Today in history: Arsenal thrash Blackburn Rovers in 8-goal thriller

On 4th February, 2012, Robin van Persie hit a hat-trick and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored twice as Arsenal ended a four-match winless run in the Barclays Premier League in emphatic style against Blackburn Rovers.

Arsenal went ahead after van Persie's goal inside two minutes, when he tucked in Theo Walcott's cross from the right.

Morten Gamst Pedersen levelled with a free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards, but on 38 minutes Arsenal to restore their lead.

Walcott again the provider from the right for van Persie, this time at the near post to receive his pass. Two minutes later it was 3-1 as van Persie played a reverse pass to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who ounded goalkeeper Paul Robinson and scored his first BPL goal.

Shortly afterwards, Rovers' task was made tougher when defender Gael Givet was shown a straight red card for a foul on van Persie.

Soon after Gael Givet was sent off for Rovers, Arsenal scored twice in five minutes after half-time. First Mikel Arteta made it 4-1 with a shot from the edge of the area and then Oxlade-Chamberlain got his second after a powerful run by Walcott.

Van Persie completed his second hat-trick of the season in the 62nd minute when he knocked a Francis Coquelin cross past Robinson. In the third minute of stoppage-time a shot from substitute Thierry Henry deflected off Blackburn defender Scott Dann and into the net to complete the rout.

Van Persie finished the season as the BPL's leading scorer with 30 goals as the Gunners finished third. Blackburn were relegated in 19th.