体坛英语新闻：Three-generation "Gunners" rout Blackburn 7-1

LONDON, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Arsenal's generation connecting stars Robin van Persie, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Thierry Henry all scored to steer Gunners to their first Premier League win of the year by routing relegation-threatened Blackburn 7-1 on Saturday.

The current skipper's hat-trick, the promising talent's brace, the former king's final shot and also contribution from Mikel Arteta propelled the gunners back to the fifth by surpassing Newcastle with one point advantage.

The leading Manchester City regained three point lead with a 3- 0 home victory over Fulham. The second to fourth places are ranked with Man. United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and seventh-placed Liverpool will start this round campaign by facing each other in the following two days.

Despite forecasts for snow and severe weather in London, Arsenal warmed the 59,643 attending Emirates Stadim just after 82 seconds when captain Van Persie opened the scoring as he usually did for his side with a tap-in.

Norwegian midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen's freekick in the 31th minute levelled the score but the visitor could have never imagined that it was their only comfort in a dreadful afternoon.

The Arsenal skipper only needed seven minutes to net his second. And the promising star Chamberlain made it 3-1 in the 40th minute with his debut league goal before Blackburn's Gael Givet was sent off in the first half.

After the restart, the host's goal relays continued when the holding midfielder Arteta struck to make it 4-1 before Chamberlain, Van Persie and Henry showed no mercy to seal the emphatic victory.

In a game halted twice by heavy snow, Man. City didn't lose their way as Sergio Aguero's 10-minute penalty, Chris Baird's own goal and Edin Dzeko's final shot saw off Fulham, maintaining their 100 percent home record this season.