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Chelsea and Arsenal hit teams for six

Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou netted twice as Chelsea, who opened the season with a 6-0 win over West Bromwich Albion last week, took their total to 20 goals in three league games including the last-day 8-0 win, also against Wigan, in May.

Theo Walcott was Arsenal's hero, scoring a hat-trick in his best all-round performance for years while Blackpool paid a heavy price for having defender Ian Evatt sent off after 31 minutes.

Arsenal took the lead after 12 minutes with a nicely-worked Walcott goal and Blackpool's slim hopes disappeared when centre-back Evatt was sent off for fouling Chamakh on the edge of the box.

Walcott, a surprise omission from England's World Cup squad in June, then produced a dazzling goal when he controlled a Diaby pass, ghosted forward and curled in a precise shot before leaving the field to a standing ovation.

Blackpool coach Ian Holloway was full of praise for the victors. "They are fantastic players, the way they try and play, pass and move is an education to watch," he told the BBC.

"The pace of them shocked my lads a bit but they have to get used to that. I'm just relieved it was only six."

Though Chelsea trounced Wigan 8-0 in May they had lost the away fixture to Roberto Martinez's team earlier in the season and they also looked second-best for the opening half hour on Saturday.