Can Blackpool lights make Arsenal shine?

Arsenal’s title challenge has been plagued by their inconsistency this season as a series of poor results has seen them lose valuable ground with leaders Manchester United.

Last week, for the umpteenth time this campaign, they dropped another two vital points at the Emirates following a 0-0 draw against Blackburn.

On the other hand, United came back from two goals down to beat West Ham 4-2 at Upton Park. The Red Devils are now seven points clear of the Londoners, who have played a game less.

Arsenal are finding it hard to pierce their opponents’ defensive lines and the blank against Blackburn was their third 0-0 result in their last five league and cup outings.

One wonders whether Arsene Wenger’s future at the Emirates will still be safe at the end of the season as the Gunners are looking increasingly likely to remain without a trophy for the sixth successive year.

Tomorrow, Arsenal play Blackpool at Bloomfield Road in search of their first win in six outings.

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has set a target of 39 points for his side to avoid relegation. At the moment, the Tangerines are six points below that figure with seven matches to go.

In midweek, United grabbed a crucial 1-0 win at Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

At West Ham, they were in sparkling form after a disap-pointing first half to record their 22nd Premier League win of the season.

This afternoon, United entertain Fulham at Old Trafford without the influential Wayne Rooney who must serve a two-match ban for his unruly behaviour at Upton Park.

Last Sunday, Fulham equalled their best Premier League win of the season when they beat Blackpool 3-0.

After crushing Sunderland 5-0, Manchester City moved up to third in the standings, ten points behind United.

Roberto Mancini is targeting the runners-up spot in the Premier League.

He claimed that the team’s performance against Sunderland was their best so far this season. But, the Citizens have a tough match on Monday as they play Liverpool away.

Last week, the Reds saw their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League suffering a blow when they lost to West Brom at the Hawthorns.

Chelsea also lost ground in the championship race as they could not go beyond a 1-1 draw at Stoke.

The Blues are 11 points adrift of the summit and have a game in hand. Chelsea can return to winning ways when they tackle Wigan at Stamford Bridge today.

Wigan are bottom yet boss Roberto Martinez still sees light at the end of the tunnel as he predicted that the relegation issue will be resolved on the final day of the campaign.

After suffering a 4-0 beating by Real Madrid, Tottenham will be looking to remain in the hunt for a Champions League spot next season when they host Stoke City at White Hart Lane.

This week, the Spurs fans were not glad to hear star wing-back Gareth Bale saying that he would have no qualms about moving abroad in future.

Everton whose aim is to overtake Merseyside rivals Liverpool in the final placings, take on Wolves at Molineux in the early kick-off.

Toffees boss David Moyes will give special attention to Wolves as he is a great fan of their goalkeeper Wayne Hennessy and winger Matthew Jarvis. Still, Moyes is likely to be weighing up his future at Goodison Park in summer if his best players leave.

Aston Villa, still facing a relegation fight, play Newcastle at Villa Park and at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton cross swords with West Ham, who slipped back into the relegation zone.

Blackburn, buoyed by their draw at Arsenal, have another delicate fixture this weekend when they face Birmingham City at Ewood Park.

Rovers manager Steve Kean said that his young defender Phil Jones deserves to be called up in the England U-21 squad for the European Championship finals.

Fixtures and forecast

Premier League
Blackburn-Birmingham - X
Bolton-West Ham - 1
Chelsea-Wigan - 1
Man. Utd-Fulham - 1
Sunderland-West Brom - 1
Tottenham-Stoke City - X
Wolves-Everton (13:45) - 1

Tomorrow:
Aston Villa-Newcastle (17:00) - 1
Blackpool-Arsenal (14:30) - 2

Monday:
Liverpool-Man. City (21:00) - 1

Standings: Man. United 66; Arsenal 59; Man. City 56; Chelsea 55; Tottenham 50; Liverpool 45; Everton 41; Bolton 40; Newcastle United 39; Fulham, Stoke City, Sunderland 38; West Bromwich 36; Blackburn, Birmingham, Aston Villa 34; Blackpool 33; West Ham, Wolves 32; Wigan 31.

The Championship
Barnsley-Bristol City - X
Derby-Coventry - 1
Doncaster-Cardiff - 2
Ipswich-Crystal Palace - 1
Leicester-Burnley - 1
Millwall-Leeds - 1
Nottm Forest-Reading - 1
Portsmouth-Preston - 1
Scunthorpe-QPR - 2
Sheff. Utd-Middlesbrough - 1
Swansea-Norwich (18:20) - X
Watford-Hull - 1

League One
Bournemouth-Tranmere - 1
Brentford-Swindon - 1
Brighton-Sheff. Wed - 1
Bristol Rovers-Exeter - X
Colchester-Rochdale - X
Dagenham-Notts County - 1
Hartlepool-Yeovil - 1
Huddersfield-Peterborough - 1
Leyton Orient-Southampton - 2
MK Dons-Carlisle - 1
Oldham-Charlton - X
Plymouth-Walsall - 1

League Two
Aldershot-Shrewsbury - X
Barnet-Crewe - X
Bradford-Torquay - X
Cheltenham-Rotherham - X
Hereford-Chesterfield - 2
Lincoln City-Gillingham - X
Morecambe-Burton Albion - 1
Northampton-Bury - X
Oxford Utd-Wycombe - 1
Port Vale-Southend - 1
Stockport-Stevenage - 2

Hot four
Chelsea, Manchester United, Sunderland, Huddersfield.