'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
That’s our first rout of the season. The first of which we won and not the other way around. You can count the Chelsea game as one but then it was not as one sided as this was. Blackburn tormented us the last time we met and this was sweet revenge being exacted. All the anxiety, fears and worry of the poor form running to this game was thrown out the window by the second minute of the game.
Francis Coquelin who started at right back, slipped Theo Walcott in between 2 Blackburn defenders. The low cross drilled to the far post was perfect for Robin Van Persie to tap in. For someone who is deemed to be lacking in the footballing brain department, that was brilliant from Walcott to detect the move from RvP. The second goal was in similar fashion but this time it was Alex Song who slipped Walcott through. The pull back was the choice this time, the same final two combination.
However, it must not be overlooked that those 2 goals sandwiched a 38 minutes period of the game where we looked nervous. After the first goal was scored, we were in the ascendency but we didn’t took advantage of it. Ball possession was almost exclusive to those in red and white but the penetration wasn’t there. The only time Blackburn went forward, they scored. Modeste earned a foul from Laurent Koscielny on the edge of the box and Morten Gamst Pedersen scored from it. It was a well taken shot to the top corner but Wojciech Szczesny will be disappointed that he got his hand to it and still didn’t prevent it from going in.
There fear at that point was how familiar the feeling was. That we’ve taken control of the game by scoring early but didn’t exert more influence on the game and we allowed the opposition back into the game. However, that goal was the only decent move that Blackburn could muster. There was another Szczesny incident late on where he ran to the edge of his box to punch the ball and missed it completely. Luckily for us, the offside flag was raised.
By the time the second goal went it, it was all us. The third goal quickly followed suit just 2 minute after the second and it was the first Premier League goal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. RvP turned provider and slipped in the most wonderful of reverse pass for AOC to run on to. It needed a good first touch to control the ball but that was never a problem for AOC. He rounded Paul Robinson and easily slots home.
3-1 up at half time after the scare in the middle part of the game, we were cruising at that time. We were also helped by the fact that Gael Givet decided that wanted no part of this game any more when he lunged in two-footed at RvP. It was a straight red for Givet but luckily for us, RvP tried to evade at the last moment and probably why he escaped without any injuries. Any thoughts on RvP being a fragile player must slowly be eroding now, as the Dutchman keeps getting up after each clash/challenges. Givet apologised to Arsene Wenger on the way into the tunnel and that was good to see.
We started the second half the same manner we did towards the end of the first half. Within 10 minutes, we added another 2 more goals. First, Mikel Arteta made it 2 goals against Blackburn in 2 appearances when he slammed home the clearance from our corner kick. Then Walcott produced another moment of brilliance as he went on a mazy run and had the vision to see AOC in yards of space. From then on, the could only be one outcome.
RvP got his hattrick as the impressive Coquelin drove in from the flank and delivered a good cross into the box. Right before the end, even Thierry Henry got on the score sheet. 2 goals so far in this loan stint. If we take solely on the basis of the agreement we had with New York Red Bulls in the first place, this was to be his last home appearance. While I’m still skeptical over his presence in the team, it was nonetheless good to see him end on that note.
The big scoreline was great. It wiped out the goal difference we had from that defeat at Old Trafford but big scorelines are never indication of much. It’s more about one side coming good with their game and the other side going the other direction. The big win was also good because it allowed the manager the chance to rest some overworked bodies. Aaron Ramsey was rested right from the start and the score meant that he didn’t have to come on to help save the game. A complete rest will do his body wonders.
Then there’s Koscielny and Song. Both were hauled off around the 70th minute mark. Both have played an awful lot of games recently and both will stand to gain by having played 20 minutes less. Over the course of this season because of how tight the games have been, we’ve been unable to rest players towards the end of games like we did for this Blackburn one. Shows just how crucial it could be to win the game early.
Irregardless of what happened in the season thus far or where you see us ending up by May. If you cannot savour this match for what it is, then it must be hard being a fan. I’m not saying completely overlooked our shortcomings but it’s a nice big juicy win. Let’s enjoy this moment for a few more days, shall we. 
