Is This Thing On? Arsenal v Bolton Match Preview

Vous Ja De? The feeling this hasn't happened before?

How would you like to be a new manager in charge of a Premier League team? One fighting off relegation. One that has only won 2 home matches in the season. One that hasn’t had a clean sheet in 11 matches. How about one that has only won once in the league since October and one that has conceded more goals at home (21) than any other team? Well if you’d like that – you’d be in the same boat as Owen Coyle, the former Burnley manager who now finds himself at the helm of a struggling Bolton side.

Compound that with the fact that Bolton face an Arsenal side that haven’t lost since 29 November. A side that even with a myriad of injuries is still the league’s leading scoring. Or better still how about an Arsenal side that hasn’t scored less than 3 goals in the last 3 matches they have played against Bolton.

With such a big task ahead of them Coyle will be looking to exert his influence over the squad and the fans (who never took to predecessor Megson) . He could do that nicely with the scalp of one of the traditional big four squads. Better yet – he has the opportunity to do it twice within the next 4 days.  This Wednesday will see Bolton travel to the Emirates to make up the match that was scheduled for 6 January but eventually was snowed out (the proverbial game in hand).

For their part Arsenal come to the RBK having had to fight for a point against a very determined Everton side. Additionally, Arsenal are suffering from the absence of their defencive steel with Alex Song away on ACoN duty. But all is not doom and gloom in Gunnerland.

Arsenal are starting to see the majority of their walking wounded make their way back to the pitch. Captain Cesc Fabregas has made the trip to Bolton and looks to start. In interviews this week the Catalan wunderkind said he feels 100% and has been rigorously training to get match fit. Arsene has to be relieved he is back. If any player embodies the heart and soul of the club it is the 22 year old Captain. Additionally, Gael Clichy has returned. He won’t start but he will be on the bench and if Aarmond Traore has a first half like had last week – the french left back could be deputized early in the second. Denilson is likely to make the trip but be in the final squad. He is still suffering from the niggly abdominal injury that mysteriously dropped him mid-field against Everton.

Coyle’s Bolton are going to have to tighten up against the prolific attack of Arsenal who have found the net in each of their last 7 games. They lead the league in goals scored with 53. They are on course to crash through the league record and score anywhere from 102 to 110 goals this season. Chants of 1-0 to Arsenal are no longer the norm. Its been more 3-1 or 3-0 to the Arsenal.

After a brief stutter against Sunderland and Chelsea the Gunners find themselves the most consistent team out of the potential league champions. Chelsea have yet to play without their big 4 Africans and while they won their last match, they haven’t played in 2 weeks and they have dropped more points they have won. Manchester United is having fits of consistency. Whatever the reason, injuries lack of talent, whatever, United are a lucky to even be 2nd right now. With a little help from Arsenal and a Brum OG United if they do not improve could be fighting for 3rd even 4th if they don’t improve soon. Their problem is the massive debt which likely is going to prohibit them from buying a major replacement this January. In fact both Ancelotti and Fergie have kept their word so far and HAVEN’T waded into the market. If they don’t and Arsene keeps his word and does – the league race is going to get real interesting come the end of January.

But Arsenal cannot worry about what the likes of United, Chelsea, Spurs or City do. Arsenal must take care of the matches they play and they have been doing just that. I have been shouting all season to anyone who will listen (but have you) – it is less about what you do against the big 4 and more about what you do against the lesser opposition. If we are to consider City a big club now the only lesser side we have lost to is Sunderland everyone else has bee drawn or won. Actually more than nought its a win. United won the league last season with a 1W 2L 3D against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. They did what they had to do against the other sides – something they are unable to do this season. Arsenal in order to stay in the hunt and possibly win the league most copy that form. So far all indications are they are.

A nice little nugget to mention a lot has been made about our defence. It has been solid at points weak at others. The weakness I think we all agree has less to do with the back four than it does with the consistency of the man between the sticks. But Arsenal are starting to see something of a defencive renaissance (if you will). Their offside trap is actually the most effective in the league. They have managed to catch the opposition offside 88 times in this season’s league matches. If something could be done about the man in yellow (No I am talking about the streak down his spine) I think we could see an Arsenal defence that may not be as prolific as the glory days but pretty damn near. You can allow for defencive mistakes by the back four periodically. That’s expected. Hell, you can even expect periodic mistakes from the ‘keeper, but when the ‘keepers goals allowed average is close to his save average the problem lies not with the defencive back four but with the ‘keeper.

Finally, while we still do not have our elusive striker replacement Arsene did do something very un-Arsene like and bring Sol Campbell back. Never before has Wenger in 13 years of managing the red and white army brought any player who has left back to the fold. But as I’ve also mentioned this season’s opportunities do not seem lost on the french gaffer. Realizing that even youth needs to have an experienced mentor he reached back to his heydays and brought back a link to the invincible era. Sol is going to be a valuable learning tool for the younger defencive players and even so for the young captain. He can be a voice in the locker room that maybe didn’t exist before. And come on – the man is still a freakin’ oak tree. In a close game with a 2-1 lead on the line bring him in and let him eat up some attackers. It was clear in the reserve match against West Ham he still has something in him. He absolutely controlled the attackers and looked a class above anyone on the pitch except JET. Overall this a good signing for more than just the player depth.

How this match will play out:

I expect Bolton to try and come out and press Arsenal much like Everton did. Everton did an outstanding job in the first half of controlling the passing the lanes and forcing Arsenal to either layoff the pass earlier than they wanted to or steal the pass. However, Everton are a more talented side and David Moyes has had more time to prepare his squad than Coyle has with Bolton. However, the players will be looking to impress their new boss and will likely come out with some verve. Arsenal though should be strengthened by the return of Cesc Fabregas. As Fabregas goes so does the team. Not that it can’t win without him but with him its a little easier. Plus I think Arshavin’s game goes to another level when he plays with Fabregas. Overall I expect the Gunners to do the normal hold possession and look for the right opportunity to open the match up. That couldhappen early or after 15 minutes (when most of their goals have been scored). Either way I don’t expect that the new manager bounce will have too much effect on the match.

Probable Starting XI:

Your guess is as good as mine

Injuries/Unavailable:

Arsenal:  Walcott (back) Wilshere (hamstring) Ramsey (hamstring) Bendtner (groin) Denilson (abdomen) Djourou (knee) Gibbs (ankle) Van Persie (ankle) Senderos (foot), Ebou (ACoN) Song (ACoN)

Bolton:  Davis (knee) J O’Brien (knee) Shittu (ACoN)

Player to Watch:

Arsenal: Cesc Fabregas. The little engine that could. He is likely the best midfielder in the world right now. If he isn’t tell me who is.

Bolton: Owen Coyle. Okay so he isn’t a player but the former Burnley boss starts his Bolton career against a rather big fish. It will take some time before his style of play is fully integrated into the squad. You wonder if it is enough. At Burnley had they been relegated he likely would still have a job and been praised for having his side play good football. If he doesn’t prevent Bolton from relegation he’ll likely be wishing he had never left Burnley.

Match Officials:

Referee: Phil Dowd

Assistant Referees: Mark Scholes & Patrick Keane

Fourth Official: Mark Clattenburg

Recent League Form:

Arsenal: DWWWD

Bolton: DDWDL

Television Options:

US: FSC 11:oo AM EST (8:00 PST)

UK: Sky Sports 1 1600 BST

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YAMA Prediction:

Arsenal – 3

Bolton – 1