EPL Match Day 34, Arsenal v Bolton; Match Preview
Another week – another day on the Premier League title death watch. That is the way it feels. Right? It’s kind of like, the off the season looks to be more interesting than the actual end of the season will. And with that we prepare for the sports equivalent of the Bataan death march.
Arsenal right now are the most infuriating club in the English Premier League. One moment higher than the highest peak only to fall abruptly before the full 90 minutes is up. The possibility of some sort of cardiac event occuring multiple times during one Arsenal match. It has been this way since the team flamed out of the Carling Cup final.
Still each week we tune in – some still have hope. Some don’t. Some want nothing more than failure and some still believe when everything is right there in front of them says otherwise. Such is the duty of being a supporter. You rise and fall with each biut of news, action and play.
For all intesive purposes, Arsenal’s failure to secure a win against Spurs pretty much sealed the deal, and while stranger things have happened in season before this, the teams in front of Arsenal don’t show signs of letting them catch up. Arsenal could change that next week as the face off against United at the Emirates, but right now thre is the little matter of Own Coyle’s Bolton Wanderers.
It used to be that Bolton presented a bit of bogey team to the Arsenal, but in their last nine meetings, Arsenal have had the better of the play and secured the win. Coyle will be looking for his team to rebound after a 5-0 drubbing in the FA semi-finals at the hands of Stoke City. The European dream for Bolton is over, and now an assesment of the talent they have can occur. Still though, Coyle has to be lauded for getting Bolton into a top 10 finish for the first time since 2007.
For Arsenal, its a nother case of stepping up. The infuriating thing with the draw against Spurs is that is was the second match in a row that they should’ve closed it out firmly. They were clearly class above their opponents. Maybe some of us can take some respite in that, that we are still better than Spurs. Many Spurs fans that I have talked to and based on reports from the pitch all felt rather lucky to walk away with the draw. But that is not the point is it – we shoulve’ won but we didn’t. We had chance to close down United, and we didn’t.
Whenever the challenge of catching United has been presented this season, Arsenal have not taken the chance. I can’t think of any of the times this season when United had faltered and we didn’t. We may have gained a point but overall we did nothing substantial. Catching United this weekend isn’t the issue. United scratched out a 1-0 win against Everton and Chelsea have moved into second by 3 points after drilling West Ham for 3. For Arsenal its just about keeping pace.
Wenger in his weekly press conference went on to say he his proud of this squad. It has achieved more than anyone expected. There is a bit of truth to that. At the beginning of the season, many of the pundits had the top 4 listed as Chelsea, United, City and Spurs. Arsenal are firmly in the top four – barring an epic implosion. Some may find Arsene’s support of the club maddening. But I don’t see it that way. I don’t know of any manager in any professional sport that doesn’t publiclly support his players. The only time was in ice hockey, Terry Murray of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1997 Stanely cup finals said his team were choking. It took less than 24 hours from when that comment was made for Bob Clarke to fire Terry Murray. The point is we can only ever guestimate at what Wenger says to his charges publically he will always support them. He is in a way their biggest supporter and rightly so.
There are still five games left to play and Wenger has to do something to keep his players showing up for each match. Criticism of the players achieves nothing. Right now he to do whatever he can to break this team out of its funk. And really that is what;s maddening – its not that team isn’t good. You don’t beat Barcelona or Chelsea in the manner you did if you weren’t any good. I am not going to rehash the “mental toughness” debate that has been raging for better parts of this and last season but that’s what it comes down to.
If Arsenal are going to “make a show of it” for the next 5 games they are going to need to do the job against Bolton. Anything less than and it’s time to get rid of any sort of false pretenses and call a spade a spade.
How the Match Should Play Out:
To be honest I don’t know. Both teams are shattered in the confidence department. Bolton from the FA Cup exit and Arsenal – well we know all about that. Bolton being home should have some pep in their step and should try and take it to Arsenal early making the game oopen up and in the Gunner’s favour. Look for Sturridge and Davies to provide most of the threat for Bolton. For Arsenal Van Persie and Walcott will be the key to outpacing the Bolton defence.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Robin Van Persie. This is going to jinx it I know – but it is his longest run with the squad for some time. He is showing on a daily basis what he can do if fit. Only Cheatarito of United is scoring like the Dutch hitman.
Bolton. Kevin Davies. I think it was Steve who called Davies as strong as Crouch is tall – that is an absolute fact. It will be a stern test for Djourou and Koscielny to take him on.
Projected Starting Lineups:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Fabianksi (shoulder) Vermaelen (achilles) Diaby (calf) Almunia (D- knee)
Bolton: Davis (knee) Holden (knee) Ricketts (achilles)
Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 4
Bolton: 1
Current Form:
Arsenal: DDWDD
Bolton: WLLWD
Goals For:
Arsenal (away): 2.2
Bolton (home): 1.9
Goals Against:
Arsenal (away): 1.3
Bolton (home): 1.2
Goal Differential:
Arsenal: 32
Bolton 3
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Van Persie 18 (14 league) Nasri 15 (10 league)
Bolton: Elmander 12 (10 league) K Davies: 9 (7 league)
Match Officials:
Referee: Mike Jones
Assistant Referees: Dave Bryan & Patrick Keane
Fourth Official: Chris Foy
Broadcast Information:
US: FSC 1100AM EST
UK: Sky Sports 1 1600 BST
GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!! www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Bolton: 0
Some Final Thoughts.
This week the theme relating to Arsenal is – misinterpreting what is said. We saw it with the Cesc interview. For whatever reason the press focused on nuggets of the Cesc interview with Don Ballon to begin its yearly push towards getting Cesc to go to Barcelona. Shocking? I know right. The press actually falsely representing something. Who knew. The point is that the full translation shows that it was true that Cesc made comments that were attributed to him but when the full transcript comes out the sting is severely dulled.
For whatever reason I believe the English press needs this story and yearly saga. Whether its an attack on Arsenal’s “euro-ness” or whether its because they truly have nothing better to write about until John Terry cheats on his wife again – they are going for an all out assault on Wenger. I don’t buy into the press conspiracy theories. So I think its more about just running with a story to sell papers regardless of whether its right or wrong.
The same could be said about the recent comments attributed to Arsene Wenger about his transfer wishes for this upcoming summer. When the press conference was publicized and comments printed, it clearly seemed as if Wenger was saying he had no intent to buy in the summer. When you look at the full press conference a different picture emerges.
“Our target was to build a new stadium without dropping from the top and we knew it would be a difficult period for four or five years. So we had to make a decision on how to stay at the top with less money available.
‘We did well. But now, of course, people become impatient. I can understand that completely because I am impatient as well. If you look at our season you cannot come to the conclusion we need a massive change. That would be completely stupid.
‘If you are the second-best selling newspaper in the country you do not shut your office. But we live in a world where if you are the second best by a little, everybody says you are rubbish. It is not true.
‘Do I think it will be a busy summer? I feel there is always a need to improve the team.’
The part the press focused on to insinuate there would be no buying this summer is the “massive” change part. Well, no one is saying massive changes are needed. No one is saying big purchases are needed, I think where everyone agrees on what needs to be done is three steps.
- Jettison as many underperforming players as possible (as can be sold)
- Promote key reserve performers who may be ready to push on to the first team
- Buy 1 or 2 key additions that can be impact contributers, preferably with some experience and leadership qualities.
If that is achieved then the summer will be a success – at least in my opinion. Do it not, and well, the club from the board room to the manager’s office is going to hear the din of discontent continue to grow.
Finally, I had to write a brief comment about the criticism Wenger gets for his touchline performances. Let’s start with his own words shall we?
‘I cannot sit there and be placid like I am on dope!
‘I care about the game and I’m motivated to win the game and agitated, yes. But it is one thing to be agitated and in control of your decisions and be lucid, or be completely out of control.’
I love it. The I’m on Dope comment is classic Wenger. But I digress. What disappoints me is how Wenger has grown to treat his rival managers. In the days of his successes, there was a classiness on how he approached other managers. Now its a childlike penchant for petulance. Especially when things don’t go his way.
I don’t blame Wenger for the craziness on the sideline. With the team continually underperforming, I’d be flipping out on the sideline too. But when the match is done and you’ve got to clasp hands with the opposing manager the dignity of sport requires good sportsmanship. Next to the hand shake in hockey at the end of a playoff series, the exchaning of kits, manager handshakes and wine sharing are part of what make football stand out from other sports. Wenger shouldn’t sully that tradition even if he is only reacting to the moment. He was always looked at as a class act. To act the way he has – well it only adds fuel to the fire that he has lost the plot.
Anyway thats it for my pre-game ramble. I hope to write on Monday from a position of hopefulness (yet again) until then. . .
Stay Goonerish.
[donate]
