Van Persie nets hat-trick as Arsenal hammer Blackburn 7-1

Feb 4, 2012, 15:07 GMT

London - Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Arsenal romped to a 7-1 triumph over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday to climb to fifth in the Premier League.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored twice and Michael Arteta once while Thierry Henry completed the scoring with his first league goal since his return to the club last month.

Gael Givet was sent off just before half-time for a two-footed challenge and Blackburn dropped to second-bottom in the table on goal difference.

Van Persie put Arsenal in front on two minutes but Morten Gamst Pedersen equalized before Van Persie and Oxlade-Chamberlain increased the home side's lead.

Givet was then sent off three minutes before the break and in the second half, Arteta scored Arsenal's fourth and Van Persie took his total for the season to 28, 22 of them in the league.

Oxlade-Chamberlain and Henry put the icing on the cake with the sixth and seventh goals.

Later on Saturday, Manchester City can go three points clear of Manchester United at the top if they beat Fulham. Champions United take on Chelsea on Sunday.