please log in to view this image English Premier League 1st Feb 2012 KO:20:00 Reebok Stadium please log in to view this image Arsenal travel to the Reebok Stadium this week to face Bolton Wanderers in this Premier League clash. Arsenal ended a three game losing streak with a victory against Aston Villa in the FA cup last Sunday. Arsenal looked down and out at half-time against Villa but two goals from Van Persie and one from Theo Walcott sealed a stunning comeback. Bolton also won in the FA Cup, they managed to beat Swansea City at home. Bolton, who reached the semi-final of the FA cup last year are on course for another great cup run. Bolton sit one place outside the relegation zone. They found themselves above it after a great home win against Liverpool. A result not many expected but Bolton showed the form they should last season. Arsenal, have lost their last three league games and with Chelsea five points ahead, Arsenal can't afford to let that gap get bigger. Bolton and Arsenal met in the early part of the season and Arsenal came out on top with a 3-0 win. A game that saw Van Persie reach the 100 goal landmark for Arsenal. Bolton have only managed to get two wins at home this season. Only QPR and West Brom can match that record. One of the main problems for Bolton this season has been injuries. Lee Chung-Yong broke his leg in pre-season and Stuart Holden has still not recovered from his long term injury which he picked up against Manchester United last season. Two key players for Bolton and two players that Bolton have not been able to replace. Bolton also lost the goals of Daniel Sturridge and Johan Elmander from last season, Sturridge returned to Chelsea while Elmander was sold to Galatasaray . Gary Cahill has also left Bolton in this transfer window and they now have to rely on Zak Knight and David Wheater at the heart of their defence. Tim Ream was purchased from New York Red Bulls to add extra cover at the back for Bolton. Ivan Klasnic is Bolton's top scorer in the league this season with seven goals and Chris Eagles has contributed just the three goals. The big surprise there is that Kevin Davies is not the man that has scored most of the goals for Bolton. A man that Bolton have built their team around in the last 5 or so years but he has only managed to get two goals this season. He is no longer a starter and he was the subject of a possible transfer with Sunderland being interested in him. Arsenal defenders past and present know the danger Davies can pose and they will still have to be wary if he gets a start. While, Bolton may have only won two games at home this season they are in good form at the moment. They have managed to win their last two games and have won three out of six in the league. Mark Davies has been playing really well and the timing of his runs into the box has been excellent and it caused Liverpool all sorts of problems. Alex Song will have to make sure he does not lose track of Davies. Mikel Arteta should be back and should make his first start after returning from a calf injury. His miss has been very noticeable and his absence has left the Arsenal defence without the protection Arteta gave them. Bacary Sagna could also make his first start since breaking his leg and without him Arsenal have struggled badly. Johan Djourou,Francis Coquelin,Laurent Koscielny and Nico Yennaris have all tried to cover at right back, some having more success than others. Arsenal have yet to win a league game in 2012 and this game gives them the chance to end that run. Robin Van Persie is one goal away from overtaking Dennis Bergkamp in the all-time goal scoring list for Arsenal. Bolton and Arsenal games may not be as fierce as they used to be. Sam Allardyce used to add extra spice to these games and he had Arsenal's number at the Reebok for years. But until, last season Arsenal did not have much problems at the Reebok post Allardyce. While, Owen Coyle might share some of the same football philosophy as Arsene Wenger he is not afraid to mix it up and test Arsenal in the air. On the floor, Arsenal should get the better of Bolton and have the pace to exploit Bolton and their lack of pace. Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could start again and their pace on the counter will be needed if Arsenal are to hit Bolton on the break. After getting beat in their last three league games, Arsenal need to end that run and a win at the Reebok Stadium will do just that. Teams News: (Will Be Updated) Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall record vs Bolton: Played: 132 Wins: 58 Draws: 35 Losses: 39 For: 232 Against: 172 Goal Difference: 60 Last 6 meetings: Arsenal 2 - 1 Bolton (League Cup) Arsenal 3 - 0 Bolton Bolton 2 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 4 - 1 Bolton Arsenal 4 - 2 Bolton Bolton 0 - 2 Arsenal please log in to view this image Mangers Views: (Will Be Updated) My Team: please log in to view this image Final Result: please log in to view this image
Rosicky in for Ramsey, otherwise I'd take that. Not sure Sagna will be fit enough for a full 90 yet tho, Coquelin may start again.
got a bad feeling about this game, mid-week night game at a place like Bolton doesn't bode well. Bolton's home record has been terrible, which is usually a negative for Arsenal as we seem to always provide a positive scoreline for a team that's struggling, remember Blackburn 4-3? If the Player's don't come out firing like they did in the second half at Villa then this won't be pretty, this is a must win game for us, anything else will not be good enough if we really expect to end up in the top 4, it's time to start picking points up after losing our last 3, and only winning 1 in our last 5 league games, if we carry on on this form we could eventually find ourselves behind Chelsea in the double digits.
I have no idea what to expect from our team at the moment so I won't make a prediction. Just hope RvP is fit enough to start.
Great thread again Jack I think we put in a really good performance against Villa. I liked the way that we pressed their defence from the start. We were really unlucky to go in 2 down at half time. Second half was good not only for the three goals, but the way we went about it, we never gave up and we looked really hungry. I think we'll get a result at Bolton, but to do so we'll need to take the same work ethos into this game.
Last game I thought would be a walk in the park for Arsenal. I am not so confident now, a win I reckon though. If not then Arsenal dont deserve to play champions league next season.
After that amazing 15 minutes against Villa, i say normal service will resume. Bolton 2 (N'Gog, M. Davies) - Arsenal 1. (Ramsey)
Normal service eh? We are 5th in the table while Bolton sit in 17th place. Surely, 'normal' service means that we win? And Bolton do not win at home, AGAIN.
Or the fact, Bolton have won just the TWO games at home all season. Like I said, in the opening post, that is joint worst record in the entire league.
I'm going by bus,i should be home by midnight Have you got a car and could you get anywhere near the M56 ?
i didn't even realise you could bus to Bolton. National Express? Would have been easier if it had been a weekend.
