Bolton vs Arsenal Match Thread

[Mario]

Wednesday 1st February, 8pm KO.

If the league table is anything to go by, Bolton followed by Blackburn should be two fixtures that get us back to winning ways. But as we know we have lost 3 league games in a row and this is a 'cold game up north on a Wednesday night', precisely the type of game we're not supposed to excel in. But that win against Aston Villa must surely have given us a shot in the arm and players are starting to come back.

Bolton's last league match at the Reebok, they beat Liverpool 3-1. In fact, they have won 3 games on the bounce in all competitions, two cup games with one being against Macclesfield, but they have all been at home. This will be their 4th home game on the bounce and confidence must be starting to climb.

Bolton's January:
Everton 1-2 BOLTON
Macclesfield 2-2 BOLTON (FA Cup)
Man Utd 3-0 BOLTON
BOLTON 2-0 Macclesfield (FA Cup)
BOLTON 3-1 Liverpool
BOLTON 2-1 Swansea City (FA Cup)

Arsenal's January:
Fulham 2-1 ARSENAL
ARSENAL 1-0 Leeds
Swansea 3-2 ARSENAL
ARSENAL 1-2 Man Utd
ARSENAL 3-2 Aston Villa (FA Cup)


Some stats:

- Arsenal have won 9 of the last 10 Premier League fixtures between the teams. Bolton's only win in that time was their last minute victory last season, their first since 2006.

- These two haven’t drawn a game in the league since February 2006.

- Robin van Persie has scored 19 goals this season, but has 11 more to go before he matches Thierry Henry's record of 30 in one campaign.

- Bolton have conceded the most goals at home (25) than any other side.



As for the team, we have a few decisions to make on returning players. Is Sagna ready to start? Who does Arteta replace? Does Rosicky keep his place after a pretty good performance against Villa? Where the hell is Diaby?

Szczesny
Sagna - Koscielny - Mertesacker - Vermaelen
Song - Arteta - Ramsey
Walcott - RVP - The Ox

We must win to get back on track, yet another setback will put a massive dent in our top 4 hopes. Tottenham have a winnable home match tonight vs Wigan so you would expect them to go 13 points clear of us but Chelsea and Liverpool both have tricky away ties to Swansea and Wolves respectively, and I think at least one of them may slip up.

As for predictions, I leave you with Kurt Angle's take on the match:

Kurt Angle says: "I've not heard of that many teams, but TNA's UK office always rave about Arsenal - so they must win. But why are they allowed to play an Ox? 3-1 Arsenal"

[Samritpal Singh]

Gibbs back in full training today. Could be on the bench tomorrow but more likely to be available for Blackburn on Sat.

- James Olley

[Vanig Bostanian]

I'm guessing a hard fought 2-1 victory. We really can't/shouldn't drop points from now on.

[Jenks1981]

3 points is an absolute must against a team like Bolton as it stands.

[Hisham El Mawan]

--------------------SZCZESNY------------------------
SAGNA---MERTESACKER---KOSCIELNY------VERMAELEN
-----SONG-----------RAMSEY--------------ARTETA----
WALCOTT----------van PERSIE-----------CHAMBERLAIN

I very much like the look of that lineup. No excuses for us to not get all 3 points here. 3-0 to us.

[janelle.noel]

Rosicky in for Ramsey anyone?

We've been saying how Ramsey seems to need a rest and Rosicky can bring a good injection of speed to our play, Arteta the creativity and composure and Song needs to get back the discipline to just sit in and hold

[Jenson Pais]

I would like to see this first team to be put out against Bolton !!

[janelle.noel]

I would like to see this first team to be put out against Bolton !!

Thats the one

[Jenks1981]

Im with you guys right now on Rosicky and Ramsey. I've been impressed recently with Rosicky and disappointed in Ramseys last few games so its a switch I would make from the start.

[ralph avedikian]

Rosicky or maybe even benayoun over Ramsey.. he definelty needs a rest.

[Jenks1981]

Rosicky or maybe even benayoun over Ramsey.. he definelty needs a rest.

Obviously I don't know what Benayoun has been like in training but in the game recently where he played in the midfield three he was literally non existant, it really dented my opinion of him, he is much better just behind the striker but we don't play with someone right up there at the moment. He seems to just not fit into the team at the moment, not short on ability but he hasnt featured nearly as much as I expected, and right now, I prefer Rosicky.

[luke_kennedy]

i think we should put Podolski in to give RVP a rest and Samba in for Mertesaker
Failing that yeah the team above looks good.Ramsey needs a rest.hes had alot on him with Wilshere out and Artetas early season apaption.

Wonder who Wenger will drop at back when Gibbs is back??

[John Foxall]

Benayoun isn't suited to playing as one of the midfield three and doesn't offer enough to be in the front three. For the moment I think he can offer something as a substitute but that's probably it. At Liverpool he was always shunted out onto the wings.

I'd agree with a start for Rosicky. I like Ramsey's stamina, but apart from that he looks short on quality at the moment. A well-earned rest sounds a good idea and Rosicky is the only player in our squad with the CV to play the furthest forward of the midfield 3. These last two matches have seen him at his most dynamic since before his injury in 2007. What a long time to wait, but he's still got a lot to offer if he can keep this form up.

[Hisham El Mawan]

Has anyone heard about this Thomas Eisfeld fellow we just signed from Dortmund?

[luke_kennedy]

Has anyone heard about this Thomas Eisfeld fellow we just signed from Dortmund?

just whats on arsenal.com
young promising player,tracked for a while.
Wenger wanted him in summer 2012 but acted now as contract had 6months to go
Aparentley on transfer page someone has said sky sources believe Jordan Rhodes is at Arsenal for medical

[Darcy Gorman]

I would like to see this first team to be put out against Bolton !!

Agreed. I've felt Rosicky has deserved a start far more often this campaign, especially since his half time appearance against Dortmund where he literally changed the game, but Wenger seems ultra reluctant to drop Ramsey. Admittedly Rosicky's had the odd pedestrian esque performance in between, but who hasn't in this team other than RVP. Surely must start.

Love the look of that back four also, just hope Sagna is up for a start.

[Zaid Derweesh]

Arshavin will start.

Bad set of results for us today. Spurs, Liverpool both with comprehensive wins, Chelsea snatch a draw at the last second despite being down to 10 men. So we need a win badly.

[Justin Chew]

Final score 2-4 . Ox to score two. Rvp one. rosicky one.

[Jenks1981]

Final score 2-4 . Ox to score two. Rvp one. rosicky one.

Dreamer, but I like it.

[Michael Foster]

Arsenal to win 3-0 you herd it here first....

Ox...vp...verm

[Liam Bermingham]

3-0 Bolton. Davies hatrick

[Jenks1981]

Would like to see this squad tonight;

Schzesney
Sagna-Mertesacker-Koscielny-Vermaelen
Rosicky-Song-Arteta
Walcott-Van Persie-Chamberlain

Subs - Fabianski-Djourou-Coquelin-Ramsey-Benayoun-Henry-Park

Bloody hell we have a bench!

[Hisham El Mawan]

Would like to see this squad tonight;

Schzesney
Sagna-Mertesacker-Koscielny-Vermaelen
Rosicky-Song-Arteta
Walcott-Van Persie-Chamberlain

Subs - Fabianski-Djourou-Coquelin-Ramsey-Benayoun-Henry-Park

Bloody hell we have a bench!

I see no reason for us not to win this one. Especially since that win would take us above Liverpool and within 3 points of Chelsea and fourth place.

[Jenks1981]

If, and its a big if, we play with the tempo and attitude we did in the second half against Villa we will win this well. But 90% of this season has seen us playing at a pedestrian pace with little goal threat.

[Liam Bermingham]

Lets just hope that the 1st half against Villa gave the team a massive kick up the arse! We cannot afford to drop any points in these type of matches. I reckon we'll win tonight by the odd goal.

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