Source: Team_Talk
AW: More to come from 'electric' Theo
Arsene Wenger claims there is more to come from "electric" Theo Walcott after the Arsenal forward's hat-trick in the 6-0 win over Blackpool.[LNB] 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.[LNB]Walcott produced a stunning display as he tore the Seasiders apart from kick-off, sweeping the Gunners into an 11th-minute lead.[LNB]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 to have taken place just outside the box.[LNB]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.[LNB]Chamakh headed in a sixth goal on 83 minutes, but it was Walcott who stole the headlines.[LNB]"Theo is more electric than he has been," Wenger declared.[LNB]"He mixed well the final ball and the finishing, which is a sign a player is more mature.[LNB]"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."[LNB]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.[LNB]"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."[LNB]Wenger suggested Walcott will use a summer of disappointment to become stronger.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"He took the World Cup as another challenge, and that is what is amazing about Theo."[LNB]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.[LNB]"The referee has no choice unfortunately because it was not a malicious foul, but denying a goalscoring opportunity is clear.[LNB]"I feel many times a yellow card would be enough."[LNB]Wenger added: "When they had 11 on the pitch Blackpool looked like they could create and tried to play in a positive way.[LNB]"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."[LNB]Arsenal have seen two bids for Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer turned down by Fulham.[LNB]Wenger, though, denied the Gunners were attempting to unsettle the player.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"If they don't want to sell they say that and we respect that. It is the same with anybody."[LNB]Blackpool manager Ian Holloway lamented the decision of referee Michael Jones, but could only praise Arsenal.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"Walcott was unplayable. I can only stand there and admire that.[LNB]"It was an absolute education, a masterclass - but we have to learn quickly.[LNB]"Some of the decisions we made were a bit disjointed after what I thought was a poor decision.[LNB]"We would still have lost the game, but would not have been smarting quite so much pride-wise."[LNB]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?[LNB]"Surely if you are not quite sure, you give a penalty and give him a yellow, then we are punished enough anyway.[LNB]"The rules have to be looked at, when I was playing, the referees were allowed a bit of discretion.[LNB]"We would have made a better fist of it, and the paying public would have had a better spectacle.[LNB]"I thought it was quite harsh to say the least."[LNB]Blackpool had opened their top-flight adventure with a superb 4-0 win at Wigan, and look set to have a rollercoaster campaign.[LNB]"Whatever happens to us this season, we are going to try to show our character," Holloway said.[LNB]"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."
