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Arsenal 7 Blackburn Rovers 1: Wenger says he will be content with single-goal triumph next
Arsene Wenger challenged his Arsenal side to find consistency again after romping to a first league win of 2012 as they thrashed 10-man Blackburn at Emirates Stadium.
Robin van Persie plundered a hat-trick – his opening goal coming after just 79 seconds – as the Gunners shrugged off their recent frustrations to close back to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea.
Wenger, however, insisted he never reads much into big results, demanding instead his team just produce another winning display when they head to in-form Sunderland next weekend.
“We need consistency,” the Arsenal manager said. “Strangely I don’t feel we played very badly at Fulham, nor at Swansea, nor against Manchester United, but every time we just couldn’t get the result and in the end it affects your belief.
“It was important to the confidence of the side that we won a game and get three points.
“This will help us slowly to believe again that we could win – to win 1-0 at Sunderland would be fantastic and that is what we have to prepare for, to produce a good performance.”
Blackburn had levelled with their first meaningful opening on 31 minutes when Morten Gamst Pedersen fired a curling 22-yard free-kick into the top corner.
However, Arsenal were soon back in front when van Persie tapped in from close range following another penetrating run by Theo Walcott.
The Gunners captain swiftly set up Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to extend the lead five minutes before the break, with Rovers defender Gael Givet then being shown a straight red card by referee Andre Marriner for a two-footed challenge on the Dutchman.
From then on in, it was always set to be a case of damage limitation for the visitors.
Mikel Arteta made it 4-1 at the start of the second half, and Oxlade-Chamberlain slotted in No 5 on 53 minutes before van Persie completed his hat-trick when clipping home his 28th goal of the campaign just after the hour.
The final word went to substitute Thierry Henry when the on-loan New York Red Bulls striker netted in stoppage time to extend his own club goalscoring record.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s rising profile has led to calls he should be fast tracked into the senior England squad ahead of this summer’s European Championship.
The teenager, however, is taking things one step at a time.
“I am focusing on Arsenal at the moment, and am in the Under-21 squad,” he said.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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