Rovers took a shock lead on three minutes through a penalty from Shabani Nonda, but Gilberto levelled for the Gunners and they led at half-time through Alexander Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor's spot-kick.

Another for Nonda with 20 minutes left looked to have set up a nervous finish - but Robin van Persie wrapped things up with a late double before substitute Mathieu Flamini completed the rout in stoppage time.

Arsenal looked nervous at the back, with Lehmann turning Pedersen's snapshot over with nine minutes left as his defence failed to clear.

Van Persie could have made the game safe - but side-footed over from Adebayor's cut-back on the right goalline.

The Dutchman then did wrap things up, turning Bentley inside out on the right of the area before dispatching a low strike into the far corner on 85 minutes.

Adebayor and Fabregas then combined to set up van Persie for a fifth, before substitute Mathieu Flamini swept in a sixth in stoppage time.