2010-08-21: Arsenal 6 - 0 Blackpool

Wenger: Chamakh can be vital in the big games

Dear Arsenal Supporter,

We played well going forward on Saturday. In fairness when they had 11 players on the pitch, Blackpool looked like they could create chances. They tried to play in a positive way.

We looked very dangerous when we won the ball and I believe we have matured because, even though we were 3-0 up at half-time, we didn't become sloppy. We kept playing the way we wanted to play and overall it became a comfortable win.

Theo Walcott's hat-trick showed he is more electric than he has been to date because he is sharp at the moment. I like the fact he mixed the final ball and the finishing - that is always a sign of maturity. Let's not forget that what he does is at a very high pace so it's not always easy to make the right decisions. But against Blackpool he got many decisions in the final third right.

He had a good pre-season for the first time for a long, long time; without being interrupted by injury or without coming back late. You could see that. We have known for two or three weeks now that he is sharp because he had a very good preparation.

From where I was I thought Ian Evatt's foul on Marouane Chamakh was outside the area. The referee had no choice to show the red card unfortunately. It was not a malicious foul but it was clearly denying a goalscoring opportunity. I feel many times a yellow card would be enough in these situations.

I believe Chamakh is a player who is still adapting to our style but look at the impact he had on the game - he got the penalty, he got a goal and he was involved in the goal last week at Liverpool. He is an efficient player and I am very confident that his goals can be vital in big games.

He can play alongside Robin van Persie but that will be in a 4-4-2. We'll see, it depends a little bit, one can play on the flank and come in, but at the moment we have plenty of choice going forward - touch wood.

I am confident we will add at least one more signing before the end of the month, maybe one plus one. It is difficult to predict because the market is very quiet but I know that in the last five days of the month it gets crazy and then it gets completely mad.

Thanks for your support.


Arsène Wenger