Walcott inspires Gunners rout

Seasiders crash back down to earth at the Emirates

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 21st August 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Arsenal v Blackburn Theo Walcott celeb

Walcott: Hat-trick hero
Man of the match: Theo Walcott. The England winger enjoyed one of those days where everything went right and he fully deserved to steal the show with an impressive hat-trick.

Goal of the match: Walcott's early opener came on the back of a flowing move which saw Arsenal tear through the Blackpool rearguard with consummate ease.

Miss of the match: Marouane Chamakh somehow managed to divert an Andrey Arshavin cross over the bar in the second half with the goal gaping in front of him.

Moment of the match: Ian Evatt's clumsy challenge on Chamakh saw him sent for an early bath and the Seasiders never stood a chance from that moment on.

Talking point: Can Arsenal build on this performance and mount a sustained title challenge? Are the Seasiders in for a long, hard slog or can they put this humiliating defeat behind them?

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Blackpool were given a harsh Premier League lesson on Saturday as a Theo Walcott hat-trick helped Arsenal to a 6-0 win at Emirates Stadium.

It took the Gunners just 12 minutes to open the floodgates, with Walcott rounding off a flowing move with a composed finish.

Blackpool did spurn a great opportunity to haul themselves level moments later through Gary Taylor-Fletcher, but saw any hope they had of giving their illustrious opponents a tough time extinguished shortly after the half-hour mark.

Once Ian Evatt hacked down Marouane Chamakh in the box and was sent for a nearly bath, the game ended as a contest.

Andrey Arshavin converted the resulting penalty and Walcott bagged his second of the afternoon six minutes before the interval.

The Arsenal onslaught continued after the break and Abou Diaby grabbed a fourth for Arsene Wenger's men on 49 minutes as the Seasiders again failed to contain their free-flowing opponents.

The icing on the cake for the Gunners arrived on 58 minutes when Diaby fed Walcott and he fired low into the corner to complete a memorable treble.

Seven minutes from time Wenger's men made it six when the hard-working Chamakh rose highest to nod home a corner from substitute Robin van Persie.

Shock

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 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 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.

Protests

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 midfielder 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 played in 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 Cesc 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.

ArsenalTeam StatisticsBlackpool
6Goals0
31st Half Goals0
12Shots on Target1
12Shots off Target2
6Blocked Shots2
8Corners2
10Fouls5
4Offsides3
0Yellow Cards0
0Red Cards1
87.9Passing Success80.4
15Tackles20
66.7Tackles Success80
54.5Possession45.5
63.5Territorial Advantage36.5
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Comments (3)

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Ray Harley (Blackpool fan) says...

is early days for the seasiders, we still have a lot to do, but as the team gels i have every confidence we can stay up in the premiership.

Posted 18:32 21st August 2010

Matthew Swain (Arsenal fan) says...

walcott was man of the match today no question and i believe he could be one of our major players like van persie and fabregas but he needs to stay fit and we need to show our true and best attacking talent if we want to compete with manu and chelsea for the title

Posted 18:30 21st August 2010

Deco So (Arsenal fan) says...

Good performance by the Gunners. Hope they can carry on like this for the whole season. Walcott missed two brilliant chances... But overall the performance was good.

Posted 17:40 21st August 2010
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