Barca, Arsenal revive entertaining European rivalry

Barcelona revive their entertaining rivalry with Arsenal on Wednesday in the first leg their Champions League last 16 tie that will showcase two of the most technically gifted and attractive sides in world soccer.

Barca, the 2009 winners, thumped Arsenal 6-3 in last year's quarter-finals, drawing 2-2 in London before Lionel Messi scored all four goals in a 4-1 comeback win at the Nou Camp.

The teams also met in the 2006 final, when 10-man Arsenal took a first-half lead at the Stade de France in Paris before Barca fought back to win 2-1.

The Catalan club's vice president Javier Faus told Reuters the presence of seven Spanish World Cup winners and World Player of the Year Messi in the Barca squad was grounds for optimism.

"Having said that, Arsenal are an extremely strong team and in my opinion the one that plays the best football in the English league," Faus said in an interview.

"They are well placed in the Premier League and it's going to be a very tough tie."

Wednesday's other last-16, first leg pits Serie A side AS Roma against Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk, who are appearing in the last 16 for the first time after failing in five previous qualifying attempts.

Roma have not won in three domestic league games and fans protested at training after Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Napoli which left last season's runners-up in eighth.

There have also been off-field distractions.

An American consortium was given a 30-day exclusive negotiation period on Tuesday to discuss a purchase of the cash-strapped club and media reports have said coach Claudio Ranieri's job could be under threat.

"This match could be a good medicine for Roma and we will do our best," defender Philippe Mexes said.

Barcelona players celebrate after beating Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final

Viet Nam invite Arsenal for friendly

Viet Nam has invited English Premier League club Arsenal to play a friendly during their Asian tour next year, a source from the British sports marketing firm Strata said yesterday.

As scheduled, the Gunners will play three friendly matches in China and Viet Nam next summer.

The source also said it plans to seek a US$2 million sponsorship deal to pay for the Arsenal friendly.

In 2007, Arsenal established a football academy – the Arsenal-Hoang Anh Gia Lai JMG Football Academy – in a $4 million project with local Central Highlands team Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

The Premier League team also helped to construct a community football school – the Vinamilk-Arsenal Football School in HCM City to teach children to play football.

Last year, Viet Nam failed to invite Manchester United during their tours in Thailand.

Last November, ex-Manchester United and Liverpool including Andy Cole and Steve McManaman played in a two-day competition in Ha Noi.

In 2008, Viet Nam lost to Brazil's Olympic team, which included world stars Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato, 2-0 in a friendly in Ha Noi. — VNS

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Real win aristocratic duel, slick Arsenal cruise

Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh (L) scores a goal past Shakhtar Donetsk's goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov during their Champions League soccer match at the Emirates Stadium in London October 19, 2010

Photo: Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo delivered the knockout blow for Real Madrid in their aristocratic battle with AC Milan on Tuesday, as Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich maintained their own perfect Champions League starts.

While Arsenal provided a breathtaking collective display in a 5-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk, nine-times European champions Real had the individual brilliance of the world's most expensive player to thank for their 2-0 win at the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo poked a free-kick straight through the wall and set up Mesut Ozil to score a heavily deflected second less than a minute later as Real saw off the seven-times winners with a devastating one-two combination.

Real and Milan make the record of Bayern Munich, the four-times winners, look relatively modest and there was a lot less style about their 3-2 home win over CFR Cluj in group E, which saw them come from behind to take the lead with two own-goals before Mario Gomez gave them breathing space.

Arsenal, who beat Braga 6-0 in their opening fixture in group H, rarely struggle for panache at their own stadium and they were altogether too much for Shakhtar in London.

Alex Song, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere and Marouane Chamakh picked off the goals, with former Arsenal player Eduardo da Silva getting a late consolation for the visitors and a heartwarming ovation for himself.

There was another goal-scoring return of a sort as Chelsea won 2-0 at Spartak Moscow in group F.

Yuri Zhirkov, who spent five seasons with Spartak's bitter Moscow rivals CSKA, set Chelsea on their way with his first goal for the club before Nicolas Anelka doubled the lead.

Beneath the perfect quartet, Ajax Amsterdam maintained their hopes in Real Madrid's group by winning 2-1 at home to Auxerre, a result that took them level with Milan on four points.

Goals from Brazilian strikers Lima and Matheus gave Braga their first points with a 2-0 win over Partizan Belgrade that leaves the Serbs bottom of group H.

Basel sprang a surprise in group E by winning 3-1 away to AS Roma after two defeats, while Olympique Marseille kept their group F hopes alive as they labored to a 1-0 home win against Slovakians Zilina.

Problem solved

The only question mark over Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid early in the season was a struggle to turn their dominance into goals but that problem is now well behind them.

The Spanish league leaders followed up a 4-1 win over Malaga at the weekend with another performance of energy and guile, capped by goals in the 13th and 14th minutes.

"We needed to impose a strong rhythm from the start, playing with the concentration this type of game deserves, and we were able to do that," Ronaldo told reporters.

While Real have scored five goals in their three wins in Europe, Arsenal have knocked in a whopping 14 and they were irresistible in taking Shakhtar apart on Tuesday.

"We were sharp and played technically at a good level," said manager Arsene Wenger, whose side have Manchester United's group stage record 20 goals in their sights. "I think our goals were down to them becoming fatigued from running after the ball."

Chelsea, who like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are dreaming of a place in a "home" final in London's Wembley Stadium, were efficient rather than brilliant at the Luzhniki Stadium, scene of their painful defeat by Manchester United in the 2008 final.

"I don't think the players talked about the last defeat at this stadium,” coach Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference. "It was not an easy game for us. We scored two great goals."

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Drogba gives Arsenal blues as Liverpool humbled

Chelsea's Michael Essien (L) challenges Arsenal's Abou Diaby during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London October 3, 2010

Photo: Reuters

Chelsea's Didier Drogba proved Arsenal's nemesis again as he inspired the champions to a 2-0 win over their London rivals and Blackpool pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory at Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

Chelsea bounced back from defeat at Manchester City to overpower Arsenal at Stamford Bridge and move four points clear at the top as Liverpool slumped into the relegation zone following Blackpool's triumph on their first league visit to Anfield since 1971.

Liverpool's day started badly when more than 2,000 fans marched from the city center to protest against the ownership of Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett and the defeat left new manager Roy Hodgson with just one league victory in seven matches.

Manchester City beat Newcastle United 2-1 to leapfrog Manchester United and Arsenal and move into second place.

Chelsea, who have beaten Arsenal in their last four league matches, top the table with 18 points, followed by City on 14, United on 13 and Arsenal on 11.

The victory was Chelsea's sixth in seven league games and Drogba again proved an unstoppable force against Arsenal, giving his side the lead with a stunning flick on the turn after 40 minutes to notch up his 13th goal in 13 appearances against Arsene Wenger's team.

Defender Alex sealed victory with an unstoppable free kick after 85 minutes, ending a difficult week for Chelsea, during which manager Carlo Ancelotti's father died, on a high.

"For the last two days the players have trained exceptionally well -- the day after Carlo's father's death was a bit lackluster," Chelsea assistant coach Ray Wilkins told a news conference.

"We were disappointing against Manchester City last week and we did not perform all that well today.

“You saw not a fantastic performance but a different performance in that we ground out a win. The three points was what we went for and that's what we got."

Wenger said he was pleased with Arsenal's performance.

"I just want to say that the game demonstrates how you can play well and lose the game," he said.

"We had the chances to score today, two in the first two minutes, but when you have the chances you have to score. We need to be more clinical offensively -- and defensively."

Blackpool stunned Liverpool with a 29th-minute penalty from Charlie Adam after Glen Johnson's foul on Luke Varney who struck again for the visitors before halftime.

Headed home

Defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos pulled one back for Liverpool after 53 minutes when he headed home a Steven Gerrard free kick, but the home side, who lost Spain striker Fernando Torres with an injury after nine minutes, were unable to fight back.

"It's a bad result and a very bad day," Hodgson told a news conference. "There's nothing more I can say.”

“We were very anxious to get back on track, to get the three points and lift ourselves up the table.

"No words or anything I can say can change that situation or make it better," he added.

Manchester City took the lead against Newcastle with a first-half penalty from Carlos Tevez and England's Adam Johnson fired a 75th-minute winner after Jonas Gutierrez had equalized.

The visitors also lost striker Hatem Ben Arfa with a suspected broken leg.

"It does not look good," Newcastle manager Chris Hughton told reporters. "It looks like a broken leg.”

“Everyone will have their own opinion but it was a tackle that did not need to be made."

Arsenal next up to test Chelsea's title hopes

Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka (L) celebrates scoring with Florent Malouda against Olympique Marseille during their Champions League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London, September 28, 2010

Photo: Reuters

After failing their first big test of the season by losing 1-0 at Manchester City last week, champions Chelsea face another tough examination when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti's men roared away from the pack by winning their opening five league games and outscoring some of the lesser lights in the division 21-1 but stumbled when they came up against their first major obstacle at Eastlands.

Arsenal also lost their unbeaten league record last week when they were surprisingly beaten 3-2 at home by West Bromwich Allbion.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will hope for a vastly improved performance from his side who have lost their last four matches to Chelsea in FA Cup and League.

City outmuscled Chelsea in midfield with their powerful Dutchman Nigel de Jong giving a robust performance, but Arsenal's injury-prone and less robust players will have to chose another route.

The hugely talented Jack Wilshere has the gift of creating chances for the front men, but only Samir Nasri looks lethal in front of goal at present, although Marouane Chamakh is an increasing danger in front of goal.

It will suit Chelsea to sit back, absorb whatever Arsenal throw at them and attack on the break because although Arsenal play attractive, attacking football their defensive frailties -- especially in goal -- were easily exposed by West Brom.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia had a poor game and injured himself saving a penalty he conceded. The often-criticized Lukasz Fabianski replaced him for Tuesday's Champions League match against Partizan Belgrade and impressed, but he is always capable of a major gaffe.

The 25-year-old Polish international said: "I have never been bothered by the things said about me, I am always trying to focus on my job and my work.”

“Now I am ready to play against Chelsea, so we will see if I do."

Chelsea recovered from their loss to City with a 2-0 victory over Olympique Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday and if Ancelotti continues with the exciting Frenchman Gael Kakuta in attack, the Arsenal defense will have plenty to cope with.

However, Chelsea will still be without the injured Frank Lampard in midfield and Salomon Kalou up front.

Chelsea go into the derby as league leaders with 15 points from six games, followed by Manchester United (12), Arsenal (11) and Manchester City (11).

United's 1-0 win at Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday will have boosted their self-belief after their 2-2 draw at Bolton Wanderers last week and they face a tricky visit to Sunderland, managed by their old player Steve Bruce, on Saturday.

Striker Wayne Rooney will be missing with an ankle injury, but the match could mark Rio Ferdinand's return to league action after he returned to the side on Wednesday for his second Champions League appearance of the season after having missed the start of the league campaign through injury.

While Chelsea and Arsenal do battle at the top, Liverpool will be aiming to pull away from the other end of the table when they face Blackpool at Anfield. Bottom-placed Everton will be looking for their first win of the season at Birmingham City and Manchester City host inconsistent Newcastle United.

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Arsenal next up to test Chelsea's title hopes

Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka (L) celebrates scoring with Florent Malouda against Olympique Marseille during their Champions League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London, September 28, 2010

Photo: Reuters

After failing their first big test of the season by losing 1-0 at Manchester City last week, champions Chelsea face another tough examination when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti's men roared away from the pack by winning their opening five league games and outscoring some of the lesser lights in the division 21-1 but stumbled when they came up against their first major obstacle at Eastlands.

Arsenal also lost their unbeaten league record last week when they were surprisingly beaten 3-2 at home by West Bromwich Allbion.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will hope for a vastly improved performance from his side who have lost their last four matches to Chelsea in FA Cup and League.

City outmuscled Chelsea in midfield with their powerful Dutchman Nigel de Jong giving a robust performance, but Arsenal's injury-prone and less robust players will have to chose another route.

The hugely talented Jack Wilshere has the gift of creating chances for the front men, but only Samir Nasri looks lethal in front of goal at present, although Marouane Chamakh is an increasing danger in front of goal.

It will suit Chelsea to sit back, absorb whatever Arsenal throw at them and attack on the break because although Arsenal play attractive, attacking football their defensive frailties -- especially in goal -- were easily exposed by West Brom.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia had a poor game and injured himself saving a penalty he conceded. The often-criticized Lukasz Fabianski replaced him for Tuesday's Champions League match against Partizan Belgrade and impressed, but he is always capable of a major gaffe.

The 25-year-old Polish international said: "I have never been bothered by the things said about me, I am always trying to focus on my job and my work.”

“Now I am ready to play against Chelsea, so we will see if I do."

Chelsea recovered from their loss to City with a 2-0 victory over Olympique Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday and if Ancelotti continues with the exciting Frenchman Gael Kakuta in attack, the Arsenal defense will have plenty to cope with.

However, Chelsea will still be without the injured Frank Lampard in midfield and Salomon Kalou up front.

Chelsea go into the derby as league leaders with 15 points from six games, followed by Manchester United (12), Arsenal (11) and Manchester City (11).

United's 1-0 win at Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday will have boosted their self-belief after their 2-2 draw at Bolton Wanderers last week and they face a tricky visit to Sunderland, managed by their old player Steve Bruce, on Saturday.

Striker Wayne Rooney will be missing with an ankle injury, but the match could mark Rio Ferdinand's return to league action after he returned to the side on Wednesday for his second Champions League appearance of the season after having missed the start of the league campaign through injury.

While Chelsea and Arsenal do battle at the top, Liverpool will be aiming to pull away from the other end of the table when they face Blackpool at Anfield. Bottom-placed Everton will be looking for their first win of the season at Birmingham City and Manchester City host inconsistent Newcastle United.

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Arsenal beat Partizan in Champions League

Andrey Arshavin

Photo: AFP

Arsenal beat 10-man Partizan Belgrade 3-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday despite missing a penalty, in a match where Gunners goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski restored some of his tarnished reputation.

The English side wasted several chances after Andrey Arshavin gave them a 15th minute lead and then saw Partizan draw level through Brazil-born striker Cleo.

Then, after Marko Jovanovic was sent off early in the second half, Arshavin saw his resulting penalty well saved by goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic, before striker Marouane Chamakh restored the London club's lead 19 minutes from time.

Sebastien Squillaci headed in substitute Samir Nasri's corner to make it 3-1 in the 82nd minute.

There was still time for Partizan to force a penalty but Fabianski, in for the injured and equally under-fire Manuel Almunia, dived to his right to save Cleo's spot-kick.

"We had a good game but because we couldn't finish it off, always in the Champions League you can be punished but in the end we got an important win," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Victory gave Arsenal two wins out of two in Group H after they thrashed Braga 6-0 in their opener while Partizan were left searching for their first points, having lost 1-0 to Shakhtar Donetsk in the first round.

"We have seen the Lukasz I see every day," Wenger said of Fabianski.

"I believe it's a good encouragement for him."

However, Wenger refused to say if the Pole would still be between the posts for this weekend's all-London clash against Premier League leaders and reigning champions Chelsea.

But the Gunners boss said Spanish star midfielder Cesc Fabregas could return from injury in time for the game.

"Cesc Fabregas has a little, little chance," he said.

Arsenal took the lead but they failed to make the most of their early dominance and saw several chances go to waste before Denilson inexplicably handled a Radoslav Petrovic cross inside his own box.

Cleo, recently granted Serbian citizenship, scored from the spot.

A pre-match power failure in the Serbian capital, which affected the floodlights, had put a question mark against the game going ahead as scheduled.

But an Arsenal side featuring six changes from the team that suffered a shock Premier League loss to West Brom last weekend were able to kick off on time against the Serbian league leaders.

They opened the scoring when England youngster Jack Wilshere saw his route to goal blocked but still had the awareness to back-heel the ball into the path of the onrushing Arshavin, who shot into the bottom corner.

Soon afterwards, Arshavin had a chance for a second goal but Stojkovic was quickly off his line to make a smart save before denying Tomas Rosicky.

And when Arshavin's chip cleared the advancing Stojkovic, the quickly covering Jovanovic was able to hack the goalbound shot away.

Early in the second half, Partizan found themselves a man down after Jovanovic, the last man, was sent off for a foul just inside the area on Arsenal striker Chamakh.

But Arshavin, given the chance to put Arsenal in front from the resulting penalty, saw former Wigan keeper Stojkovic block a weakly struck spot-kick aimed at the centre of the goal.

However, Arsenal did restore their lead when Chamakh's header from Rosicky's cross was tipped onto the bar by Stojkovic, only for the striker to pounce on the loose ball and score from close range.

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Spurs pay the penalty as Arsenal win 4-1

Tottenham Hotspur's Sandro (R) challenges Arsenal's Samir Nasri during their English League Cup football match at White Hart Lane in London September 21, 2010

Photo: Reuters

Samir Nasri slotted home two extra-time penalties in quick succession to send Arsenal through to the last 16 of the English League Cup with a 4-1 rout of North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.

League One (third division) Brentford served up the night's big upset and triggered scenes of jubilation in west London by knocking out Premier League Everton 4-3 on penalties after holding the visitors 1-1 in normal time.

With the score also 1-1 after the 90 minutes at White Hart Lane, French midfielder Nasri overcame his own superstition to shatter Spurs' hopes with two spot kicks in the space of three minutes early in extra time.

"He had a superstition to think that when the penalty is made on you, not to take it," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after his club's biggest win at White Hart Lane in 32 years.

"I tried to prove to him that it's only based on fear. It's gone tonight...he realises now it was a bad superstition."

The first penalty was awarded after Nasri was tugged by Sebastien Bassong and the second when Steven Caulker fouled Marouane Chamakh.

Second-half substitute Andrey Arshavin delivered the final blow with a low shot from the edge of the box.

"I thought the first one (penalty) was harsh," said Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp. "Really, I think he's dived. The second one was a blatant penalty."

Other upset

Second division Burnley savoured the night's other upset with a 1-0 home win over their former manager Owen Coyle's Premier League Bolton Wanderers.

Struggling West Ham United won 2-1 at Premier League rivals Sunderland and, in another all top-flight clash, Stoke City beat Fulham 2-0, while Birmingham City saw off third division Milton Keynes Dons 3-1. Arsenal were by far the better team in the first half against Spurs and went ahead in the 15th minute with England under-21 international Henri Lansbury scoring his first senior goal for the club.

The arrival of Robbie Keane after the break revived Spurs and the Irishman equalised just three minutes into the second half with a shot that rolled into the net despite goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski getting his hands to the ball.

Keane could have wrapped it up for the hosts in the 83rd when he smacked a shot against the left upright.

The match started after a minute's applause for former England international Bobby Smith, centre-forward in Tottenham's double-winning side of 1960-61, who died on Saturday aged 77.

Wenger, serving a one-match touchline ban for his behaviour at Sunderland on Saturday, watched from the directors' box and had to resort to texting instructions to the dugout.

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Angry Arsenal manager fumes over 'bad timing'

Sunderland's Darren Bent (right) scores late equalizer during their English Premier League match vs Arsenal at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Photo: AFP

SUNDERLAND - Arsene Wenger insisted there was no confrontation with fourth official Martin Atkinson as Arsenal were denied top spot in the Premier League thanks to Darren Bent's dramatic injury-time goal in a 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

England international Bent, who grew up as an Arsenal supporter, scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Atkinson had indicated a minimum of four would be added on, to spark a melee near the technical area.

"Take the pictures and look at it. I complained to nobody," Wenger insisted in a curt post-match press conference.

The Football Association are likely to probe the incident.

Alex Song was sent off early in the second-half for the Gunners, who were left to rue a late penalty miss by Tomas Rosicky.

Wenger had praise for his team, who trail Chelsea by two points after missing an opportunity to leapfrog the leaders.

The Frenchman, clearly still fuming at the circumstances in which his side were denied two priceless points, refused to discuss the display of Phil Dowd, the referee.

The Arsenal manager added: "I don't comment on any decision by the referee. You saw the game like I did. Don't ask me to comment on any of the referee's decisions."

On the timing of Bent's fifth goal of the season to cancel out a freak early strike by Cesc Fabregas, who limped off before half-time with a hamstring injury to make him a doubt for Tuesday's League Cup meeting with north London rivals Tottenham, Wenger added: "If you have a watch you can control it. It's as simple as that."

Wenger refused to single out substitute Rosicky's costly miss as the turning point.

"We had problems at the start in the first-half, but the performance was good. In the second-half we controlled the game, even though we had 10 men," said Wenger.

"Unfortunately in the 95th minute Sunderland scored their equalizer but I was very pleased with the performance and we showed all the ingredients of a good team.

"We started slowly but we did well in the second time. We had chances to kill the game but we didn't. The back four did well but we made a mistake on the goal."

After Sunderland enhanced their reputation for upping their game against the Premier League big guns, manager Steve Bruce insisted his Black Cats deserved at least a point.

"On our first-half performance alone we got what we deserved. We created plenty of chances and I was particularly pleased with the way we stuck at it and got our reward," said Bruce.

"We found it more difficult against 10 men but by the letter of the law Song had to go. I feel for Arsene, it's never easy to take when you concede so late on. I know how he feels.

"The complaint is that we played 15 seconds over. The referee is within his rights to play it because it's a minimum of four minutes. You have to play to the whistle and understand the disappointment. The gripe is about the 15 seconds."

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Maturing Arsenal ready to deliver, says Wenger

Arsenal's Carlos Vela celebrates his second goal against Braga with Cesc Fabregas during their Champions League Group H soccer match at The Emirates Stadium in London September 15, 2010

Photo: Reuters

Arsene Wenger spoke in a calm, almost matter-of-fact fashion after his Arsenal side had torn Braga to shreds on Wednesday.

The 6-0 Champions League victory was sensational and probably even surpassed the heights achieved by Barcelona the previous evening when Lionel Messi ran riot against Panathinaikos.

Wenger did not seem surprised by his team's performance. In fact, nobody should be because it is exactly what Arsenal are capable of.

His faith in a brand of football that is preached from junior level to first team at Arsenal is unshakable despite five trophy-less years.

"We have a big potential but what you forget is that I always believed in this team," Wenger told reporters. "The players that were here at 20 and 21 are now 23 and they are continuing to grow.

"What they did at 20 was exceptional even though some people can't accept that we haven't won trophies."

On their day the Gunners are the best footballing side in England and few teams could have lived with them on Wednesday when skipper Cesc Fabregas played a virtuoso role.

The question that remains is if Arsenal can deliver such dazzling football when it really matters, when the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United come to the Emirates -- or even this weekend away at Sunderland.

Wenger's attacking options are boundless. Even without the injured Theo Walcott and Dutch sharp shooter Robin van Persie they had a goal threat all over the field against Braga.

Mexican Carlos Vela has been a bit-part player at Arsenal since joining as a teenager in 2005, but the 21-year-old scored twice on Wednesday to go with the goal he managed against Bolton Wanderers the previous weekend.

"He is an outstanding finisher who worked very hard this summer and he continues to improve," Wenger said.

Football education

Jack Wilshere, just 19, also looks ready to deliver on his huge potential.

The English midfielder, who recently earned his first senior international cap, looks bigger and stronger after spending time on loan at Bolton last season.

"Loaning Wilshere out was important because it accelerated his career by being confronted in the Premier League and having tough games," Wenger said.

"Of course, Jack has been educated here and he was already an outstanding player when he left for Bolton.

“But this is the final part of the education of a player -- to be integrated into the first team and play under pressure."

Ultimately Wenger knows that the success of his mission will be judged on silverware, not the exhibition football they are capable of on a pleasant September evening in north London against compliant opposition.

"I'm convinced (the team will win trophies) but I have a problem convincing you," Wenger said. "We have a style at the club that everybody knows and no matter who comes in the football is played the same way.

"I believe we are in the top eight in Europe for our performances year in, year out but we have not won it and until we have won it people will question the way we play."

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Chelsea maintain perfect start, Arsenal win

Arsenal's Theo Walcott (R) challenges Blackpool's Stephen Crainey during their English Premier League soccer match at The Emirates Stadium in London August 21, 2010

Photo: Reuters

LONDON - Chelsea's goal-rush was staunched by Stoke City but the Premier League champions maintained their perfect start to the season with a 2-0 home victory on Saturday despite a missed penalty by Frank Lampard.

The England midfielder saw his spot kick saved by Thomas Sorensen but Florent Malouda fired Chelsea ahead just past the half hour mark and Didier Drogba tucked away a second-half penalty to seal a win that was much harder work than their 6-0 thrashings of West Bromwich Albion and Wigan Athletic.

Carlo Ancelotti's side top the table with a maximum nine points and a 14-0 goal difference while Arsenal moved to seven with an impressive 2-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers where Theo Walcott scored his fourth goal of the season.

The surprise result of the day came a White Hart Lane where Wigan Athletic hit back from two crushing defeats to beat Champions League qualifiers Tottenham Hotspur 1-0.

Hugo Rodallega's late goal decided a fixture that Tottenham won 9-1 last season.

Blackpool's first home match in the top flight since 1971 ended in a 2-2 draw with Fulham while Andy Carroll was on target again for promoted Newcastle United who drew 1-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Manchester United can join Arsenal on seven points if they beat West Ham United in an early evening kickoff.

Chelsea have been unstoppable so far this season but Stoke proved a much tougher proposition than they did at the back end of last season when they were hammered 7-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard wasted the chance to put the hosts in front when his poorly-struck penalty, awarded for a foul on Malouda by Ryan Shawcross, was saved by Sorensen.

Spared blushes

Malouda spared Lampard's blushes soon afterwards when he latched on to John Terry's pass to score but Stoke never looked like capitulating.

The visitors almost leveled when Matthew Etherington's shot was blocked on the line by Drogba and then Glenn Whelan's powerful shot struck the crossbar.

After 77 minutes Nicolas Anelka was brought down by Sorensen, and with Lampard having been substituted, Drogba made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Walcott's sparkling early-season form for Arsenal continued at Ewood Park and the England striker has already matched his goal tally for the whole of the last campaign which culminated with his exclusion from the World Cup squad.

He fired Arsenal ahead with a fine finish after 20 minutes and although Mame Diouf levelled for Rovers on his first Premier League start the Gunners sealed a deserved victory when Andrei Arshavin scored early in the second half.

The only blemish for manager Arsene Wenger was the sight of Dutch striker Robin van Persie limping off with a twisted ankle before halftime.

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Champions Chelsea and Arsenal claim 6-0 wins

Arsenal's Theo Walcott (R) challenges Blackpool's Stephen Crainey during their English Premier League soccer match at The Emirates Stadium in London August 21, 2010

Photo: Reuters

Chelsea and Arsenal notched impressive 6-0 victories on Saturday as the champions destroyed Wigan Athletic and Arsene Wenger's team brought 10-man Blackpool crashing back to Premier League reality.

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.

Gareth Bale hit two goals, the second a brilliant top-corner volley from a tough angle, as Tottenham Hotspur won 2-1 at Stoke City.

The Londoners were helped by a controversial late decision that denied Stoke an equalizer when the referee ruled a Jon Walters header was not over the line before Peter Crouch cleared the ball.

In other games Bolton Wanderers won 3-1 at West Ham United, Birmingham City beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 and promoted West Bromwich Albion edged Sunderland 1-0.

Everton were held 1-1 at home by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw with Fulham on Sunday while Manchester City host Liverpool on Monday night.

First game

When promoted Blackpool beat Wigan in their first game in the top flight for almost 40 years last week they were 3-0 up by halftime but at the Emirates they trailed by the same score at the break and were a man down.

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

Andrei Arshavin converted the resulting penalty to make it 2-0, Walcott then spun past his marker to bang his second and Abou Diaby rattled in the fourth just after the restart.

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.

New signing Marouane Chamakh completed the thrashing with his first goal for the club seven minutes from time.

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.

However, when Florent Malouda tapped in the rebound after keeper Chris Kirkland blocked a 34th-minute Frank Lampard shot, everything changed.

Two goals in five minutes early in the second half made sure of the points as Anelka ran on to a John Obi Mikel pass to shoot low past Kirkland and the Frenchman headed in a Didier Drogba cross.

Drogba was the provider again for the next two as Kalou scored after 78 and 90 minutes while new signing Yossi Benayoun rounded things off in stoppage time.

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