Arsenal FC

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• Manager:Arsene Wenger

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Gunners punish ten-man Blackpool

21 Aug 2010 - 17:02:33

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Arsenal brought Blackpool back down to earth with a bump after thrashing the Premier League newcomers 6-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

Ian Holloway's side looked to have taken to top-flight football like ducks to water after cruising to a 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on the opening day of the season.

However, their trip to the Emirates Stadium was a chastening experience as the Gunners raced into an early lead courtesy of Theo Walcott.

Ian Evatt was sent off on 32 minutes after a professional foul on Marouane Chamakh and Andrey Arshavin stroked home the resulting penalty.

Walcott then made it 3-0 before half-time after finishing off a move involving midfield starlet Jack Wilshere.

It was 4-0 on 49 minutes when Abou Diaby got on the scoresheet, before man-of-the-match Walcott completed his hat-trick just before the hour mark.

Morocco striker Chamakh completed the rout with his first goal for the Gunners in the closing minutes.

Meanwhile, two first-half goals from Gareth Bale secured a first league win of the season for Tottenham Hotspur away at Stoke City.

The Wales wing-back struck after 19 and 30 minutes at the Britannia Stadium to cancel out a solitary reply from Potters striker Ricardo Fuller.

Referee Chris Foy angered the home players when he ruled that a late header from Jon Walters had not crossed the line in a controversial end to a competitive game.

Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks Blake denied Everton a first win of the new campaign when he equalised Tim Cahill's first-half opener in a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

West Ham missed an early penalty at home to Bolton Wanderers when Carlton Cole's spot-kick was saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The Hammers were left to rue the England striker's profligacy as an own goal from Matthew Upson and Johan Elmander's 68th minute second condemned Avram Grant's side to a second successive defeat.

Mark Noble reduced the arrears with a 79th minute penalty for the Hammers, but Elmander's late second goal restored the two-goal advantage for the visitors.

A penalty save from goalkeeper Ben Foster and two second-half goals from Craig Gardner earned Birmingham City a 2-1 win against Blackburn Rovers at St Andrew's.

Foster saved Morten Gamst Pedersen's second-half spot-kick before Steven N'Zonzi put the visitors ahead in the 54th minute.

However, goals from Gardner after 57 and 74 minutes secured all three points for the Blues.

Peter Odemwingie scored on his debut as West Bromwich Albion edged out Sunderland 1-0 at The Hawthorns.

The Nigeria forward joined the Baggies on Friday and wasted little time in announcing his arrival with an 81st minute winner.