EMMANUEL Adebayor hit a hat-trick as Arsenal inflicted a 4-0 defeat on Rovers at Ewood Park.

It had started badly for the home side when Robin van Persie opened the scoring for the Gunners after just eight minutes, taking the ball in his stride fire home after Theo Walcott had beaten three men with a jinking run.

Rovers almost hit back straight away but Kolo Toure's head deflected Roque Santa Cruz's goalbound effort over the crossbar.

The first half was an end-to-end affair with both sides creating chances, Emerton, Roberts and Andrews all going close, but right on the stroke of half-time a Denilson cross from the left found Adebayor in far too much space at the back post to head down and double Arsenal's lead.

Whilst the first half was a close affair, the second was very much one way traffic as Arsene Wenger's side showed their class in controlling proceedings, but it wasn't until the 82 minute that a third was added, Adebayor driving home from the penalty spot after Warnock was harshly adjudged to have brought down Eboue.

And the last act of the game was for Adebayor to complete his hat-trick, rounding Paul Robinson to slide the ball into the empty net. The loss means back-to-back defeat for Rovers, and perhaps of more concern for manager Paul Ince is the number of goals shipped in the last two games.

Ahead of the game Paul Ince made two changes from the side that had started at Upton Park a fortnight earlier, and both changes meant Premier League home debuts. With Andre Ooijer and Vince Grella picking up knocks whilst on international duty, it meant a first Premier League start for Danny Simpson at right back, and a home debut for midfielder Keith Andrews.

But it was one of the longest serving members of the Rovers squad who went close after just three minutes when Brett Emerton got the better of Gael Clichy on the right to latch onto Stephen Warnock's crossfield pass, the Australian drilled the ball hard and low across the six-yard box but Jason Roberts couldn't connect. as he slid in at the back post.

However that early promise soon evaporated when the visitors took the lead with their first attack of the match. It was Theo Walcott, the star for England in midweek, who made the goal, playing on the left he skipped past the challenges of Simpson, Andrews and Steven Reid before threading the ball through to Robin van Persie. The Dutchman is no stranger to getting on the scoresheet against Rovers and that proved to be the case again as he got the better of Nelsen to drive the ball across Paul Robinson and into the corner of the net to give the Gunners an eighth minute lead.

The home side almost hit back straight away, Emerton with an excellent centre for Pedersen, the ball ran loose to Roque Santa Cruz who steered the ball left-footed towards goal but Kolo Toure got his head in the way of the effort to divert the ball over the bar.

But it was from Rovers' corner kick that Arsenal almost doubled their lead, Stephen Warnock being caught in possession by Emmanuel Eboue to allow Adebayor to run clear, he in turn found Walcott but this time his shooting prowess eluded him, the England man curling a right-footed effort wide.

The game continued to ebb and flow, Roque Santa Cruz put a header wide following Emerton's centre, whilst a quick counter attack saw Warnock cross to the far post but Emerton couldn't divert the ball into the net.

But as the half wore on Arsene Wenger's side started to take control of the game once more, Eboue finding van Persie on the right but his low strike only found the side netting.

Then it was Rovers' turn to enjoy a spell of chances, a Santa Cruz flick saw Jason Roberts tee up Brett Emerton but Almunia easily saved his effort, then from a corner kick Steven Reid didn't get a clean connection on his free header.

But the chance of the half for Rovers came on 39 minutes. An passing move that Arsenal would have been proud of saw Roberts feed Emerton on the right, again he drilled the ball hard and low into the six-yard box but Keith Andrews was mere inches away from connecting as he slid in.

Van Persie and Santa Cruz both had efforts off target but the final attack of the half proved to be decisive. Denilson did well on the left to send over a deep cross where Emmanuel Adebayor needed no second invitation as he rose high to head down and past Robinson at the back post.

Rovers certainly had the chances in the first half, but goals at the beginning and the end of the first 45 meant a mountain to climb.

And so it proved to be as the home side never created as many goalscoring opportunities in the second period as Arsenal dominated for long spells.

Just a minute after the restart a flying Theo Walcott evaded the challenge of Ryan Nelsen to race in on goal but his near post shot was well saved by Paul Robinson.

The visitors continued to impress, toying with the Rovers players with their movement and swift attacks, Paul Ince's men just about hanging on at times.

Just before the hour mark Paul Robinson made two excellent saves to keep the Gunners at bay, firstly he denied Kolo Toure from point-blank range after a corner kick had hit the Arsenal defender. The from the resulting corner the ball arrived at the feet of Emmanuel Eboue who drove towards goal only for a flying Paul Robinson to dive to his left to tip the ball around the post.

That Arsenal pressure prompted a double change from the home manager on 69 minutes with Keith Treacy and Benni McCarthy coming on for Morten Gamst Pedersen and Jason Roberts, but it was at the other end where the danger continued and a lot was of Rovers' own making, a Samba back header was woefully short but he redeemed himself by getting to the second ball to head back to Robinson. But a minute later Samba only found Adebayor with a header, this time Ryan Nelsen had to rescue the defender with a last ditch clearance.

Eight minutes from time the visitors were awarded a penalty when Eboue went down in the area under a challenge from Stephen Warnock. The Arsenal midfielder's trailing leg had clipped Warnock's boot, but Mike Dean pointed to the spot despite the linesman on the nearside having a better view but he chose to make no decision.

Emmanuel Adebayor stepped up to drive the ball home to make it 3-0 to the visitors, Robinson nearly got his hand to it but the shot to the 'keeper's left just had too much power.

With the game wrapped up, Arsenal relaxed but goalkeeper Manuel Almunia had to be alert to make the save of the game when Santa Cruz nodded down for sub Benni McCarthy. The South African hit a sweet effort that seemed to be arrowing into the bottom corner of the net until the Spaniard dived full-length to tip the ball around the post.

But the last action of the game was left to the visitors and when sub Aaron Ramsey found Adebayor with a defence-splitting pass, it left him one-on-one with Paul Robinson, but whilst the Rovers number one did well to get a hand on the ball as the Arsenal man looked to take the ball round Robinson, Adebayor was able to get to the loose ball first to slide the ball home.

Paul Ince will be glad that there isn't another international break for another month, but with back-to-back defeats and conceding four goals in each of them, there is plenty to ponder ahead of the visit of Fulham at Ewood next Saturday.

ROVERS: Robinson, Simpson (sub Derbyshire 74 mins), Samba, Nelsen (c), Warnock, Emerton, Reid, Andrews, Pedersen (sub Treacy 69 mins), Santa Cruz, Roberts (sub McCarthy 69 mins).

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Tugay, Mokoena, Villanueva.

ARSENAL: Almunia, Sagna, Fabregas, Toure, Gallas (c), van Persie (sub Wilshere 84 mins), Walcott (sub Song 64 mins), Denilson, Clichy, Adebayor, Eboue (sub Ramsey 82 mins).

Subs not used: Fabianski (GK), Djourou, Bendtner, Gibbs.

Booked: Denilson (Arsenal)

Attendance: 23,041