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Picture Adebayor celebrates at Ewood Park.

ADEBAYOR PUTS GUNNERS FIRST

By Ken Gaunt, PA Sport

Prem 2008/09 Win Outright: Arsenal 6/1
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Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor insists he is more concerned about the team being successful than personal glory.

The Togo international ended his early-season famine in the Premier League with a splendid hat-trick at Ewood Park as the Gunners beat Blackburn 4-0.

With Robin van Persie also finding the target it was just the boost Arsenal needed ahead of the Champions League match against Dinamo Kiev on Wednesday in Ukraine.

Adebayor said: "People kept asking me when I was going to score my first goal in the league this season.

"But I told them it is more important that the team wins. We showed good character at Blackburn and that will help our confidence."

While manager Arsene Wenger is looking forward to returning to Europe he also anticipates an exciting battle for domestic supremacy.

Liverpool stated their ambition by overcoming Manchester United, champions the last two seasons, while Chelsea maintained their excellent form by beating Manchester City.

Wenger said: "It is always interesting at the top of the table and these results show that this promises to be a very interesting Premier League again."

Arsenal are scoring goals for fun - 11 in their last three games - and Theo Walcott is growing in stature under the Frenchman's guidance.

After scoring a superb hat-trick for England in midweek, the 19-year-old set up the opener for Van Persie in the eighth minute and played with growing confidence.

Adebayor added a second before the break with a free header, then scored from the penalty spot with nine minutes remaining.

He rounded off an emphatic victory with a cool finish in stoppage-time to complete a miserable day for Blackburn.

Wenger said: "We try always to play our way and slowly we are getting there.

"We started our training late because of the amount of players away at the European Championships.

"We are growing now and scored four goals against FC Twente, three against Newcastle and four again at Blackburn, all without conceding. Despite our youth we looked mature."

Wenger will assess the fitness of Emmanuel Eboue and Gael Clichy today after they both took knocks yesterday while Samir Nasri remains doubtful for the match against Kiev because of an ankle injury.

Wenger added: "It is another big game on Wednesday and in the Champions League it is important to start well.

"We are in a tough group and Kiev are experienced as well as being a strong side at home.

"This victory, however, will give us confidence as we know we will have to put in a similar performance next week."

Blackburn manager Paul Ince admitted his priority is to sort out conceding sloppy goals after a second successive defeat.

He said: "We know we have to got to defend better as a unit not just the back five.

"I feel sorry for (goalkeeper) Paul Robinson as he has not done anything wrong but conceded eight goals in two games.

"The goal just before half-time killed us. We lost concentration, it was suicidal defending.

"Even though we are playing well and creating chances, we have got to look at our defensive work."

Meanwhile Holland defender Andre Ooijer is expected to be out for two to three weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in midweek while on international duty.

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