The 28-year-old Spaniard bagged his first goal since a £2m summer switch from Osasuna as the Latics got their first win of the campaign.
Barcelona youth product Riera scored 13 goals in La Liga – including a double in a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid – despite Osasuna slipping to relegation last season.
Uwe Rosler’s Latics are crying out for goals, with Jordi Gomez and Nick Powell top-scoring on just seven last term.
And incredibly Wigan have only had three players in double figures in the last EIGHT seasons.
Carson believes the Spaniard is already showing he can be the answer to the goal problems at the DW Stadium.
The keeper, 28, said: “Last year, even though we were dominating possession in games, we weren’t putting it to bed and seeing teams off. But hopefully Oriol can be our talisman and can get the 15 or 20 goals that I’ve seen he’s capable of doing.
“He’s got some pedigree. It’s a great signing for us and he’s not afraid to put his foot in. He knows it’s going to be a physical season and he’s not going to shy out of it. He puts it about.”
Riera fired in a low effort on the turn from Andrew Taylor’s cross just before the break but Emmerson Boyce, Callum McManaman and Don Cowie should also have netted.
Blackpool are pointless after four matches following a miserable summer that saw boss Jose Riga struggle to get enough players for the start of the season.
But midfielder David Perkins, 32, said: “People looking from the outside will think it is time to panic, but we don’t think that.
“There will probably be four or five new faces coming in before the transfer deadline.”
