Arsenal Hit Six

It's always a rush when your first home game of the season proves to be an auspicious one.

Six goals and a cleansheet (I am quite sure I peeked Almunia sipping tea and biting on a biscotti on the other end of the field) - that's better than anyone of us could have hoped for. And in this rout of Blackpool, Theo got his first hat trick for the club, Chamakh got his first goal, and Cesc made his first season's appearance. Blardy brilliant, I tell ya.

Blackpool and their horde of fans (impressive turnout really. I feel bad they have to bear the long trip back up north in bad spirits) had a great start at the Emirates Stadium. In fact, I believe they forced the first save. But it was the Gunners who drew first blood. Theo's first goal of the game came in the 12 minute - a smarting shot that easily beat the keeper after a very useful assist by Arshavin.

As the game wore on, it looked like Walcott was in this for some real hunting. He was up front and going at the defence like a menace. Chamakh did well to draw defence away and our lads were at Blackpool like plague after Theo's first goal. There were too many squandered attempts from Chamakh, Rosicky, Arshavin and the likes, but we were in complete control.

Just after the half-hour mark, Chamakh's great run forward was halted by Evatt, who happened to be the last defender. Referee Mike Jones whipped out his red card immediately. I wonder if teams are going to worry about playing the Arsenal now. Two games and we have successfully dismissed two players. While the foul on Chamakh was absolute, the dismissal was a little controversial and in my honest opinion, a wee bit harsh. Replays showed that Evatt went in for the tackle outside the box - or so I objectively observed. Anyhow, Andriy Arshavin coolly converted the spot kick for our second.

A mere seven minutes later, a nimble Jack Wilshere sliced open defence with an awesome pass and Theo Walcott did good by putting that into the back of Blackpool's net for his second and Arsenal's third. This was shaping up to be a great hammering and this was only the first 45 minutes.

The first half ended Arsenal 3-0 Blackpool, but from the look of things, there were more goals to come. Most of the goal attempts came from Theo and Chamakh, with the former making the better use of his chances. To be honest, the game was looking lop-sided and the lack of a man on the visitors' side so early on hardly helped their cause.

Diaby killed any hopes of a comeback from Blackpool just minutes into the second half when he sent home a well-finished effort after a great run and assist from Bacary Sagna. Then only nine minutes later, Diaby was on the helping end as he gifted Theo with the pass to complete the youngster's hat trick. By now, Blackpool looked like they were praying for the final whistle. And mind you, we were still shy of the hour mark.

For the next 25 minutes, the highlight of the match (aside from way too many wasted chances) was the introduction of Cesc Fabregas into the game. Captain Fab is back! Oh, and there was that fantastic feat of control by Vela as well. He danced around three defenders who looked like lost children, but failed to place the final touch passed the keeper. Vela is a very strong player and I so look forward to his blossoming at the club.

Chamakh finally hammered the nail into the coffin in the 83rd minute when he rose the highest to nod home a Van Persie corner. The Moroccan certainly deserved one, after about a 150 tries. At the referee's whistle, we had six more goals than Blackpool and six times more goal attempts. If that's not a one-sided game, I don't know what is.

Hopefully, Chamakh's nerves have been settled now that he has his debut goal (I'm so happy for him!!!). While his finishes were far from clinical in this game, he played a huge role in pressuring and stretching Blackpool's defence. Theo, on the other hand, looked set to kill and I hope the game ball will remind him of greatness he has within him. I look forward to a season of consistently superb performances from Theo Walcott. Perhaps his time has indeed come. A Goonerette can only hope, eh?

I also want to point out that Sagna and Clichy were extremely diligent and important in this game. Their work rate improved tremendously from the last and Clichy seemed to have found his crazy legs again. It's a strange comfort also, seeing Song on the field. Our entire defensive line from midfield onwards seemed more confident to move forward. Well, either that, or it was because we were playing Blackpool who, with all due respect, didn't present the stiffest of competitions.

Surely the critics and some fans will argue that we should have gotten more. It is true that Chamakh should have gotten a few more, and probably Vela too. But when it's all said and done, we have maximum points in the first game at home and a huge boost to our goal difference.

Now 36 more games to go.

The Arsenal!