Eboue 21

                                                                                                                                               Van Persie 76

Arsenal kept their EPL title hopes alive with this curate’s egg of a performance against struggling Blackpool.

They could have been four-up after 45 minutes, as they cut through Blackpool at will.

But the Tangerines nearly grabbed a stoppage-time goal, scored after the break and had Arsenal in disarray before the visitors regained their composure and added a third clinching goal.

Abou Diaby finished Robin Van Persie’s left-wing cross from six yards to give Arsenal an 18^th-minute lead. And three minutes later, Emanuel Eboue doubled their advantage with a rasping left-foot drive after a one-two with Jack Wilshere.

Samir Nasri and Robin Van Persie both brought fine saves from Blackpool keeper Richard Kingson, and Nasri hit the post as Arsenal poured forward.

But 41-year-old late replacement keeper Jens Lehmann saved from DJ Campbell before the break and only avoided dismissed for a 52^nd-minute lunge on Campbell because the loose ball was swept home by Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

Taylor-Fletcher was denied a penalty moments later after being upended by Laurent Koscielny. And Keith Southern missed a glorious headed opportunity on 56 minutes.

But Arsenal hit a breakaway third goal when substitute Theo Walcott’s run and square ball gave Van Persie a 76^th-minute tap-in.