Blackpool’s Premier League fairytale came to a swift end at the Emirates on Saturday, their 4-0 victory at Wigan last week followed by a 6-0 thrashing by Arsenal this week.
Although manager Ian Holloway protested the sending off which reduced his team to ten men after only half an hour, in truth Arsenal, already one goal to the good, had already looked more than capable of carving Blackpool apart.
The debate rages over Theo Walcott’s abilities at the highest level, but he was on scintillating form throughout this match, with his distribution and vision as impressive as his three fine goals.
The first was passed into the goal after neat, precise build-up play by Arsenal; the second was a tidy finish after he was allowed to turn in the box; the third sealed his hat-trick in magnificent style—receiving the ball in the penalty area, Walcott left three defenders in his wake as he calmly fired home.
In between these goals Andrey Arshavin scored from the penalty spot, and Abou Diaby finished off a classic counterattack with a crisp half-volley.
All that remained for Arsenal to round off a great day at the office was for new signing Marouane Chamakh to open his account. After a couple of decent chances in the first half, and missing an absolute sitter in the second, he duly obliged, rising well to convert a Van Persie corner with a strong header.
Chelsea lost 3-1 at the DW Stadium last season, and Wigan started this campaign’s fixture brightly. However, there was to be no repeat of last year’s dramatics, and after scoring once in the first half, and again just after the break, Chelsea were rampant, quickly ratcheting up another 6-goal tally.
After last week’s hat-trick, Didier Drogba this week turned provider, having a crucial role in no less than 4 of Chelsea’s goals. With his team already up two–nil, he knocked down a Florent Malouda cross for Nicolas Anelka to squeeze in a header.
For Chelsea’s fourth, he made a great, strong run from his own half, playing in to Salomon Kalou for the simplest of finishes. Chelsea’s fifth, Drogba floated in a fabulous cross for Kalou to nod past Chris Kirkland, Kalou picking up his second goal after coming on as a substitute.
Chelsea’s final goal, Drogba’s excellent pass from his own half resulted in Paulo Ferreira receiving the ball on the overlap, and summer signing Yossi Benayoun converted the cross to complete the day’s scoring.
Chelsea’s first two goals were also very well worked, Malouda finishing on the rebound after excellent movement in the box by Frank Lampard to create the first, and Anelka scoring emphatically after John Mikel Obi’s stunning pass for the second.
Chelsea now tops the table with an incredible goal difference of plus-12 after just two games.
Tottenham Hotspur struggled mid week in Switzerland with the stiff challenge posed by BSC Young Boys on their artificial pitch, and in the process lost three of their four strikers to injury.
Only Peter Crouch was fit to lead the attack against Stoke City this weekend, and after surviving a second-half onslaught at the Britannia Stadium, Spurs will be relieved to come away with three points.
Victory came on the back of two first-half Gareth Bale goals, which couldn’t have been more dissimilar.
The first he knew little about, as a defensive clearance struck him in the face and bounced over the line. The second was magnificent. After great work by Aaron Lennon, who expertly skipped past his man and delivered a lovely angled cross, Bale hit the sweetest of left-foot volleys, his boot at shoulder height as he guided the ball perfectly to the top right hand corner of the net.
Ricardo Fuller scored for Stoke between the two Bale goals, and with the home side pressing for an equaliser throughout the second half, this was a game that in previous seasons could well have seen Tottenham capitulate. But they have developed a steely temperament under Harry Redknapp’s stewardship, and despite some worrying moments as goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes flapped about under pressure, they hung on for the win.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen did much to keep his side in the first half, including a penalty save from Carlton Cole, as they went on to defeat West Ham 3-1 at Upton Park.
Ben Foster was even more impressive for Birmingham, making a terrific penalty save, as well as some decent stops from open play, providing a platform for the home side to defeat visitors Blackburn 2-1.
West Brom’s latest addition to the squad, Peter Odemwingie, just signed on Friday night, made an instant impact at The Hawthorns, with his solitary goal enough to defeat Sunderland. The Baggies Black Country rivals Wolves also had a decent result, drawing 1-1 away at Everton, who were impressive in the first half but faltered in the second.
Although manager Ian Holloway protested the sending off which reduced his team to ten men after only half an hour, in truth Arsenal, already one goal to the good, had already looked more than capable of carving Blackpool apart.
The debate rages over Theo Walcott’s abilities at the highest level, but he was on scintillating form throughout this match, with his distribution and vision as impressive as his three fine goals.
The first was passed into the goal after neat, precise build-up play by Arsenal; the second was a tidy finish after he was allowed to turn in the box; the third sealed his hat-trick in magnificent style—receiving the ball in the penalty area, Walcott left three defenders in his wake as he calmly fired home.
In between these goals Andrey Arshavin scored from the penalty spot, and Abou Diaby finished off a classic counterattack with a crisp half-volley.
All that remained for Arsenal to round off a great day at the office was for new signing Marouane Chamakh to open his account. After a couple of decent chances in the first half, and missing an absolute sitter in the second, he duly obliged, rising well to convert a Van Persie corner with a strong header.
Chelsea Scores Six
Chelsea lost 3-1 at the DW Stadium last season, and Wigan started this campaign’s fixture brightly. However, there was to be no repeat of last year’s dramatics, and after scoring once in the first half, and again just after the break, Chelsea were rampant, quickly ratcheting up another 6-goal tally.
After last week’s hat-trick, Didier Drogba this week turned provider, having a crucial role in no less than 4 of Chelsea’s goals. With his team already up two–nil, he knocked down a Florent Malouda cross for Nicolas Anelka to squeeze in a header.
For Chelsea’s fourth, he made a great, strong run from his own half, playing in to Salomon Kalou for the simplest of finishes. Chelsea’s fifth, Drogba floated in a fabulous cross for Kalou to nod past Chris Kirkland, Kalou picking up his second goal after coming on as a substitute.
Chelsea’s final goal, Drogba’s excellent pass from his own half resulted in Paulo Ferreira receiving the ball on the overlap, and summer signing Yossi Benayoun converted the cross to complete the day’s scoring.
Chelsea’s first two goals were also very well worked, Malouda finishing on the rebound after excellent movement in the box by Frank Lampard to create the first, and Anelka scoring emphatically after John Mikel Obi’s stunning pass for the second.
Chelsea now tops the table with an incredible goal difference of plus-12 after just two games.
Spurs Scrape Past Stoke
Tottenham Hotspur struggled mid week in Switzerland with the stiff challenge posed by BSC Young Boys on their artificial pitch, and in the process lost three of their four strikers to injury.
Only Peter Crouch was fit to lead the attack against Stoke City this weekend, and after surviving a second-half onslaught at the Britannia Stadium, Spurs will be relieved to come away with three points.
Victory came on the back of two first-half Gareth Bale goals, which couldn’t have been more dissimilar.
The first he knew little about, as a defensive clearance struck him in the face and bounced over the line. The second was magnificent. After great work by Aaron Lennon, who expertly skipped past his man and delivered a lovely angled cross, Bale hit the sweetest of left-foot volleys, his boot at shoulder height as he guided the ball perfectly to the top right hand corner of the net.
Ricardo Fuller scored for Stoke between the two Bale goals, and with the home side pressing for an equaliser throughout the second half, this was a game that in previous seasons could well have seen Tottenham capitulate. But they have developed a steely temperament under Harry Redknapp’s stewardship, and despite some worrying moments as goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes flapped about under pressure, they hung on for the win.
Other Matches
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen did much to keep his side in the first half, including a penalty save from Carlton Cole, as they went on to defeat West Ham 3-1 at Upton Park.
Ben Foster was even more impressive for Birmingham, making a terrific penalty save, as well as some decent stops from open play, providing a platform for the home side to defeat visitors Blackburn 2-1.
West Brom’s latest addition to the squad, Peter Odemwingie, just signed on Friday night, made an instant impact at The Hawthorns, with his solitary goal enough to defeat Sunderland. The Baggies Black Country rivals Wolves also had a decent result, drawing 1-1 away at Everton, who were impressive in the first half but faltered in the second.
