Arsenal fire 3 past Blackpool

Arsenal beat Blackpool 3-1 at Bloomfield Road on Sunday afternoon thanks to strikes from Diaby, Eboue and Van Persie. Despite 2 claims for a penalty from the Blackpool players during the game Arsenal managed to hold on for all 3 points and keep up with United in the title race. The lineup was not at its strongest as Eboue came in for Sagna, Diaby in for Walcott who was dropped to the bench and Jens Lehmann starting in goal because Almunia sustained an injury during the pre match warm up.

Chances were being created early on but nobody could really force anything on target until 17 minutes in when Arsenal took the lead. Fabregas playing the ball over the top into the path of Van Persie who fired the ball to the back post where the unmarked Abou Diaby was allowed to tap home from close range.

Just 3 minutes later the Gunners went 2-0 up. Eboue playing a one-two with Wilshere before cutting inside and smashing a left footed shot into the back of the net.

Nasri then had two good opportunities in quick succession to make it 3. The first effort Kingson saving and then the next hitting the post from Fabregas' ball into the box.

Just before the break Arsenal thought they did have 3 but this time the goal was ruled out for offside on Van Persie and the ball was played back into the box from a corner.

Then Blackpool had a good chance to get back into the game and it was almost taken but the ball was only just bundled off the line by Nasri.

The score at half time was 2-0 to Arsenal.

The first chance of the second half fell to Blackpool as Adam whipped in a free kick, but from six yards Varney could only put his shot wide.

Then Blackpool did managed to take one of their chances to make it 2-1. The ball being played into Campbell who was brought down by Lehmann inside the box but the referee played the advantage and Taylor-Fletcher was there to put the ball into the back of the net.

The seasiders then had a chance to grab an equaliser but Southern could not find the back of the net from the ball into the box.

15 minutes from the end of the game Arsenal extended their lead back to 2 goals after a tap in from Van Persie. Diaby with great work in his sides own half and then playing the ball into Fabregas who with a first time pass found Walcott who then slid the ball over to Van Persie for 3-1.

The final chance of the game fell to Blackpool and DJ Campbell but he fired his shot straight at Lehmann to stop the seasiders having their second of the game.

The final score ended Blackpool 1-3 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Blackpool: Kingson, Baptiste, Evatt, Cathcart, Crainey, Adam, Southern(79), Puncheon(86), Varney(58), Campbell, Taylor-Fletcher.
Subs: Rachubka, Eardley, Phillips(79), Reid(58), Ormerod, Kornilenko(86), Beattie.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Arshavin(60), Nasri(85), Wilshere, Fabregas(87), Diaby, Van Persie.
Subs: Almunia, Gibbs(85), Walcott(60), Rosicky, Ramsey(87), Chamakh, Bendtner.

My man of the match: Cesc Fabregas

Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 16,030