1 - 0 Robin van Persie 2'
1 - 1 Morten Gamst Pedersen 30'
2 - 1 Robin van Persie 38'
3 - 1 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 40'
Gael Givet, Red Card 43'
4 - 1 Mikel Arteta, 50'
5 - 1 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 53'
6 - 1 Robin van Persie 62'
7 - 1 Thierry Henry 93'

Arsenal came into the match today under a lot of pressure to win in order to stay within touching distance of fourth place. They would not disappoint, always dominant, even after a Pedersen free kick would equalize for Blackburn on a half hour in a familiar scenario for the Gunners. Robin van Persie would score a hat trick, Thierry Henry scored his first league goal for the club since 2007, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had a pair for his first two Premier League goals in his career.

Yeah; it was a pretty good day. Come with us after the jump for how the action went down.

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Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers
The John Jensen Mercantile Trophy
KO: Saturday, 4 February, 2012 at 8:00 AM ET
Emirates Stadium, Landaan Borough of Islington, Norf London Is Ours
TV: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Arsenal. Blackburn. Feel free to comment on all the action below. No links to illegal streams, please, in the comments.

Here are the lineups:

Aresnal: Szczesny, Coquelin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Van Persie.r

(Walcott maybe needs a break; Ramsey finally gets one, as Rosicky starts).

(Also: oxoxoxoxoxox)

Subs: Fabianski, Sagna, Ramsey, Benayoun, Arshavin, Henry, Park.

Blackburn: Robinson, Dann, Givet, Olsson, Lowe, Nzonzi, Petrovic, Pedersen, Hoilett, Modeste, Dunn.

UP THE GUNNERS

Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers
The John Jensen Mercantile Trophy
KO: Saturday, 4 February, 2012 at 8:00 AM ET
Emirates Stadium, Landaan Borough of Islington, Norf London Is Ours
TV: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Arsene Wenger said on Wednesday evening that every league game is a cup final from now on, and he couldn't have been more right. On Saturday afternoon, Arsenal can end their 7 year trophy drought by winning the inaugural John Jensen Mercantile Trophy if they beat Blackburn Rovers. Given Arsenal's recent record, both in league play and Cup finals, though, a victory will be no sure thing.

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Arsenal were unable to gain points on Chelsea and have now dropped 13 out of their last 18 points, falling back into 7th place behind Newcastle and Liverpool, neither of whom have been very good recently. Oh, and Arsenal drew with Bolton, who had conceded 25 goals in 11 games at home, winning 2 and drawing 1. Well done to all concerned!

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Bolton Wanderers vs. Arsenal not wanderers
English Premier League Round 23
Kickoff: 3 PM EST, Wednesday, February 1
Reebok Stadium, Horwich, Bolton, UK, Urf
Televisual coverage: Fox Soccer Channel
Form: Bolton DLWWW | Arsenal LWLLW
SBN Bolton Perspective: Lion of Vienna Suite

Arsenal kick off against Bolton up in the cold, grey Northwest tomorrow, and appear to be catching the Wanderers at a not-great time, as Bolton have risen from the grave to mash Macclesfield, lash Liverpool, and swat Swansea City in their most recent three matches. Hopefully they don't decide to, uh...arse Arsenal in their fourth.

Join me after the jump, and we'll see what sense we can make of all this.

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0 - 1 Antonio Valencia 45+1'
1 - 1 Robin van Persie 71'
1 - 2 Danny Welbeck 80'

Arsenal lost to Manchester United today in a match that had periods of ascendancy for both clubs, but more chances for United, and those taken better, made the difference in the end. The defeat for Arsenal means they fail to make up ground on Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle, and they have nobody but themselves to blame for a sub-par performance all around yet again. Here's how it went down:

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a surprise inclusion in the front four for Arsenal, and Thomas Vermaelen returned at left back. Arsenal had the better of the first two minutes, Chamberlain breaking down the left and trying to find Robin van Persie in the six-yard box to no avail. Both sides enjoyed spells of possession before Chamberlain fired in a cross from the right that Anders Lindegaard claimed easily. Aaron Ramsey had a pop from 20 yards on eight minutes, but Lindegaard saved easily. Arsenal were really bossing possession, but aside from a couple of long chances, had generated little final threat.

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Arsenal vs. Manchester United
Emirates Stadium, Norf Lahndon, UK
Kickoff: 11 AM EST
It's on FOX. Regular, plain ol' Fox. Yep!
SBN Manchester United coverage: The Busby Babe

Here we go.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Ramsey, Song, Rosicky, Walcott, Van Persie, Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Subs: Almunia, Park, Squillaci, Arshavin, Benayoun, Miquel, Yennaris.

Manchester United: Lindegaard, Jones, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Giggs, Valencia, Carrick, Nani, Welbeck, Rooney.

Subs: De Gea, Berbatov, Park, Hernandez, Fabio Da Silva, Rafael Da Silva, Scholes.

COME ON ARSENAL

Keep it clean, folks; as Canis Hoopus puts it, be excellent to one another.