CESC FABREGAS put on a masterclass as Arsenal ripped Blackburn to shreds at the Emirates.
The 22-year-old Spaniard teed up four classic goals and flashed home a volley in the Gunners' exhilarating victory
Thomas Vermaelen, Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin drilled clinical first-half strikes — despite Rovers twice leading through Steven Nzonzi's fourth-minute opener and David Dunn's deflected goal.
Fabregas later notched a 20-yard special worthy of his all-round excellence.
Fit-again Theo Walcott hit Arsenal's fifth before substitute Nicklas Bendtner rammed in the pick of the goals.
And that completed arguably the best attacking display seen in the Premier League this season.
Yet Rovers' early breakthrough was a defensive disaster for the Gunners.
Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson hoisted forward what looked like a routine high ball.
But Nzonzi outjumped Thomas Vermaelen for a header that looped in over the poorly-positioned Vito Mannone.
The Gunners, though, needed little time to recover and their equaliser on 17 minutes was just reward for their fluent raids.
Centre-back Vermaelen ploughed through a challenge in the centre of the park, enabling Abou Diaby and Fabregas to work the ball to within 25 yards of the Rovers goal.
Fabregas nudged it sideways and Vermaelen took one touch to set himself up for the fiercest of left-footers low inside the post.
The increasingly-busy Robinson conjured a superb one-handed save to deny Arsenal's main inspiration, Fabregas.
But El Hadji Diouf's long clearance sparked a shock second goal for Rovers on the half-hour.
Keith Andrews picked up the striker's hopeful pass and released Dunn, who cut in for a firm shot that ricocheted in off William Gallas.
But just three minutes later, Fabregas' exquisite through ball freed Robin Van Persie for a two-touch finish of typical precision.
And Arshavin completed an incredible seven-minute spell of three goals by slamming home another classy Fabregas pass.
The Spanish midfielder was thwarted before the break by Robinson's fine stop and Pascal Chimbonda's block from the rebound.
But Rovers remained menacing on their rare forrays forward.
And key man Dunn was denied a penalty when Vermaelen went unpunished for a clear trip a yard inside a crowded area.
So Fabregas' brilliant goal on 57 minutes was particularly tough to take for Rovers' terriers.
The Gunners' playmaker let a loose ball bounce before lashing it into the near top corner from 20 yards.
Mannone then kept out the impressive Dunn's low drive.
But mostly it was a question of whether Arsenal's confident forays would bring further goals.
And, though Rovers sub David Hoilett volleyed against a post, Walcott rounded off a pitch-length move started by Fabregas to clip home on 75 minutes.
Substitutes Walcott and Bendtner almost grabbed the home side's sixth.
And the Danish striker finally achieved that, darting into space outside the area to send a curving arrow into the far corner.
Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Rosicky, van Persie, Arshavin. Subs: Szczesny, Walcott, Ramsey, Silvestre, Eboue, Gibbs, Bendtner.
Blackburn: Robinson, Jacobsen, Givet, Chimbonda, Olsson, Emerton, Andrews, Nzonzi, Diouf, Dunn, Di Santo. Subs: Brown, McCarthy, Pedersen, Kalinic, Hoilett, Salgado, Jones.
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
