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Thierry Henry (left) and Robin van Persie were both on the scoresheet as Arsenal beat Blackburn 7-1.

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London – Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Arsenal crushed a woeful Blackburn Rovers 7-1 to chalk up their first league victory of 2012 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Thierry Henry, Arsenal's all-time record marksman, scored his first League goal since he returned to the club on loan last month, completing the rout with virtually the last kick of the game after replacing teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after 68 minutes.

While Henry took his club tally to 228 goals, Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first two Premier League goals and Mikel Arteta added the other as Arsene Wenger's men racked up their biggest win of the season and climbed from seventh to fifth in the standings, 14 points adrift of League leaders Manchester City.

Blackburn, who had Gael Givet sent off for a foul on Van Persie just before halftime, sunk to 19th place, one off the bottom.

City were in action later on Saturday with a home match on a freezing night against Fulham.

None of the other afternoon matches had any bearing on the top of the table but Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who started the day in the bottom two places, both avoided defeat with Wolves climbing out of the relegation zone.

Wigan stayed bottom but drew 1-1 at home with Everton while Wolves came from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Loftus Road.

Rangers went ahead with a 16th minute debut goal from Bobby Zamora following his mid-week move from Fulham, but Djibril Cisse was sent off on his home debut after 34 minutes for grabbing Wolves defender Roger Johnson round the throat. Wolves won with goals from Matt Jarvis and substitute Kevin Doyle.

In the other games Norwich City sent Bolton Wanderers back into the relegation zone after beating them 2-0 at Carrow Road, while Swansea City came from behind to win 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion.

With 24 matches played, West Brom are 15th on 26 points, five clear of QPR and Wolves who both have 21. Bolton are 18th with 20 points, Blackburn are 19th with 18 and Wigan are bottom with 16.

Sunderland continued their revival under new manager Martin O'Neill with a 1-0 win at snowy Stoke City who had Robert Huth sent off in the first half. James McClean scored Sunderland's winner after 60 minutes. – Reuters