You Maroc My World: Arsenal Routs; Chamakh Off the Mark!!

After last week's draw with historic EPL winners Liverpool at Anfield, the Gunners were keen to get the full three points for their first home match at The Emirates versus promoted Blackpool.
Blackpool had stunned the Prem League last week with a 4-0 crushing of Wigan away.
Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger, who vowed to not push Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas into the mix, chose Marouane Chamakh and Andrey Arshavin up front. Chamakh had proved in preseason to be a very potent strike partner with Samir Nasri, but Nasri was injured in the Liverpool match and will be out for a month.
The match started off with Arsenal finding difficulty gelling offensively. Theo Walcott put a beautiful ball into the box but neither forward was there for the reception.
It wasn't until the 12' that the Gunners finally found their feet and they showed why football is called "the beautiful game." Chamakh laid off a ball to Arshavin, who sent it Rosicky, then back to Arshavin in the middle, who passed to a wide-open Walcott, who banged it past the keeper into the bottom corner. ARSENAL 1-0. It was a great play, that started with Chamakh's lay-off.
For the next 18 minutes, the Gunners came close several times, first with Rosicky, then Arshavin, followed by a narrow miss by Chamakh, then a great three-play between Chamakh, Rosicky and Walcott. But none of the chances proved fruitful.
The Seasiders were holding their own with Walcott's goal the only difference. But in the 30' Blackpool defender Ian Evatt was chasing a ball into his own final third and didn't see Chamakh advancing behind him. At the edge of the box Chamakh got a leg in front of Evatt and more importantly a foot on the ball. Evatt's legs tangled around Chamakh's, bringing him down. RED CARD and PENALTY. Arshavin stepped up to the spot and fired home. ARSENAL 2-0.
In the 37' Chamakh had a great chance to score, and a wonderful strike was saved superbly by Blackpool keeper Matthew Gilks.
It didn't take long for number three to come along when Chamakh sent a great pass to Wilshere, who fed Theo Walcott for his second goal. ARSENAL 3-0.
Chamakh had another superb shot saved in the 42' and it seemed he would have to settle for no goals in the first half even though he played very good team ball. Martin Tyler, the ESPN commentator, nailed my opinion about Marouane: "Chamakh is renowned for his aerial ability." Yes! It's something that Arsenal have needed in the past few seasons, as their lineup is getting shorter and shorter. Chamakh's prowess and athleticism in the box is badly needed.
Blackpool's only two chances of the match came in the first half with Vaughan making a nice shot that was saved by Almunia in the 10' minute, and four minutes later when Taylor-Fletcher had a great chance with his header, that just went wide.
Wenger made no changes at the half, and it didn't take long into the second until Bacary Sagna fed Abou Diaby a ball into a clogged box. Diaby had no problem with it and banged it home in the 48'. ARSENAL 4-0.
A mere nine minutes later and young Theo Walcott, who has failed to impress for the English National Team, had no problem bagging his hat trick. ARSENAL 5-0.
Marouane's spirited but fruitless play in the first half gave way to a more subdued second half. He had a beautiful chance in the 61' minute when he was in the box with a wrong-footed keeper out of the way. He was on the run and couldn't find the touch to put it in, and the ball sailed over. The look on his face showed his frustration. And every commentator agreed that he was due to score because his play had been great.
For the Gunners fans, a welcome sight arrived in the 62' minute when Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas made their debuts of the season. Both had played in the World Cup Championship match, with Fab's Spanish side beating the Dutch 1-0. Both players had been hampered by injury last season and their numbers on the pitch were given a resounding ovation.
The Gunners seemed to take their feet off the gas with a 5-0 scoreline, although the players still had many chances.
Their next goal came in the 83' when van Persie sent in a floating corner to the box, and CHAMAKH HEADED IT HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His unlucky shots in the first half were finally pushed aside with a powerful header to the bottom of the net. ARSENAL 6-0.
This was the final score and Arsenal added three points to their single point from last week. Blackpool, who started the day with a goal differential of +4, ended the day with a GD of -2.
It isn't unheard of for a promoted team to play valiantly in the first few weeks and then to slowly slide to the bottom. The Seasiders unfortunately may already be on their slide...in the second week. Giving them some credit, they only gave up one goal with a full squad, and the floodgates didn't open until Evatt's sending off in the 30'.
For match highlights click on this link.
The Gunners are away next week at Blackburn.