Arsenal 6-0 Blackpool – 21/08/10 – (Premier League) 22 August, 2010

I’m writing today’s match report on the Gatwick Express train still beaming from yesterday’s great performance and emphatic victory. Our 6-0 was not quite so special when Chelsea went and completed the same score against Wigan but that Wigan side lost 4-0 to Blackpool the week before so think how shite they must be. Blackpool were truly outclassed, I’m not bias saying that – they just were. Even manager, Ian Holloway admitted it after the game and spoke of it as a lesson in football:

“It was an absolute education. Everything about the place is class – and this was a master class. The grass is better than my living room carpet. It was an honour to come here and I’m just relieved it wasn’t 10 or 12.”

That’s no exaggeration, yesterday was our biggest league win at the new ground but it could’ve been double what it was. We were creating chance after chance, the Blackpool ‘keeper made a couple great saves and we missed a few sitters so they’re really lucky it was only 6. It was too easy for us really, on Match of The Day last night they were saying they haven’t seen such a one-sided game in the Premiership for as long as they can remember, I can’t either; the visitors started well but when Evatt was sent off early on conceding a penalty leading to our second goal there was no way back.

The complimentary Sunday Telegraph on this train praises Theo Walcott for his performance yesterday but I think everyone is in agreement on that. OK I take Alan Hansen’s point last night about it not being against the best defence but it was still a fantastic display from the 21-year-old.  A well deserves hat trick (which could’ve been more) and a handful of great assists probably make it the best I’ve ever seen Theo play live.

They were three well-taken goals too, his finishing has been a criticism of his and apart from one or two miss-shots yesterday he was perfect every time. The first a simple low-driven shot into the opposite corner after a great pass and move build up, the second he picked the ball up in the box with his back to goal, turned and shot and the third was a great move coming in from the right weaving through the box curving it low into the bottom corner. Great stuff from Theo, now lets see if he can reproduce it at a higher level.

As I said the second came from the penalty spot, Arshavin the scoring putting it perfectly in the corner, the other two came from Diaby and Chamakh, who will still be rueing missing a tap-in but will be glad to get on the score sheet on his full home debut. It was the sort of goal we signed him for, a perfect van Persie cross and Chamakh rose way above the crowd to head it in.

The corner came off the back of a nice piece of Vela skill, chipping the ball over three players heads before seeing his shot get deflected for a corner. He came on for the last 25 minutes. A couple of minutes before that Fabregas and van Persie we introduced, this point at 5-0 down Blackpool must’ve been shitting themselves. Cesc came on to a massive reception, “WE’VE GOT CESC FABREGAS” rang round the ground before he’d even stepped on the pitch and when he did come on there was a massive cheer. However I never once saw him that bothered by it; he was probably just focussed on the game and he did make a few good passes and tackles in his half an hour run-out but I didn’t see him acknowledge the crowd once the whole time, even when he went over to take corners to a standing ovation. Maybe he did and I just missed it but he seemed to play the whole match with his head down, either sulking, tired or focussed on the game. Lets not focus on this too much though, he’s our for now so lets just enjoy him – just a shame not to see him his usual self exchanging applause with the fans and such.

Before the game was the official unveiling of the new stand names, The North Bank, The Clock End, The East Stand and The West Stand. Also the new Clock End clock was up and running plus new banners, into music and montages. The pre-game atmosphere was great and looked fantastic so a tip of my hat to your Sir, Ivan Gazidis. I don’t think the club got their ‘We’re the North Bank…etc. etc.” that they expected but that might come with time, I think people are happy just to finally see ‘The Emirates’ feeling more like home.

So in all, a great day yesterday. Every so often you watch Arsenal and they put in a display that you know they’re capable of. The passing was exceptional, some good goals were scored, there were great performances all round and it wasn’t even our best team. The only complaint you can have is that we didn’t finish off a few more of our chances but that’s just petty. Yes, Blackpool weren’t of the same standard as us and they did have 10 men but we should be playing football like that if those are the circumstances.

There’s no WIFI on this train so I’m hoping there is at the airport so I can post this before I can get on my flight. I’m off to Las Vegas and Los Angeles for a few days so I don’t know how regular posting on here will be.

Thanks for reading and speak to you soon. Come on you Gunners!