Preview: Blackpool v Arsenal

Blackpool remain out of the relegation zone after results largely went in their favour this afternoon.

And a surprise win at home against Arsenal tomorrow could lift them as high as 14th, four points clear of the drop zone.

It was a bad day for Arsenal meanwhile as Man Utd beat Fulham 2-0 to open up a ten point gap at the top of the table. Arsenal do have two games in hand on the league leaders however.

'Pool manager Ian Holloway has made his squad watch DVDs of last season's promotion run-in in a bid to inspire them... let's hope we see a little bit of that magic, starting tomorrow.

Ian Holloway sent his players to the pub this week in a bid to improve spirits (pun not intended) in the camp:

'It was Tuesday, and I'd had enough, so I just sent them out for a beer.

'We'd been going over the Fulham game, and all the tippy-tappy stuff with no end product, and I just said to them, 'What are you doing, you complete idiots. Go on, off you go'.

'They were a bit brighter the next time they were in!'

However, Ollie has also called for his team to come out fighting tomorrow:

'What I've got to guard against is people feeling sorry for themselves.

'I've sensed it creeping in, but I won't stand for it. What I demand from my players is that they fight and kick and spit and bite to get the points we need.

'We should be fighting and scrapping, and I just didn't like the body language at Fulham after Bobby Zamora scored the second. It wasn't like us. I'm expecting a reaction against Arsenal.'

DJ Campbell returns from his three match ban and is expected to start.

Matt Gilks is deemed still not fit enough to play, whilst David Carney will miss the rest of the season through injury.

Nominated for the PFA Player's Player of the Year, can Charlie show everyone exactly why he's in the running for such an award?

Theo Walcott and Bacary Sagna are big doubts, but Cesc Fabregas is expected to start.

Arsenal have a lengthy injury list at present: Denilson, Djourou, Fabianski, Song, Szczesny and Vermaelen will all miss tomorrow's game.

When fit and on form, the Dutch striker is one of the best in the world. The Blackpool defence will have to be at their best tomorrow to keep him quiet.

The Gunners put six past Blackpool at the Emirates last October. That made it six league meetings between the clubs since the Tangerines last won.

Blackpool's most recent victory against Arsenal was back in the 1960s. The Tangerines edged an eight-goal thriller 5-3 in October 1965.

Blackpool have lost 10 of 14 Premier League games since the turn of the year.

No side has kept a clean sheet in 14 league matches at Bloomfield Road this season, including Blackpool.

The Seasiders have scored more goals (nine) from outside the box than any other team.

The Gunners have not won in five games in all competitions, their worst run for 11 months. If they fail to beat Blackpool, it will be the first time since December 1998 they have gone six games without a victory.

Arsenal are unbeaten in a Premier League-high 13 games. This however does include six draws, including each of the last three matches.

Blackpool v Wigan
16/04/2011
15.00

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