Arsenal 6-0 Blackpool

England forward Theo Walcott netted a hat-trick as Premier League new boys Blackpool were brought back down to earth with a 6-0 thrashing at Arsenal.

The 21-year-old was a controversial omission from Fabio Capello's ill-fated World Cup squad, only to be welcomed back into the England fold following the dismal display in South Africa.

It may just have proved to be a decision which brings the best out of Walcott this season as the former Southampton trainee tore the Seasiders apart from kick-off, sweeping the Gunners into an 11th-minute lead.

Andrey Arshavin made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after defender Ian Evatt had been sent off for a foul on Marouane Chamakh, which looked just outside the box.

Walcott added a third before the break, with Abou Diaby slotting home number four at the start of the second half and the England man - whose only international goals came with a famous hat-trick in Croatia during September 2008 - then securing the match ball with another well-taken finish.

World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas and runner-up Robin van Persie came off the bench for the last half-hour as the Gunners, who snatched a late 1-1 draw at Liverpool last weekend, moved to the top of the table, if only for a few hours, with Chamakh heading in a sixth goal in the 83rd minute.

Almost 3,000 Blackpool fans - packed into the newly renamed Clock End - had made the long journey south, perhaps more in hope than genuine expectation of another shock result.

However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had warned against underestimating the threat of the Premier League new boys, and Ian Holloway's men certainly started with no fear.

Blackpool broke quickly and David Vaughan tried his luck from 20 yards but shot straight at Manuel Almunia.

However, Arsenal were soon in front.

Arshavin fed Chamakh down the left, and the free transfer signing from Bordeaux quickly laid the ball off to Tomas Rosicky, who in turn rolled a pass onto the advancing Russian.

With the Blackpool defence stretched, Arshavin put Walcott clear into the right side of the penalty area, and he dispatched a first-time strike into the bottom corner in the 12th minute.

It was a vintage Arsenal goal but the hosts were almost caught cold immediately afterwards.

Stephen Crainey sent over a lovely cross from the left, which dropped to Gary Taylor-Fletcher at the far post but his downward header was just wide.

Walcott scampered away again down the right, before cleverly delaying his centre into the path of Arshavin, who crashed a half-volley goalwards, but Seasiders goalkeeper Matthew Gilks made a fine reaction save.

Chamakh almost rolled an 18-yard shot into the far corner after some more good work from Walcott on the edge of the area.

Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the 32nd minute when Evatt slid in from behind on Chamakh, in a challenge which looked just outside the box.

Referee Mike Jones pointed to the spot and despite the Blackpool protests, went straight to his pocket for the red card. Arshavin stepped up to drive the ball into the bottom right corner.

It was now a case of damage limitation for Blackpool, who brought on new signing Dekel Keinan, the Israel defender, for striker Ludovic Sylvestre.

A brilliant block from Gilks prevented Chamakh from making it 3-0, before, in the 38th minute, Walcott turned Keinan on the penalty spot and drilled the ball into the far corner.

Busy Blackpool goalkeeper Gilks saved Chamakh's near-post effort from Gael Clichy's left-wing cross. However, he was picking the ball out of the net again four minutes after the restart when Diaby swept in Bacary Sagna's centre.

Walcott completed his hat-trick in the 58th minute when he curled the ball inside the far post after being fed by Diaby.

Arshavin squared for Chamakh in the six-yard box, but the ball took a bounce just ahead of reaching the Moroccan striker, who shinned it over.

As the hour mark passed, Arsenal introduced Fabregas and Van Persie, replacing Diaby and Arshavin, to a standing ovation before Walcott was also given a well-deserved rest.

Chamakh got a home Premier League debut goal when he headed in Van Persie's corner seven minutes from time.

After the match Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed there was more to come from hat-trick hero Theo Walcott.

"Theo is more electric than he has been," Wenger declared. "He mixed well the final ball and the finishing, which is a sign a player is more mature. Let's not forget what he does is always at a very high pace, so it is not easy to make the right decision, but today, he did."

Wenger added: "Theo is 21, so now he is at an age where players usual start, you cannot say he is at the peak of his game. There is a lot to come from him - first, he has to keep his attitude right and also to be injury free, because that decides careers as well."

Wenger suggested Walcott will use a summer of disappointment to become stronger. "Theo is a guy who keeps his feet on the ground, and takes life in a positive way - he sees always the glass is half full, and not half empty," said the Arsenal manager. "He took the World Cup as another challenge, and that is what is amazing about Theo."

Wenger considered the decision to dismiss Evatt was somewhat harsh. "From where I was on the bench I thought it was outside the area," he said. "The referee has no choice unfortunately because it was not a malicious foul, but denying a goalscoring opportunity is clear. I feel many times a yellow card would be enough."

Wenger added: "When they had 11 on the pitch Blackpool looked like they could create and tried to play in a positive way. We have matured because when we were 3-0 up at half-time we didn't become sloppy - we kept playing the way we wanted to play and overall it became a comfortable win."

Arsenal have seen two bids for Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer turned down by Fulham. Wenger, though, denied the Gunners were attempting to unsettle the player.

"We always respect the decision of the clubs if they don't want to sell. They do not need to come out in the press with that," Wenger said. "If they don't want to sell they say that and we respect that. It is the same with anybody."

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway lamented the decision of referee Michael Jones, but could only praise Arsenal.

"If that is how my team plays one day, I will be absolutely delighted, the pace and movement was terrific, it was a joy to watch," Holloway said. "Walcott was unplayable. I can only stand there and admire that. It was an absolute education, a masterclass - but we have to learn quickly.

"Some of the decisions we made were a bit disjointed after what I thought was a poor decision. We would still have lost the game, but would not have been smarting quite so much pride-wise."

Holloway questioned: "Was it in the box? Did he play the ball at all? How can it be a penalty and how can it be a sending-off? Surely if you are not quite sure, you give a penalty and give him a yellow, then we are punished enough anyway.

"The rules have to be looked at, when I was playing, the referees were allowed a bit of discretion. We would have made a better fist of it, and the paying public would have had a better spectacle. I thought it was quite harsh to say the least."

Blackpool had opened their top-flight adventure with a superb 4-0 win at Wigan, and look set to have a rollercoaster campaign.

"Whatever happens to us this season, we are going to try to show our character," Holloway said. "We are going to have to be better than this because otherwise against the top teams, it might be embarrassing - but if you saw us last week we certainly did not get outplayed and some of our football was not bad at all."
 
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 21 Aug 10