Oliver Holt's Premier League preview

Published 12:16 20/08/10

After their astonishing Premier League debut last week, Blackpool's visit to Arsenal tomorrow has become loaded with significance.

It has been a turbulent week for the Lancashire club after their chairman Karl Oyston resigned in protest at the influence of players' agents and their wage demands.

Boss Ian Holloway insisted today that Oyston's resignation would have no effect on the running of the club.

And he will be desperate to ensure that the internal problems do not rob Blackpool of the momentum they gained from their 4-0 thrashing of Wigan last week.

He knows that Arsenal represent one of the sternest tests his promoted team will face this season.

And he also knows that Arsene Wenger represents a managerial adversary who has built his team the right way.

Holloway described some young players who get too much too soon as 'monsters' but Wenger's young millionaires do not fit into that category.

There were elements of good fortune about their draw with 10-man Liverpool last Sunday but they never stopped pressing for the equaliser that came in the dying seconds.

Blackpool have nothing to lose at The Emirates tomorrow but Wenger knows his team must win to stop Chelsea and Manchester United opening up an early gap on his team.

Chelsea are at home to Wigan and if Blackpool rattled four goals past them, many fans will be anticipating that the champions, who hit West Brom for six last weekend, will at least match Blackpool's total.

There were some signs of encouragement for Arsenal at Anfield. Jack Wilshere was impressive in the centre of midfield, Laurent Koscielny made an assured debut at centre back and Theo Walcott looked sharp and hungry when he came on.

Chelsea should win comfortably against Wigan but United face a difficult test against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Now managed by United legend Mark Hughes, Fulham will be keen to show there is life after Roy Hodgson.

Fulham may struggle away from home but they have embarrassed many of the leading sides at the Cottage, including United. Wayne Rooney was sent off there in a 2-0 defeat for United in March 2009.

Manchester City and Liverpool will also be keen to record a first win of the season when they meet in the match of the week at Eastlands on Monday night.

Liverpool were heroic in their draw with Arsenal but they will be missing Joe Cole, who was sent off on his league debut at Anfield.

City, who will wait to see whether Mario Balotelli can play after being injured on his scoring debut against Timisoara last night but their other new signing, James Milner, should be available.

City seem to spend around £25m on whoever they buy - Yaya Toure, Balotelli, Milner, David Silva, Emmanuel Adebayor - and there is immediate pressure on all of them to deliver.

They were played off the pitch against Spurs at White Hart Lane last Saturday but managed to hang on for a draw courtesy of a brilliant goalkeeping display from Joe Hart.

The players they have are too good not to perform sooner or later but, as Mark Hughes found out, patience is not one of the owner's virtues.

Fancy winning £3,000 for FREE this month? Play Mirror Football Streak for your chance to win cash prizes! Start predicting now!