By any standards it has been an extraordinary summer of transfers involving forwards switching clubs. Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov have abandoned North London for the North West, while even Robinho has found his way on to the Barclays Premier League stage.

But while Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City have been spending lavish sums to bolster their scoring options, Arsène Wenger has opted to stay faithful to his forwards, despite last season’s lack of silverware. Yet there are promising signs that the Arsenal manager’s loyalty and patience could be rewarded if Emmanuel Adebayor’s explosive performance at Ewood Park on Saturday is anything to go by. Adebayor angered Arsenal with his refusal to rule out a move away from the club for much of the close season, but any lingering bitterness towards the Togo player has vanished after his third league hat-trick inside a year inspired an easy win.

Adebayor scored 24 times in the league last season, but Wenger is determined that his goals will count for something this term. “It is important to use them to win something, but the team last season did not get enough credit,” the Arsenal manager said. “We were very close in the Champions League [beaten in the quarter-finals by Liverpool] and we got 83 points in the league [to finish third]. I have won championships with 78 points. But the competition is very high and it looks to be the same this season. You will need a high number. Let’s wait until January to see how many it takes.”

It was not all about Adebayor at Ewood Park. Robin van Persie looks to be back to his threatening best after his injury problems, while Theo Walcott could have been excused for allowing his midweek exploits for England to go to his head. The teenager might even have been feeling jaded after his hat-trick against Croatia, but if he was he did not show it as he set up Van Persie for Arsenal’s first goal, while tormenting Blackburn Rovers’ woeful defence for more than an hour.

When Walcott ran out of steam and was replaced, Blackburn and Arsenal fans stood to applaud the talented 19-year-old in recognition of his efforts for club and country over the past few days. “It’s been a very good week for me,” Walcott said. “Sometimes it can be quite difficult to come back to your club after an international week. Not many people score hat-tricks at international level, but it was a fantastic night for me and the family.

“And for England as well, it was a brilliant performance, but it was nice to come back and play for Arsenal.”

Arsenal completed 27 successful passes before Adebayor made it 2-0, while Stephen Warnock’s clumsy challenge on Emmanuel Eboué allowed the former Monaco player to score from the penalty spot. Adebayor completed his hat-trick deep into stoppage time.

There was also a cameo midfield performance by Jack Wilshere, who at 16 years and 253 days became the youngest Arsenal player to appear in a league game when he came on in the 81st minute, breaking the record set by Gerry Ward, who played against Huddersfield Town in 1953, aged 16 years and 321 days.

Blackburn have yet to keep a clean sheet in five league and cup matches under Paul Ince, the new manager. “It’s been really frustrating for us the last couple of weeks,” Ryan Nelsen, the defender, said. “The performances have been really good, but we’re just giving away horrendously soft goals.”

Blackburn ratings (4-4-2)

P Robinson 6 D Simpson 5 C Samba 5 R Nelsen 5 S Warnock 6 B Emerton 6 S Reid 5 K Andrews 5 M G Pedersen 4 R Santa Cruz 5 J Roberts 5 Substitutes B McCarthy 4 (for Roberts, 68min), K Treacy 4 (for Pedersen, 68), M Derbyshire (for Simpson, 74) Not used J Brown, Tugay Kerimoglu, A Mokoena, C Villanueva.

Arsenal ratings (4-4-2)

M Almunia 7 B Sagna 7 K Touré 7 W Gallas 7 G Clichy 7 E Eboué 7 F Fàbregas 7 Denilson 7 T Walcott 8 E Adebayor 9 R van Persie 7 Substitutes A Song 5 (for Walcott, 63min), A Ramsey (for Eboué, 79), J Wilshere (for Van Persie, 81). Not used L Fabianski, J Djourou, N Bendtner, K Gibbs.

Referee M Dean Attendance 23,041