Premier League previews: Arsenal v Blackpool
The end of the second weekend of the new season is always more telling than the first, which can often be a little deceiving.
With Blackpool currently sitting joint-top of the league, normality may be restored when they travel to Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.
Ian Holloway’s side exceeded their wildest expectations last weekend with a stunning 4-0 demolition of Wigan Athletic, but are likely to be brought back down to earth with a bump against Arsène Wenger’s side at the Emirates Stadium.
After their fortuitous 1-1 draw against Liverpool last Sunday, the Gunners will be looking to kick-start their campaign by hammering the Premier League new boys, and few would bet against them doing just that.
Also on Saturday, a particularly intriguing fixture for Arsenal’s rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Redknapp’s team won’t be relishing their trip to the Britannia Stadium to face the dogged Stoke City, and they’ll be satisfied to come away from the ground with a point.
However, Spurs will also have one eye on their second leg tie against Young Boys on Wednesday night for a place in the Champions League group stages. And because of this, Redknapp is expected to rest one or two key players, including Ledley King, at the risk of slipping up against the Potters.
Meanwhile, Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers go head-to-head at St Andrew’s with both clubs looking to retain their current positions inside the top seven.
Former Blackburn striker Matt Derbyshire, signed a loan deal with the Blues earlier this week, could come back to haunt his previous employers. Sam Allardyce’s side, though, will be looking to play to their strengths and keep up their impressive start to the season with a second consecutive victory.
It was Everton who suffered defeat at the hands of Blackburn last weekend, and they’ll be desperate to avoid a poor start to another campaign with a home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Toffees are a formidable outfit at Goodison Park, where they only lost twice last season, but on the evidence of their first match of the campaign their opponents will be no pushovers. A 2-1 win against Stoke certainly raised a few eyebrows, and Mick McCarthy will ensure that his players are well equipped to come away from Merseyside with a well earned point.
One club aiming to bounce back from an opening weekend thrashing are West Brom. Roberto Di Matteo’s men were torn apart by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and will be glad to get back to the Hawthorns for their second match back in the top-flight against Sunderland.
The Baggies have been boosted with the news that Steve Bruce will be without the talismanic Lee Cattermole, who was sent off against Birmingham in last weekend’s 2-2 draw. The Black Cats’ manager called in World Cup final referee Howard Webb to advise his players on discipline earlier this week, and will be anticipating another tough afternoon against the newly-promoted team.
And finally, Avram Grant will be hoping to secure his first victory as West Ham manager against Bolton Wanderers. But if recent history between the two clubs is anything to by, then this will be no mean feat: Bolton have beaten the Hammers in their last five league meetings.
West Ham were comfortably beaten by Aston Villa last weekend, meaning that improvement is imperative if they’re to get their first points on the board; while Owen Coyle’s side will be looking to score their first goal of the campaign following a 0-0 draw against Fulham.
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