Andrey Arshavin scored a stunning goal as Arsenal moved up to fourth with a 4-0 win over Blackburn.
Eboue also nets twice in 4-0 victory
Andrey Arshavin scored a stunning goal as Arsenal boosted their UEFA Champions League hopes with an impressive 4-0 victory over Blackburn.
Arsenal's previous three Premier League games at Emirates Stadium had ended goalless but they were in front inside two minutes as Theo Walcott crossed towards Arshavin in the centre and the ball ricocheted over the line off two Blackburn defenders, Andre Ooijer appearing to get the last touch.
The Gunners came close to extending their advantage before half-time as Samir Nasri hit the crossbar with a free-kick, but Blackburn looked dangerous in attack and Manuel Almunia was called into action a number of times.
Arsenal raised the tempo at the start of the second period and moved 2-0 ahead thanks to a fine solo effort from Arshavin in the 65th minute, with the Russian jinking past Danny Simpson before crashing a powerful shot into the roof of the net from an acute angle.
Emmanuel Eboue then made it 3-0 in the 87th minute after Paul Robinson had parried Arshavin's shot, and the Ivory Coast international added a fourth from the penalty spot following a foul by Martin Olsson on substitute Carlos Vela.
Breakthrough
Arsenal took inside two minutes to open their account for the afternoon, Arshavin trying, perhaps unsuccessfully, to claim his first strike for the club.
Nicklas Bendtner started things off from a deep position, neatly turning Morten Gamst Pedersen before rolling a defence-splitting pass to Walcott on the right.
Walcott raced to the byline and cut the ball into the six-yard box where both Alexandre Song and Arshavin were waiting at the near post.
It was the Russian who got the first touch but a heavy deflection off Ooijer means it was surely an own goal.
El-Hadji Diouf, booked for lunging at Almunia, looked Rovers' most likely creator, twice finding space behind the attacking Bacary Sagna but lacking support in the final third.
There was a change after 13 minutes, Gael Givet giving way to David Dunn and Warnock dropping from midfield to left-back to make room.
But the shift in personnel did not bring Blackburn's defence to life, with Bendtner handed far too much room to test Robinson from 20 yards.
Warnock himself was lucky to avoid censure when he barged the sprightly Walcott to the turf a yard outside the penalty box after he was released by Arshavin.
With half an hour gone, the Gunners on the attack again, Arshavin and Walcott dovetailing wonderfully to free Sagna on the overlap.
His cross found Bendtner at the far post but, after a moment of hesitation in the Blackburn defence, the danger was cleared.
With 10 minutes to play before the break Samir Nasri almost made it two, rattling the woodwork with a vicious free-kick.
The Frenchman went close again seconds later, striking a bouncing ball first time from eight yards and forcing an unconvincing save from Robinson.
Speed
Pedersen had a half chance to equalise with the last move of the first period but with two defenders and Almunia bearing down on him, he lost his footing at the key moment.
After the interval, the hosts came out in inspired form and Walcott, once more, was the key.
First he outpaced Warnock only a minute after the restart, getting himself into space but then dragging his shot well wide, then he handed Bendtner the simplest of scoring chances.
Speed was again the key, allowing the winger to
