- Date:21 Aug 2010
- Kick-off:15:00:00
- Venue:Emirates Stadium
- Theo Walcott (11:52) Andrey Arshavin - pen (31:32)
Theo Walcott (38:30) Vassiriki Diaby (48:25)
Theo Walcott (57:37) Marouane Chamakh (82:15)
Live Commentary
The referee signals the end of the game.
- 93mins
Robin van Persie has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Craig Cathcart gets a block in.
- 93mins
Jack Wilshere has an effort at goal. Craig Cathcart gets a block in.
- 92mins
Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Robin van Persie.
- 89mins
Corner from left by-line taken by Carlos Alberto Vela. Volleyed right-footed shot by Francesc Fabregas. Alex Baptiste gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Carlos Alberto Vela, Shot by Bacary Sagna. Craig Cathcart gets a block in.
- 88mins
Effort on goal by Gael Clichy from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.
- 88mins
Francesc Fabregas decides to take a short corner.
- 87mins
Brett Ormerod takes a shot from close range clearing the crossbar.
- 85mins
Corner taken by Robin van Persie, Craig Cathcart makes a clearance.
- 84mins
Effort on goal by Carlos Alberto Vela from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.
- 81mins
Carlos Alberto Vela takes a shot. Craig Cathcart gets a block in. Robin van Persie takes the inswinging corner, Marouane Chamakh finds the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty area. Arsenal 6-0 Blackpool.The assist for the goal came from Robin van Persie.
- 80mins
Inswinging corner taken by Charlie Adam.
- 80mins
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Brett Ormerod by Thomas Vermaelen. Free kick crossed left-footed by Charlie Adam from right channel, clearance by Thomas Vermaelen.
- 77mins
Close range shot by Marouane Chamakh goes wide of the left-hand post.
- 77mins
Short corner worked by Francesc Fabregas.
- 73mins
Bacary Sagna has a drilled shot. Alex Baptiste gets a block in.
- 69mins
Unfair challenge on Ishmel Demontagnac by Francesc Fabregas results in a free kick. Matthew Gilks takes the direct free kick.
- 67mins
Unfair challenge on Ishmel Demontagnac by Gael Clichy results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Cathcart.
- 65mins
Carlos Alberto Vela comes on in place of Theo Walcott.
- 64mins
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ishmel Demontagnac by Gael Clichy. David Vaughan restarts play with the free kick.
- 64mins
The referee blows for offside against Theo Walcott. Matthew Gilks restarts play with the free kick.
- 61mins
Francesc Fabregas is brought on as a substitute for Vassiriki Diaby. Robin van Persie replaces Andrey Arshavin.
- 61mins
Shot by Marouane Chamakh from deep inside the six-yard box clear the bar.
- 57mins
Theo Walcott gets on the score sheet with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Arsenal 5-0 Blackpool.Vassiriki Diaby provided the assist for the goal.
- 56mins
Ishmel Demontagnac joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Marlon Harewood leaves the field to be replaced by Brett Ormerod.
- 53mins
Effort from inside the area by Vassiriki Diaby misses to the left of the target.
- 53mins
Shot by Vassiriki Diaby from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.
- 52mins
Stephen Crainey produces a cross.
- 51mins
Free kick awarded for a foul by Jack Wilshere on David Vaughan. David Vaughan takes the direct free kick.
- 49mins
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Bacary Sagna by Elliot Grandin. Free kick taken by Manuel Almunia.
- 48mins
Vassiriki Diaby scores a goal from deep inside the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Arsenal 4-0 Blackpool.The assist for the goal came from Bacary Sagna.
- 46mins
Jack Wilshere takes a shot. Save by Matthew Gilks.
The second half kicks off.
The half-time whistle blows.
- 44mins
The ball is swung over by Theo Walcott.
- 42mins
The ball is crossed by Gael Clichy, Marouane Chamakh takes a shot. Save made by Matthew Gilks. Tomas Rosicky takes a shot. Blocked by Craig Cathcart. Corner taken right-footed by Jack Wilshere from the right by-line, Alex Baptiste manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by David Vaughan from the left by-line, Marouane Chamakh manages to make a clearance.
- 40mins
Theo Walcott takes a shot. Save by Matthew Gilks. Tomas Rosicky gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Vaughan. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Adam.
- 38mins
Theo Walcott finds the net with a goal from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Arsenal 3-0 Blackpool.Assist by Jack Wilshere.
- 38mins
Foul by Jack Wilshere on Elliot Grandin, free kick awarded. Charlie Adam restarts play with the free kick.
- 36mins
Marouane Chamakh takes a shot. Save by Matthew Gilks. Effort from the edge of the box by Andrey Arshavin goes wide of the right-hand upright.
- 36mins
(Blackpool) makes a substitution, with Dekel Keinan coming on for Ludovic Sylvestre.
- 36mins
Ludovic Sylvestre leaves the field to be replaced by Dekel Keinan.
- 34mins
Vassiriki Diaby is ruled offside. Matthew Gilks restarts play with the free kick.
- 30mins
Penalty awarded for a foul by Ian Evatt on Marouane Chamakh. Ian Evatt is shown a red card for professional foul. Penalty taken right-footed by Andrey Arshavin and scored. Arsenal 2-0 Blackpool.Marouane Chamakh provided the assist for the goal.
- 30mins
Penalty awarded for a foul by Ian Evatt on Marouane Chamakh. Ian Evatt is sent off by the referee. Penalty taken right-footed by Andrey Arshavin and scored. Arsenal 2-0 Blackpool.Marouane Chamakh provided the assist for the goal.
- 29mins
Shot from inside the area by Theo Walcott clears the bar.
- 28mins
Marlon Harewood is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Bacary Sagna takes the free kick.
- 26mins
Theo Walcott sends in a cross. Craig Cathcart fouled by Andrey Arshavin, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Matthew Gilks.
- 26mins
Theo Walcott delivers the ball. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Cathcart by Andrey Arshavin. Matthew Gilks restarts play with the free kick.
- 23mins
Shot by Marouane Chamakh from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
- 22mins
Andrey Arshavin takes a shot. Matthew Gilks makes a save. The referee blows for offside against Theo Walcott. Free kick taken by Matthew Gilks.
- 18mins
Shot by Tomas Rosicky from outside the box goes over the net.
- 14mins
Tomas Rosicky fouled by Alex Baptiste, the ref awards a free kick. Theo Walcott crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel.
- 14mins
Tomas Rosicky fouled by Alex Baptiste, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Theo Walcott.
- 14mins
Stephen Crainey crosses the ball, Close range headed effort by Gary Taylor-Fletcher misses to the right of the target.
- 11mins
Theo Walcott finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Arsenal 1-0 Blackpool.Assist on the goal came from Andrey Arshavin.
- 10mins
Foul by Alex Song on Elliot Grandin, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed left-footed by Charlie Adam from right channel.
- 9mins
David Vaughan has an effort at goal. Save by Manuel Almunia.
- 7mins
The referee blows for offside. Manuel Almunia restarts play with the free kick.
- 4mins
The assistant referee flags for offside against Andrey Arshavin. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Cathcart.
- 1mins
The official flags Marlon Harewood offside. Indirect free kick taken by Thomas Vermaelen.
The match has kicked off.
Match Preview
Wenger admits Almunia is `unsettled' Arsene Wenger accepts transfer speculation is unsettling Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia - but warned competition is part of life at a top football club. The Gunners have been heavily linked with Australian international Mark Schwarzer all summer, with Fulham maintaining they have turned down two bids for the 37-year-old, believed to be in the region of #2million. Almunia played in the opening game of the new Barclays Premier League season at Liverpool, where he made a crucial save from Steven Gerrard's free-kick after a last-minute own goal by Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina hauled Arsenal level. However, the Spaniard afterwards admitted the constant rumours surrounding his position were distracting, and hinted if an experienced stopper like Schwarzer came in then he would consider his own future at Emirates Stadium. Wenger will keep faith with the 33-year-old for the visit of newly promoted Blackpool, but maintained no one player can be guaranteed a place in the starting XI. "For us what is important at the moment in front of a big game is that we focus on the players we have," the Arsenal manager said. "Almunia is number one - it is important that we give him the needed confidence, that we trust him, that we focus on the Blackpool game." Wenger, though, accepted: "It is a very sensitive subject which is difficult for me to talk about. "You can understand that he is unsettled by that situation, but on the other hand, when you play at Arsenal, that is what you have to deal with. "You have to be strong enough to deal with that and I believe he is. "Jens Lehmann had to deal with that situation because at some stage I took him out of the team and played Almunia, so competition is part of our world. We have to accept that." The Gunners have included captain Cesc Fabregas, striker Robin van Persie, midfielder Alex Song and defender Johan Djourou in their squad. However, summer signing Laurent Koscielny is suspended after the centre-back's dismissal at Liverpool and Brazilian midfielder Denilson is still out with an abdominal injury. Winger Samir Nasri will be sidelined for a month after minor knee surgery while youngster Emmanuel Frimpong is set to miss most of the campaign after tearing knee ligaments. Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) remain out. Meanwhile, Blackpool boss Ian Holloway admits he has not enjoyed the transfer window at all and could yet follow Karl Oyston out of the club. Holloway tied up deals for six new players last week, just days before the Seasiders got their maiden Barclays Premier League campaign under way with a trip to Wigan. Several of those signings - most notably, two-goal hero Marlon Harewood - then played a key role as the team pulled off a spectacular 4-0 victory at the DW Stadium. With Israeli defender Dekel Keinan arriving this week as a seventh new recruit, it would appear Holloway is having no trouble strengthening his squad and that the future looks bright. However, prior to the recent influx, Blackpool spent most of the summer struggling to finalise transfers and Bournemouth confirmed on Friday that striker Brett Pitman had failed to agree terms over a move to Bloomfield Road. It has been a steep learning curve for the Tangerines since their promotion from the Championship in May and on Wednesday Oyston, who had previously spoken of his disillusionment with the business side of top-flight life, resigned as Blackpool chairman. He will remain as acting chief executive of the club until the end of the season or a new appointment is made, and Holloway indicated he may have to reassess his own position once Oyston has departed. "I think Karl and I will be working together for at least this season," Holloway said. "The day he leaves I'll have to consider my future because it is all about our relationship." In light of the club's troubles over the last few months, the manager said he will relieved when the transfer window finally closes on August 31. "I'll be really delighted when the window slams shut," Holloway said. "I haven't enjoyed it at all. It has been very educational but something I wouldn't really want to do again and hopefully we can get the club in really decent shape heading towards the next window in January. "We don't want to have to do much business in that one because that is the one where people panic." Keinan could be in line to make his debut after completing his move, but goalkeeper Paul Rachubka is sidelined after having an operation on his knee, as is striker Jason Euell. Keith Southern (knee), Louis Almond (shoulder) and Billy Clarke (knee) are the more long-term absentees.
Arsenal
Blackpool
- Manuel Almunia
- Bacary Sagna
- Alex Song
- Thomas Vermaelen
- Gael Clichy
- Vassiriki Diaby
- Jack Wilshere
- Theo Walcott
- Tomas Rosicky
- Andrey Arshavin
- Marouane Chamakh
- SUBS
- Lukasz Fabianski
- Francesc Fabregas
- Robin van Persie
- Carlos Alberto Vela
- Johan Djourou
- Emmanuel Eboue
- Kieran Gibbs
Home
Away
- Matthew Gilks
- Alex Baptiste
- Ian Evatt
- Craig Cathcart
- Stephen Crainey
- Ludovic Sylvestre
- David Vaughan
- Charlie Adam
- Elliot Grandin
- Marlon Harewood
- Gary Taylor-Fletcher
- SUBS
- Mark Halstead
- Neal Eardley
- Brett Ormerod
- Chris Basham
- Rob Edwards
- Ishmel Demontagnac
- Dekel Keinan
Match Report
Walcott poops the party for 10-man Tangerines Theo Walcott netted a hat-trick as Barclays Premier League new boys Blackpool were brought back down to earth with a 6-0 thrashing at Arsenal. The 21-year-old was a controversial omission from Fabio Capello's ill-fated England World Cup squad, only to be welcomed back into the England fold following the dismal display in South Africa. It may just have proved to be a decision which brings the best out of him as the former Southampton trainee tore the Seasiders apart from kick-off, sweeping the Gunners into an 11th-minute lead. 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 just outside the box. 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 against Croatia in September 2008 - then securing the match ball with another well-taken finish. World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas and runner-up Robin van Persie came off the bench for the last half-hour as the Gunners, who snatched a late 1-1 draw at Liverpool last weekend, moved to the top of the table, if only for a few hours, with Chamakh heading in a sixth goal in the 83rd minute. 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 Arsene 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 Gary 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. 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 striker 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 fed 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 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.