perfect pass into the penalty area and he cuts it back for Van Persie to tuck home. Order is restored!
38
GOAL! - Robin van Persie 2 : 1 ARSENAL BACK IN FRONT!!!
37
RVP GOES FOR GOAL: It's on his favoured left but the challenge comes in just as RVP lets fly. Good defending
35
Substitution OFF COMES LOWE: Bradley Orr comes on to replace him
34
MAN DOWN: Rosicky slides in on Jason Lowe. He nearly got the ball Lowe stays down and he's coming off now. Dreadful luck for the Rovers man
33
SHADES OF SUNDERLAND: Remember that one when Larsson scored a wonderful free-kick after a half of one-way traffic? Arsenal won 2-1 that day...
32
COMPLETELY AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY: Pedersen curls a beauty over the wall and, although Szczesny gets a hand to it, he can't keep it out. Rovers have been outclassed but they are level
32
GOAL! - Morten Gamst Pedersen 1 : 1 AND PEDERSEN FINDS THE TOP CORNER!
31
CHANCE FOR BLACKBURN: They have a free-kick right on the edge of the box. Petrovic and Pedersen are behind it...
30
Yellow Card KOSCIELNY GOES IN THE BOOK: He joins Nzonzi and Modeste
30
RVP GOES FOR THE CHIP! It was almost a carbon-copy of his effort against Bolton but this one floats wide. He'll get one of those right soon enough
29
CORNER TO ARSENAL: Chamberlain swings it in, Walcott gets the header in, it flicks off a defender - handball! - nothing given
28
RVP MAKES THE RUN... but Song doesn't spot it. He tries to find AOC instead but the pass is wayward
27
ONE-SIDED: Arsenal are clearly the better team. Mind you, we've seen this before. They could do with another goal or Rovers will grow in confidence
25
Yellow Card NZONZI GOES IN THE BOOK: That's a late challenge on Rosicky and a clear booking
24
SO CLOSE TO A SECOND! Mertesacker heads down and Nzonzi flicks the ball over the bar with Koscielny lurking. Strangely a goal kick is awarded
23
ROSICKY! Good try from Tomas - and that flicks off a defender and flies wide. Another corner, Mertesacker can't reach it, RVP crosses, Vermaelen wins the header, another corner!
22
CHAMBERLAIN BEATS HIS MAN: Another good run from the Ox and he wins a corner after getting past Petrovic. In it comes... and this time Petrovic heads clear
21
WALCOTT ON THE RUN: He gets into the box and cuts back for Rosicky, his shot is blocked and Arteta fires wide from the rebound
20
#ARSENALLIVE: What do you think of it so far? Have your say on Twitter using the #ArsenalLive hashtag. We'll publish a selection of your comments right here
19
FREE-KICK TO ARSENAL: Coquelin is closed down, still finds RVP and is then tripped. Arsenal take the free-kick short, Vermaelen gets down the left... and that's cleared
18
STATISTIC: RVP's goal takes him above Dennis Bergkamp in the list of all-time Arsenal scorers. Two outstanding players
17
COQUELIN OVER THE TOP: Walcott tries to run onto that lofted pass but Givet comes across and Olsson completes the clearance
16
RVP WITH THE FREE-KICK... Mertesacker gets something on it and the ball just eludes Vermaelen. Per has been more dangerous in the opposition box in recent weeks, that's for sure
15
Yellow Card HE'S FINE: Wojciech is up and running and Modeste gets a yellow card for his troubles. The ref must have thought he left his studs up
14
SZCZESNY DOWN: Wojciech collides with Anthony Modeste and he seems to have come off worse. He needs treatment so fingers crossed everyone
13
E-MAIL OUR COMMENTATORS: Dan and Kenny are waiting for your comments so send them in at www.arsenal.com/studio
13
CORNER TO ARSENAL: RVP takes it, Pedersen heads it away but Arsenal keep the ball. So far this is a very professional performance
12
THAT MUST HAVE HURT: Martin Olsson gets a Walcott cross full in the face and needs some attention
10
WELL DONE ROSICKY: Great strength to hold off his opponent after a backheel didn't quite come off. He finds Song and he picks out the Ox... but the cross is behind Walcott. Unlucky
9
FLUID FOOTBALL: Arsenal look dangerous every time they come forward with the pace of AOC and Walcott either side of RVP. Promising signs
7
STATISTICS: RVP has his 100th career league goal while Paul Robinson has now conceded 54 times against Arsenal - more than any other keeper
6
HERE COMES THE OX: Good turn to get away from his marker... he exchanges passes with Rosicky and gets a shot away but never really got hold of it. Robinson gathers
4
SONG CLIPS IT IN... and that diagonal pass eludes RVP. Good pressure from the home side with both full backs getting forward - this time Vermaelen was up for a header
3
IT'S ALL ARSENAL: The early goal has given them some much-needed confidence. Walcott is buzzing, Coquelin looks lively on the right, Arteta is pulling the strings. All is well with the world
2
SIMPLE AS YOU LIKE! Coquelin picks out Walcott inside the box and Theo composes himself before sliding the ball across goal for the skipper to tap in. He doesn't miss those and Arsenal have the perfect start
2
GOAL! - Robin van Persie 1 : 0 YEEESSSS! ARSENAL HAVE THE LEAD!!
Kick Off AND THEY'RE OFF: Rovers get us underway at the Emirates. Come on you Gunners!
HAVE YOUR SAY: Use the #ArsenalLive hashtag if you are joining the debate on Twitter
HERE THEY COME: RVP leads out the home side, Paul Robinson leads out the visitors. Long sleeves for all the players as they shake hands and prepare for the off
ARE YOU LISTENING? Kenny Sansom is alongside Dan Roebuck in the commentary box so make sure you're logged in. Send your e-mails to them via www.arsenal.com/studio
THE BIG FREEZE: Thermals, gloves, long johns, scarves, hats... you name it, the fans are wearing it. It's icy cold at the Emirates with snow expected not long after the final whistle
KOSCIELNY'S MOMENT: Laurent has just received his Player of the Month award on the pitch. He pipped RVP to the post in our January poll but it's well deserved
TWO CHANGES: So that's two changes from the side that lined up at Bolton. Ramsey and Sagna drop to the bench, Coquelin and Rosicky step up. Both played well here against Villa last weekend of course
AND THE SUBS: Fabianski, Sagna, Ramsey, Benayoun, Arshavin, Henry, Park
ARSENAL LINE-UP: Szczesny, Coquelin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Van Persie
BREAKING NEWS: The Ox is fit. I repeat, the Ox is fit
#ARSENALLIVE: That's the hashtag if you want to join the debate on Twitter. And I'm sure you will
GET IN TOUCH: E-mail our studio team via the website at www.arsenal.com/studio. And stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show with Dan and Kenny
I'm Chris Harris, your text commentator for the day, and I'll have the team news for you in a jiffy. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was due a late fitness test and we'll soon find out if he passed it
Kenny will be alongside our regular host Dan Roebuck and they'll bring you all the build-up to today's game with action, analysis and exclusive interviews. From 1pm they'll don their headphones to call the shots on our live audio commentary
There's an Arsenal legend in town and his name is Kenny Sansom. The former England left back is our studio guest and co-commentator today and you'll catch your first glimpse of him when our Matchday Show gets underway at 12.35pm (UK time)
Hello and a very warm welcome to Arsenal Player. It's Arsenal v Blackburn, it's the Premier League and it's all coming your way
01 SZCZESNY, Wojciech
22 COQUELIN, Francis
04 MERTESACKER, Per
06 KOSCIELNY, Laurent
03 SAGNA, Bacary (67)
05 VERMAELEN, Thomas
25 SONG, Alex
30 BENAYOUN, Yossi (72)
08 ARTETA, Mikel
07 ROSICKY, Tomas
14 WALCOTT, Theo
15 OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN, Alex
12 HENRY, Thierry (67)
20 VAN PERSIE, Robin
21 FABIANSKI, LUKASZ
03 SAGNA, BACARY
30 BENAYOUN, YOSSI
16 RAMSEY, AARON
23 ARSHAVIN, ANDREY
30 PARK, JU-YOUNG
12 HENRY, THIERRY
01 ROBINSON, Paul
06 LOWE, Jason
02 ORR, Bradley (35)
05 GIVET, Gael
16 DANN, Scott
03 OLSSON, Martin
HOILETT, Junior
15 NZONZI, Steven
11 PETROVIC, Radosav
08 DUNN, David
31 HANLEY, Grant (45)
12 GAMST PEDERSEN, Morten
09 MODESTE, Anthony
28 BUNN, MARK
02 ORR, BRADLEY
31 HANLEY, GRANT
23 ROCHINA, RUBEN
33 VUKCEVIC, SIMON
09 GOODWILLIE, DAVID
10 FORMICA , MAURO
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
They've taken their feet off the pedal now, Arsenal. They say you should play to the final minute but it's hard when you're winning like this.