[Archived] News Article -> 2011/12 Half-Time: Arsenal 3 Blackburn Rovers 1

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Rovers look dead and buried at half-time following an opening period that the home side has dominated. Arsenal have constantly looked threatening going forward and have been camped in the opposition half for the majority of the match, with Rovers' misery being compounded by the sending off of Givet.

Arsenal took the lead only 80 seconds into the match when Van Persie latched on to Walcott's pass after Rovers had failed to properly clear the initial cross. The move was all-too-simple for Arsenal and provided an early indication of how the half was to progress. Rovers struggled to get any time on the ball and Arsenal continued to push forward, but it was the away side that got back on level terms after Modeste was fouled on the edge of the box. Pedersen stepped up to take the free-kick and curled a beautiful effort into the top corner.

That goal seemed to encourage the Rovers players, but only minutes later Arsenal retook the lead when Walcott once again got in behind Olsson and the winger was left with the simple task of squaring the ball to Van Persie for the Dutchman to tap in. Arsenal soon doubled their lead when Chamberlain latched on to a Van Persie pass and the winger calmly rounded Robinson and slid the ball into the net. The move once again saw a Rovers full-back beaten by a fairly simple pass, with this time the culprit being new signing Orr, who had come on for the injured Lowe.

Things went from bad to worse for Rovers when Givet's reckless two-footed tackle on Van Persie saw the defender receive his marching orders. Arsenal nearly added to their lead on the stroke of half-time when Vermaelen hit the post after a cross had somehow made its way through a mass of bodies.

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