It was the match after the game before, but there was no sign of ahangover. Rather, Blackburn Rovers ended punch drunk. They, and notTheo Walcott, will be reaching for the paracetamol. For football'sanswer to Usain Bolt, the transition from derided teenager to supposednational icon took 90 minutes. The journey to becoming an essentialelement in the Arsenal side may last longer, even for one as quick asthe 19-year-old, but a trip to Ewood Park has acquired a significance. Theo Walcott uses his pace to get away from Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock.
Yetfollowing his hat-trick in Croatia, there appeared an inevitabilitythat this would be an anti-climactic afternoon. He would be rankedbelow Emmanuel Eboue and placed on the bench, or kicked intosubmission, or simply go missing. So much for such theories. If thiswas not quite comparable with Croatia, Walcott excelled nonetheless. Inthe final verdict, he was overshadowed by the hat-trick scorer,Emmanuel Adebayor, but in any analysis of the game, his contributionhas to be recognised.
As is frequently the case, the first goalwas the most decisive. The inspiration for it was supplied by Walcottand in a telling manner. Finding himself on the left flank, with a trioof opponents threatening to converge on him, Walcott glided infieldbefore weighing a ball to Robin van Persie who, in turn, defeated PaulRobinson nonchalantly.
Croatia can testify to his finishing.This was Walcott the creator. There is a school of thought that Walcottis not fully attuned to Arsenal's passing game, that his pace can bringimpatience, whereas Arsenal's ball-players see passing as an end initself. Yet in one moment, deft distribution was allied with a cuttingedge.
Blackburn's approach was equally indicative. That none ofthe would-be markers closed Walcott down suggested a fear of his speed.Granted room, he used it intelligently. A reluctance among opponents torisk a challenge offers him an advantage. There are signs now that heis beginning to exploit that.
His counterpart came courtesy ofanother injection of youth. Paul Ince had given a first start to DannySimpson. The seeming intention was to match pace with pace. It failed;firstly because Walcott is somewhat quicker; and secondly because thewinger's roaming brief meant he was equally liable to torment StephenWarnock.
So both full-backs could have been forgiven for wishingSamir Nasri had been passed fit. Thus far, Walcott's career is stillmore notable for decisions taken by Sven-Goran Eriksson and FabioCapello than Arsene Wenger himself. His selection, if a consequence ofNasri's absence, was a correct choice by the Frenchman.
But, asthe Arsenal manager admitted: "I was thinking of leaving him out butit's just for the balance of the team, I thought I'd play him today.Away from home, Theo can give us that penetration. He can play left andright and he's happy to play on the left because he can score with hisright foot." He came close to doing that, with a curling shot that wasreminiscent of Thierry Henry in its style, if not its destination, wideof the Rovers goal.
More clinical finishing came from Adebayor,whose hat-trick opened his Premier League account for the season. Hisfirst was particularly memorable, his downward header from Denilson'scross providing the culmination of a sweeping move. Wenger confessedthat he, too, thought Arsenal were merely playing out time before theinterval. He added: "Sometimes when you are patient and simple, theopening comes along. It was about 20 passes from right to back to leftand then the cross and we score.' Emmanuel Adebayor scores for Arsenal
WhenStephen Warnock fouled Eboue, Adebayor delivered a second goal from thepenalty spot. His third followed in extra time, the Togolese strollinground the unfortunate Rovers goalkeeper.
Blackburn manager Incesympathised: "I felt sorry for Paul Robinson because he hasn't doneanything wrong and he's conceded eight goals in two games." That,nonetheless, should be a concern. Blackburn's defending was substandardand, though there were moments when Arsenal's was not much better, asuccession of first-half chances were spurned.
Yet the abidingmemories are of the compelling football orchestrated by Cesc Fabregasand Denilson and given a finishing touch by van Persie and Adebayor.Their travelling fans had been buoyed before kick-off by Ryan Babel'swinner at Anfield. And thereafter, their afternoon just got better andbetter. MAN OF THE MATCH: Theo Walcott - Promise andpotential are one thing, performances another altogether. This has beena week where Walcott has delivered. Long may it continue. CHANT OF THE MATCH:"You've only come to see Eboue," chorused the Arsenal fans. They mighthave had a point: the subject of their affections did produce one ofhis finer performances, culminating in the award of the penalty BLACKBURN VERDICT:They retain the ability to create chances, but they have regressed.Mark Hughes" Blackburn tended to be more resolute. Ince's sign were tooopen and both the balance of the side and the standard of defending areworries. Greater solidity is required. ARSENAL VERDICT:Their passing was magnificent, to the extent that even the beatenmanager called them "a joy to watch'. Lacking an orthodox defensivemidfielder and with a back four who showed glimpses of frailty, theymay not have the most secure rearguard. Equally, when opponents can'tget the ball off them, it hardly matters. SWEET SIXTEEN:The substitute Jack Wilshere became, at 16 years 256 days, Arsenal'syoungest player in league football in the closing minutes. Longcriticised for his reluctance to use homegrown players, Wenger is nowin the possession of two teenage talents. "He is another one for you,"the Arsenal manager told his largely English audience. CRYING FOWL:There was no place in the 18-man squad for Ince's latest signing,Robbie Fowler. On a pay-as you-play deal, this match wouldn't haveproved too profitable for a man who once scored a four-minute hat-trickagainst Arsenal.
Theo Walcott uses his pace to get away from Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock.
Emmanuel Adebayor scores for Arsenal