EYEWITNESS: Arsenal 6 Blackpool 0, FA Premier League
EMIRATES CUP: ARSENAL 6 BLACKPOOL 0
EYEWITNESS REPORT from the EMIRATES STADIUM
By RICHARD OSLEY
THINK of a number, double it, multiply it by 20 and then add a few more. The number you have reached is the number of chances Arsenal had to score in this shooting practice session. In the end, they ended up with just the six at the Emirates Stadium against Blackpool. The wonder of it all was how Maroaune Chamakh, of who so much is expected after his summer flight from Bordeaux, waited to the last ten minutes to join a scoresheet bulging with the name of Theo Walcott. Arsene Wenger said the big forward was still adapting to Arsenal's style. The club needs a quick learner.
Walcott, in contrast, ran riot. Cynics will say he found his level playing Blackpool, Premiership newcomers who played most of the match with ten men after Ian Evatt's first half red card. But Walcott's inspired a demolition here. In the past, Arsenal might have stopped at two or three, but there was no mercy to everybody's second Premiership team this season. His speed was too much for the Blackpool defenders.
The puzzle was how even a manager as madcap as Ian Holloway made no attempt to retreat from an attacking starting formation. Even when reduced to ten and half massacred, Holloway still seemed more interested in somehow prizing an away goal out of Arsenal than keeping the goals against column down. Wenger appreciated a team that came to play and attack rather than snuff the contest out with a packed midfield, but other teams will think twice about being too gung ho after this. It would be a shame if Blackpool went down on goal difference with such a positive outlook.
This wasn't a football match, though. Too one sided for us to learn anything new about Wenger's team, it had the feel of a pre-season friendly. Goal one: Walcott steers in first time. Two: Arshavin penalty. Red card here after Chamakh fouled through on goal. Three: Walcott turns his man and fires home. Four: Diaby capitalises on the gaps in the Blackpool defence. Five: Walcott again. Six: Chamakh, finally, heads in a corner.
Six goals. One red card. Nothing new learned. Fun, though.
RATINGS
MANUEL ALMUNIA 7 Unfair to rate. Had nothing to do.
BACARY SAGNA 8 Supported attack well. Played as virtual midfielder.
GAEL CLICHY 7 Solid.
ALEX SONG 7 Looked comfortable as makeshift centre back. Not the hardest test, though.
THOMAS VERMAELEN 7 Easy day at the office.
TOMAS ROSICKY 8 Very good. At the heart of Arsenal's best attacking play.
JACK WILSHERE 7 Didn't sparkle but learning the ropes well.
THEO WALCOTT 9 (Vela 66) Man of the match. Needs this kind of influence in the big games.
ABOU DIABY 7 (Fabregas 62) Rarely pressed, took advantage to get in the goals.
ANDREY ARSHAVIN (Van Persie 62) 8 Always looks dangerous. Pleasure to watch when he's in the mood.
MARAOUNE CHAMAKH 7 Late goal perfect for confidence.
SUBS
CESC FABREGAS 7 Big cheer - but for not being a Barcelona player rather than contribution to match.
ROBIN VAN PERSIE 7 New number ten shirt; will be disappointed not to join goalfest.
CARLOS VELA 8 Starting to stake a claim.
Subs not used: Emmanuel Eboue, Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs, Lukasz Fabianski
MAN OF THE MATCH: THEO WALCOTT