Blackpool vs. Arsenal
Venue: Bloomfield Road
Kick off: 6:30PM
Arsenal make the trip to Bloomfield Road to face Blackpool in the FA Cup third round looking to move a step closer to winning this competition for the fourth time in six attempts.
Unai Emery would have spent much of the opening period of the season wondering how his side will react to the end of their long-standing unbeaten streak in all competitions, and there would have been a fear that one defeat would lead to others.
That has proven to be the case with three being suffered in six outings and although Arsenal returned to winning ways with victory over Fulham on New Year’s Day, Emery is aware that he has work to do in order to get his team back on track.
The Spaniard has not been helped with injuries – especially in defence – but there is a vulnerability about Arsenal heading into 2019 and that had not been the case earlier in the season.
The Gunners have only kept clean sheets against Vorskla, Huddersfield Town and Qarabag since November 11, and recording positive results will continue to be a problem until that issue is solved.
Emery will take the chance to rest a number of his main men at the back for the game at Bloomfield Road, but he will at least want to see that he has options available to him should the more experienced members of his squad continue to under-perform.
Arsenal have maintained a superb record in front of goal throughout the season, but Emery is still to find a place for Mesut Ozil and that will be of pressing concern with the German said to be keen on remaining at the club.
Ozil would usually be left out of the squad for a game against a lower-league side, but the playmaker may be given the opportunity to show his leadership qualities should he have recovered from a minor injury.
This competition may not be considered as important as the Premier League or Europa League, but Emery will still want it as an option to develop his squad and that includes keeping Ozil match-fit for when he is required later in the campaign.
On the other hand, Blackpool currently sit in 10th place in the League One standings, but the Seasiders are no strangers to the Gunners with the teams having already faced each other in this season’s EFL Cup.
Blackpool will have few complaints with their second season back in League One, with the club safely in mid-table at the third tier and runs in both the EFL Cup and FA Cup having improved their finances.
However, five games without a league win has resulted in Blackpool losing all of their earlier momentum, and the meeting with Arsenal comes at a time when they need to recreate a buzz around the club.
Blackpool possible XI: Howard, Nottingham, O’Connor, Heneghan, Bola, Feeney, Turton, Spearing, Guy, Delfouneso, Gnanduillet.
Arsenal possible XI: Cech, Jenkinson, Sokratis, Koscielny, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Guendouzi, Iwobi, Ramsey, Lacazette, Nketiah.