Arsenal have recorded their first win of the season with a 6-0 thrashing of Blackpool at Emirates Stadium.
Theo Walcott netted a hat-trick as the Gunners ran riot in front of 60,000 fans, bringing Blackpool down to earth after their big opening day win.
Arsenal: 6 (Theo Walcott 12', 39', 58', Andrei Arshavin (p) 32', Abou Diaby 49', Marouane Chamakh 83') Blackpool: 0
Venue: Emirates Stadium Crowd: 60,032 Referee: Michael Jones Yellow cards:ARS - nil BL - nil Red cards:BL - Ian Evatt 31'
The Gunners kicked off proceedings in the 12th minute when Andrei Arshavin laid off for Theo Walcott who finished neatly with a first-time strike before Arshavin made it 2-0 when he converted a penalty just after the half-hour mark. Blackpool's Ian Evatt brought down Arsenal new boy Marouane Chamakh on the edge of the area and referee Michael Jones adjudged it to be inside the penalty box and forced the Seasiders down to ten men.
Walcott made it 3-0 seven minutes later when he turned Blackpool debutant Dekel Keinan on the penalty spot and fired home.
It was 4-0 four minutes after the re-start thanks to Abou Diaby who swept in a Bacary Sagna cross and then just prior to the hour-mark, Walcott completed his hat-trick by finishing coolly with his left foot after being played in by Diaby.
The rout was finished seven minutes from time when Chamakh grabbed his first Arsenal goal by powerfully heading home a Robin van Persie corner.
Starting Line-Ups
ARS Manuel Almunia (gk), Thomas Vermaelen, Alex Song, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Abou Diaby (Fabregas 62'), Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Andrei Arshavin (van Persie 62'), Marouane Chamakh, Theo Walcott (Vela 66')
Subs - Lukasz Fabianski (gk), Robin van Persie (62'), Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas (62'), John Djourou, Carlos Vela (66'), Kieran Gibbs
BL Matthew Gilks (gk), Ian Evatt, Craig Cathcart, Stephen Crainey, Alex Baptiste, Ludovic Sylvestre (Keinan 37'), Charlie Adam, David Vaughan, Gary Taylor-Fletcher (Demontagnac 57'), Marlon Harewood (Ormerod 57'), Eliot Graham
Subs - Mark Halstead (gk), Brett Ormerod (57'), Ishmel Demontagnac (57'), Chris Basham, Neil Eardley, Dekel Keinan (37'), Rob Edwards
