Theo celebrates his first hat-trick for the Arsenal
ONTU Prediction: 20th, Relegation Fodder
Match Prediction: 3-0
Score: 6-0; Walcott 12, 39, 58, Arshavin 32 (p), Diaby 49, Chamakh 83.
In a weekend awash with goals, the Gunners took the opportunity to temporarily leap to the top of the league with a 6-0 thumping of newly promoted Blackpool. The Arsenal line-up had an understably more attacking feel to it than the game against Liverpool. Walcott and Rosicky regained starting births, perhaps following their form as second half substitutes at Anfield. Song replaced Koscielny in the heart of defence, Eboue dropped to the bench. That meant no starting places for Fabregas or Van Persie, Wenger perhaps keeping his two biggest stars fresh for bigger challenges to come.
Blackpool started in a positive way, and not an entirely defensive formation – brave tactics indeed for a club who we hadn’t faced in top flight competition for nigh-on forty years. And it would be their undoing. We cut through them at will; our sparkling midfield and industrious frontman, Chamakh, pulling the Tangerine defence about as if on strings. At the heart of this, was undeniably Tomas Rosicky. Improving on his cameo last week, the man was the fulcrum that almost every Arsenal move came through. Short, intelligent passes sending Walcott, Arshavin and Chamakh away time and time again – and it was only a matter of time before the breakthrough came. A sweeping move across the park, played through Rosicky, ended with Theo; unmarked inside the Blackpool box – sweetly dispatched into the bottom corner. The move had all the trademark Arsenal moves about it; pace, precision and skill – plus a new one, a sure finish from Walcott.
It’s Theo’s name that made all the back pages come Sunday, and not without good reason – he was excellent for us, probably his best game in Arsenal colours. His running was purposeful, his touch assured, his finishing clinical. In his post-match interview, he made all the right claims about it being time to push on, make good on the promise he has shown in all-too-small purple patches thus far. Surely, it is too much to claim that the boy has come good off the back of one stellar performance against middling opposition; but the signs were there that some of the biggest criticisms had been addressed. His running, whilst retaining its electric pace, also had direction – bursting through the defence for his third a prime example. His decision making too showed much improvement; only a rare time in this game did he shoot when the pass was on, or float the cross when a pull-back would do. I’ve always believed that Theo needed confidence in order to play at his best week in, week out. If this performance doesn’t give him that, well – I don’t like to think about it.
For the second match in succession, our opposition were the victims of a sending off. This time, I think the ref had no choice but to send Evett off – but first contact was outside the box, no penalty for me. Arshavin dispatched a bullet for 2-0. I disagree with Ian Holloway in that the red card changed the game – it didn’t. Arsenal were always looking likely to rip Blackpool limb-from-limb, prior to the penalty Chamakh and Walcott had fired us close – this was always destined to be a one sided affair. The Gunners did exactly as I’d called for in the preview, burst out of the blocks and stamped their authority over the game from the get-go. Chance after chance created and no let up at 3, 4 or even 5 to the good. Theo’s second and our third came before half time – another crisp move culminating in a turn-and-shoot, the finish again finding the bottom corner.
That goal, and many of our chances were borne out of a desire in our own half to be first to the ball. The centrebacks, Wilshere and Diaby, had a good game – breaking up play, putting tackles in and propelling us forwards at pace. It looks like the lads who started the game had a superb level of fitness, perhaps another reason why they edged out Van Persie and Fabregas from the starting lineup. Sagna gave further evidence to this, beating the dreadful Blackpool full back and delivering a wonderfully weighted ball that Diaby powerfully caressed in for the fourth goal. Diaby was much improved all round from his performance against Liverpool, and I’m looking forward to a good season from him. Theo’s hat-trick goal was the pick of the bunch though. Diaby and Sagna were involved again, the former picking out another superb piece of running from Walcott – who collected the pass, beat two Blackpool defenders and threaded a fine finish to beat the despairing Gilks.
The final sign-off belonged to new boy Chamakh, who in his two games has shown exactly why he’s been worth waiting for. In the Liverpool game he held the line admirably on his own, and caused Reina to make the mistake gifting us a point. This time out he was much more involved, a definite end-point for moves flowing around him. His link-up play was excellent, and should have scored at 1-0 when Walcott played him through – the shot screwed wide. He got his first competitive goal from a corner – rising unmarked and heading downwards, a final flourish. I haven’t even mentioned the fact that Fabregas and Van Persie came on – well they did, fitted into the play instantly and got a resounding reception from a clearly adoring crowd.
It’d be easy to overstate how good we were on Saturday. Blackpool defended terribly, and gave our players time and space to do more or less what they wanted. However the signs were there that we’ve improved on last season. We’ve hopefully got our killer instinct back – there were virtually no signs of letting Blackpool back into this, and that’s heartening, especially given our record against Premier League new boys. Our midfield is firing, and looks the best in the league at the moment, and that’s without Fabregas! The only storm cloud I see on the horizon is that this will undoubtedly give other clubs an idea of how to play against us, particularly at the Emirates – come and shut up shop. Attempt to play football or attack and you’ll get mullered – we’ll have to get better at breaking down teams that won’t give us the time and space Blackpool did, and that has been a problem. However – we should enjoy this result, regardless of opposition because this was a vintage Arsenal performance – and here’s to more to come.
How did you rate our performance? Let me know in the comments box!
A highly enjoyable performance, but tempered by the weakness of the opposition. Rosicky reminded us just how classy he can be when injury-free, Chamakh’s all-round game was good and he now has the all-important first goal under his belt, and Theo reminded us that – on his day – he can be unplayable. Hopefully this will prove not to have been a one-off. A strong performance at Ewood Park on Saturday (even if it just a good, battling draw) is a must if we are to show that we are now on an upward curve.
http://thearmchairsportsfan.com/2010/08/22/arsenal-and-walcott-bring-blackpool-down-to-earth-with-a-bump/