Posted by Andre The Giant
Arsenal motored into gear for their first home game of the season today, with what can only be described as a white wash against Blackpool. Inspired by the lack of Elvis wailing as they ran onto the pitch, the Arsenal players raised their game considerably after the relatively average opening performance at Anfield. The only thing more gratifying than the 6-0 score line was the fact that it could have been doubled had Arsenal not pontificated in scoring positions and looked for that one extra pass and the perfect goal.
View from the 'new' North Bank
Theo Walcott was utterly superb. My Dad remarked that, after his first side footed goal, it would be nice to see a repeat of the game we saw in 1993 when Arsenal beat Ipswich Town 5-1 with a Kevin Campbell hat-trick and an Ian Wright brace. Well, it was even better than that. Three thoroughly deserved goals from the effervescent Walcott almost don’t do him justice. He skipped down the right wing, beating players willy nilly (where, in the past, he would have just run in to them, really quickly). His awareness was exceptional and crossing seems to have improved ten fold. The only criticism I would have is that he is still not being selfish enough (although, again, the goal tally clearly doesn’t tell that story). Had he not been looking for the pass and gone straight for goal, he may have had five or six (that really isn’t an exaggeration). If this is the Theo we see for the rest of the season then we have a lot to look forward to.
It was a mere 12 minute wait for the Arsenal opener. Up until that point, the possession had been mostly with Arsenal, but there were still a couple of incidents in which Blackpool looked dangerous (a newly promoted side who scored 4 in their first game of the season should not be underestimated). With a couple of decent chances already, Arsenal looked much more direct than they had been at Anfield the week before. It took some good work from Rosicky, who had his second excellent game in the space of 6 days, to create the first for Walcott. A tricksy turn and pass out wide to Theo gave him the opportunity to side foot home.
A couple more chances went begging and Blackpool still looked positive. An excellent measured cross should have resulted in a goal almost immediately after Arsenal’s opener but Gary Taylor-Fletcher fluffed the easy header wide. Otherwise, Almunia had little of note to do but probably does deserve a mention for looking quite well positioned (and not particularly flappy) for crosses and set pieces. His distribution was also superb. I have a feeling that he may be our lot this season what with the utter stupendosity (yes, a made up word but one that feels appropriate) of Mark Hughes who wants £50m and Fabregas for the 55 year old Mark Schwarzer. The sooner the fans get behind him and his confidence returns the better, in my opinion.
It took until the 30th minute, the exact point at which you begin to think ‘we really could do with another goal before the break otherwise this is going the distance’, for Rosicky to put Chamakh through who was then brought down by last man Evatt who was inevitably sent off when the penalty was given. The Blackpool players protested that the challenge was made outside the box. Not something that I agreed with from where I was sitting but other reports suggest that replays corroborate their objections and (according to the post match press conference) even Mr Wenger saw it and agreed. I will watch Match of the Day with interest. Andrei Arshavin slotted home the spot kick with what was, really, the only truly good thing he did all afternoon. I do worry where this lackadaisical start has come from. Is he still bitching about all the tax he is paying in this wonderful country of ours? Either way, the sooner he snaps out of it, the better. An average year and we may have to think about returning him to the Cossacks. He may heal like dog but, unfortunately at the moment, he play like penguin.
Where Liverpool came back fighting after being reduced to 10 men, Blackpool crumbled. The game took on a five-a-side feel as Arsenal moved the ball around for fun and created chance after chance after chance. Theo got his second before the break and there was little point in Blackpool coming out for the second half. Which is a shame because up until the penalty they looked fairly strong and, if I am honest, I think our defence could do with the practice. Alex Song was make shift centre back in the absence of Koscielny who was suspended (I assume we didn’t appeal the ridiculous second yellow he got against Liverpool) and Djourou who is still not fit. He had a good game I thought and his tenacity is always an asset. Vermaelen was Vermaelen, galloping up the pitch one minute and sprinting back the next, but always solid in the last third. Gael Clichy played OK but he seems to be lacking pace and I think he may find himself fighting for his place if Gibbs continues to have games like he did for England this week. Sagna seemed to be far too advanced, leaving gaping holes where the right back should be covering. Blackpool exploited this and there were incidences that our back four looked unorganised and quite scary. I think we could do worse than to get Tony Adam in as a defensive coach.
Anyway, I digress, we didn’t let any goals in and Almunia didn’t flap at anything so I should just be grateful I suppose. Diaby scored a nice little volley early in the second half and had a very good game on the whole. Theo completed his thoroughly deserved hat trick ten minutes later. Then on came Robin Van Persie and our beloved captain to rings of ‘We’ve got Cesc Fabregas, we’ve got Cesc Fabregas’. No badge kissing, no dramatic gestures, just good old Cesc Fabregas pulling the strings like the puppet master he is. Bloomin heck he’s good. Any suggestions that he won’t give everything in what could be his last year at Arsenal are a complete insult. RVP looked up for it (apart from a worrying 5 minutes where he appeared to pick up a knee injury) and had it not been for a poor decision to lay the ball off rather than shoot would have been on the score sheet. Towards the end of the game, it did appear that we would only be happy if we walked the ball into the net after 37 passes in the six yard box. It took the impressive Chamakh (who previously made what is likely to be the miss of the season in front of an open goal) to score a proper centre forward’s goal with a well taken header from a Van Persie corner. The keeper should have done better but even a Spurs fan would agree that he deserved to open his account for Arsenal today.
And that was that. Theo returned to the pitch (having been removed for RVP’s sake) to claim his match ball and standing ovation. The small sea of orange Blackpool fans stayed until the end and were thoroughly excellent throughout. The few I saw on the way back to Finsbury Park tube didn’t even look that bothered. I suspect this won’t be the last time they see their keeper pick the ball out of the net that many times. But, even if it only lasts a season, they’re going to enjoy every second of being in the premier league, and so they should.