In a big game between highly ranked teams in the English Premier League, Manchester City will clash with Blackpool. In the league standings, Manchester City has climbed in to second place. In their first year in the top division for now, Blackpool has pulled a few surprises. In the standings they currently sit eighth.

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Richard Kingston has been solid for Blackpool, since taking over in goal. Including two shutouts he has won three of his five starts in EPL play. Blackpool isn’t as prolific as other EPL teams offensively. Leading with five goals, three players are tied for the team. With 54 shots on goal Charlie Adam leads the team.

All season, Manchester City has been strong. Joe Hart has allowed just sixteen goals in twenty starts and has been the star of the team. This season, Hart has kept Manchester City in almost every game. On offense Carlos Tevez is the dominant force and he has twelve goals. Compare to the total of any other player on the team that number is more than twice. To go with his goal total Tevez has 66 shots on goal. Through him the Manchester City offense runs.

As the Manchester City owns a victory in opposition to Chelsea and a draw against Manchester United, all season they have been solid. Earlier in the season they also scored a 3-2 win over Blackpool. So far this season Blackpool has been surprising. Already they have won a surprising seven games. They have struggled against the top teams in the league so far in spite of their progress.

Kingston has given them new life on defense yet. The team that breaks through first should be able to hang on for the victory as this game features two of the better defensive teams in the league.

When Chelsea welcomes Arsenal to Stamford Bridge, it will be a showdown of English Premier League powerhouses. With Chelsea sitting in first place and Arsenal in third, both teams are high in the standings. However, of losses, both teams are coming off. Against Manchester City, Chelsea suffered their first EPL defeat while Arsenal fell to West Bromwich. This will be a key match for both, as both of these squads have regular championship aspirations. Outscoring Arsenal 5-0, Chelsea swept both meeting last season.

Arsenal has got off to a great start. Prior to the loss to West Bromwich, they had won three and tied two matches. Overall, on the EPL season, they have scored sixteen goals. With four goals in two starts, Theo Walcott leads the way. While starting each of the first six games, Andrei Arshavin has notched two goals on seventeen shots. From Manuel Almunia, who has allowed seven goals while saving twelve shots, Arsenal has also gotten decent goaltending.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, prior to their fall against Manchester City looked unbeatable. In their first five games, they scored 21 goals before being shut out. With six goals on the season, Florent Malouda leads Chelsea. Salomon Kalou has four and Didier Drogba has added five. The offense managed little against Manchester City, although, it has been potent all season. Goalie Peter Cech, who has allowed just two goals this season, is equally impressive.

This match should be great. On offense, both teams feature a lot of scoring threats. Though Chelsea has a slight edge in that department, they also have solid goaltending. Chelsea will need to neutralize the Arsenal attack, playing at home. After suffering defeats in their previous matches, both teams will be hungry.

On Saturday, September 11, Manchester City is set to host the Blackburn Rovers. In the new season, Manchester City hasn’t gotten off to the fast start they hoped for, posing a win, a draw, and a loss. Against Sunderland, the loss came in their last EPL game. Meanwhile, the Blackburn Rovers have two losses and one win. With Arsenal, their most recent loss came in a hard fought match. For an early rise up the standings is what these two teams are looking for.

In the EPL last year, Manchester City had a successful season, and it is hoping for another effort. With a scoreless draw against Tottenham and a 3-0 win against Liverpool, Manchester City got off to a promising start. Goalie Joe Hart is still solid in goal, although he let in his first goal of the season against Sunderland. In the win against Liverpool, Carlos Tevez notched two goals and he is one of the main keys to the offense.

The Blackburn Rovers, in each of their three matches so far this season have scored one goal, each coming from a different player. Their offense is versatile, although it is not as potent as that of Manchester City. Goalie Paul Robinson has allowed two goals in the two subsequent games, after a season opening shutout. With eight shots, Nikola Kalinic leads the offensive attack, but only two have been on goal and one scored.

Manchester City has the superior goalie and the home field edge. They have the potential to be aggressive, although their offense stalled against Sunderland. Against Arsenal, Blackburn must try to capitalize on a better than expected performance. Against a team as strong as Manchester City, that might be a tall order.