Alan Hansens Premier League Preview: Arsenal v Blackpool

Blackpools fairytale story continued on the opening day of the 2010/11 campaign with an emphatic 4-0 win at the DW Stadium. In all honesty Ian Holloways team should have won by even more as they created chance after chance. However, next up is a real test of their Premier League credentials with a trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal.The Gunners picked up a late 1-1 draw at Anfield in their first outing and it was important for the team that they didnt open the campaign with a defeat. Arsenal popped the ball about nicely at times but werent at their best by any means. They will be expecting to win this weekend in front of their home crowd. However, Arsene Wenger is missing a few key players with Samir Nasri and Nicklas Bendtner injured plus Laurent Koscielny suspended. The likes of Robin Van Persie, Denilson, Alex Song and Cesc Fabregas are also struggling which leaves the Gunners missing a whole host of talent.This could be a good time for Ian Holloways team to make the trip to North London with the players brimming with confidence and the Gunners missing key personnel. However, Arsenal still have plenty of talent at their disposal and are a different level entirely to Wigan. It should be a pretty open attacking game as the Seasiders dont usually sit back and will look to get the ball down and play. This could be Blackpools downfall as there isnt a team in the top flight that tries to take Arsenal on at their own game. Both Andrei Arshavin and Theo Walcott will be threats on the flanks and Marouane Chamakh should get more of a chance to impress on his competitive home debut.ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOWThe Moroccan didnt get much change out of Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel as Liverpool defended deep and squeezed the space. At home against Blackpool he is likely to get far more room to manoeuvre and with his aerial ability, he gives the Gunners another option if they are struggling to break the Seasiders down with their quick interchanges.Holloway is renowned for his man management and he will need to be at his best to keep Blackpool up this season despite their emphatic start. He has strengthened the squad on a small budget and will be delighted with the performances of a number of his new boys at the DW Stadium including two -goal Marlon Harewood. Five of his new signings featured at Wigan which goes to show how quickly Ian has blended the players into his team but they will find things much more difficult against Arsenals slick passing and movement.Despite the Gunners absentees, I just cant see Blackpool pulling off a shock at the Emirates, so I am backing a home win on Premier 10. Arsenes team may not pick up the big win that many expect but with their individual talent, they are likely to show the Seasiders that the Premier League is not as easy to play in as it was last weekend. With a 30,000 Premier 10 jackpot up for grabs who will you back?Each week, Hansen will select a Pools game of his choice and hell make his predictions. If you think hes wrong or you can do better than him, just click this link to play that game as normal.Youll be entered into the normal prize pool for that game, and well also automatically enter you into our FREE bonus game, Challenge Hansen, for a chance to win a bonus prize!If you get more predictions correct than Hansen, youll be a winner!
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