Match Preview: Arsenal v Bolton; Carling Cup 4th Round
“It will hurt me for ever because we never forget disappointments,” and so Arsene Wenger acknowledged that he and likely members of last years squad are still haunted by the disappointment from last year’s Carling Cup failure. The last minute cockup between Koscielny and Szczesny at Wembley was one of the two main catalysts for the run of failure that leaked over into the start of this season. The Gunners fresh off a convincing win against Stoke in the league, are set once again to continue the long road back to redemption.
If there is one word the Gunners should have tacked up in their dressing room it is redemption. Both for themselves and for their fans. The way they let the club’s first bit of silverware slip out of their hands and the subsequent fall from grace, the fans would like nothing more for this club to redeem themselves by making a significant run in this competition again.
They face off against a Bolton squad that as the BBC put is probably very tired of seeing a top flight club. It was only a month ago that they came to the Emirates and lost 3-0. They followed that up with losses to Chelsea and Manchester United. It has not been an easy ride for Owen Coyle’s lads.
With the premier league the focus for Coyle, he has confirmed he will likely start a squad made up of reserves and youngsters. Look for the liks of Bogdan, Knight, Steinsson, Muamba, Kakuta, Klasnic and Sanli to get some pitch time as well as promising youngster Joe Riley. For Wenger it is likely that he will go back to the a heavy use of youngsters to fill out his Carling Cup dance card with Nico Yennaris, Emmanuel Frimpong, Francis Coquelin, Ignasi Miquel, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain to start. They should be supported by first teamers Fabianski, Park, Benayoun, and Arshavin. Also, vice-captain Thomas Vermaelen is set to come back and feature in this fixture. On the bench Chuks Aneke, Sanchez Watt, and Oğuzhan Özyakup could sit along side Vito Mannone. According to Jamie Sanderson at Young Guns Blog – Jerome Boateng, Ryo Miyachi, and Jernade Meade could also make an appearance on the Arsenal bench.
All in all its a pretty good mix of youth and experience that should be on display from both Arsenal and Bolton. Looking at it, I like the players that we have coming in to this match especially getting a chance to see Chu-Young Park get some playing time. For me a good performance may go a long way to bumping a certain ineffective morrocan forward. Park has been a star on the international scene of late, scoring 6 goals for his national team and frankly, the make up of the Bolton team isn’t too far from some of the competition he’s faced. So I am hopeful we’ll see him with a good turnout.
Obviously the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain need no introduction as he was the star of not only, his recent spell in the U21 matches (A hat trick), but he was the star of the 3rd round Carling Cup fixture against Shrewsbury and in the Champion’s League tie versus Olympiakos. It is very clear that he is star in the making. However, I have been cautioning everyone about expecting too much. Hopefully Wenger has been reading the blog recently and will know that none of us think he should be rushed along like Theo was. Still he makes for exciting football lately and he will be a joy to watch him go at it again.
The Carling Cup has been friendly to the Gunners. Arsenal have not lost in the fourth round since 1999. Their last loss in this round was to Middlesborough on penalties. In all the Carling Cup matches at the Emirates they have yet to lose in fact in their last 7 matches at the Emirates for this competition they have scored 21 goals and conceded 2. If stats should be believed, then Arsenal could be set for their 9th consecutive appearance in the field of 8.
Overall, the make up the squads seems to favor Arsenal. There seems to be the right mix of experience and promising youth to see of the challenge from a side that is struggling significantly to have any consistent form. But they shouldn’t be taken litely. The players who take the pitch for Bolton are going to be looking to make the case that they should be playing as starters, especially given the form of many of the first teamers. So they could very easily play out of their skins and give us a run for the money.
Still, me as Gooner, I am going 2-0 to the Arsenal. You gotta go with a clean sheet with the Verminator coming back.
Possible Line Up:
Fabianski, Vermaelen (c), Squillaci, Yennaris, Miquel, Frimpong, Coquelin, Benayoun, Arshavin, Park, Chamberlain
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Don’t quite know what to say about yesterday’s match, seeing as I only listened to it and missed parts at that. Certainly it seemed a good result. Looking at the goals (and other highlights) it appears that maybe Frimpong might pick up some “experience” after failing to make an aggressive move to a short ball (leading to the Bolton goal) and not backing away from an ongoing tussle in our box before the opposing player went down (dove)….luckily the ref didn’t give the pen. Arsh did well on two occasions to offset lots of frustrating touches (according to the comments of others) and Park sounded bright and his work for his goal seemed super-quality. More than the match highlights, the interviews were revealing (check Arseblog for the links). Vermaelen, if he can stay healthy, could set a tone of toughness and leadership amongst a squad that has been too often coddled….
All told, and hoping TV5 just had some tight calves there at the end, our squad is looking somewhat pleasingly deep. Obviously it’s all a bit makeshift at the wingback positions and we’re lacking in top-notch quality, but over these past few matches we’re seeing the likes of Rosicky pushing Ramsey and Arshavin pushing Gervinho among others. It did sound like maybe the OX didn’t do quite as well against the (well experienced) Bolton defenders, so only Theo gets a continuing pass and fingers crossed that he can start producing at a higher level.
We’ve got a big one on the weekend against a wounded enemy who needs to prove something of their own. Nobody in their right mind would have hoped for a result a few weeks ago, but like MacMac says a glimmer of light is appearing at the end of the tunnel….Could be a train, of course…..
Three wins on the spin. Just when I thought I give up hope for the rest of the season Wenger pulls me back in.
Ill tell you what, listening to this match on R5L was one of the most stressful things ever in my life, but it wouldnt be an Arsenal Game without that eh?
So, what can I determine from the radio? Well, seems to me Miqel played pretty well, Vermaelen was his resoloute self, Nico Yannaris didnt sound too bad either, Squillaci made some good tackles apparently. Frimpong and Coquelin were as good as they could be, Benayoun worked hard, Arshavin showed a side to him we haven’t seen in ages, was apparently the catalyst for the goals, AOC was his usual promising self. And Park? Well first he needs to understand the Offside rule, and we’ll go from there.
So, not a bad result, were through and thats all that matters, the youngsters showed their steel which is nice. Oh, and I couldn’t tell, is Vermaelen injured again, or was it just a kick from a Bolton player? I hope its the second one
That’s where I saw it too, and according to the team sheet, Arsenal are playing a 3-6-1. The bench has a lot of youth and a lot of the starters are fringe first teamers. Can’t really tell if Bolton is starting a strong team. I’m not very familiar with their roster.
@seattle gooner,
We’re playing a 4-3-3
Back 4 – Yennaris Squillaci Vermaelen Miquel
MF – Frimpong Coquelin Benayoun
Fwds – Arshavin, Park, AOX
Yennaris is a defencive minded MF who can play either CB or RB. He is a reserve team player. Considered very promising talent.
I would be more interested in seeing the kids play, than the first team right now.
Yes DAG the Verminator coming back is obviously a massive boost, but the other Experienced CB in that XI has me worried, Squillaci would not be my choice, but I suppose with Djorou playing RB at the moment he needs resting. The last time I watched Vermaelen and Squillaci playing together was a 2-1 Home Defeat to Aston Villa, and while Bolton don’t possess anything close to Darren Bent, the Squid has me trembling. Still with Frimpong and Coqelin looking promising hopefully he wont be called upon to do too much, plus I watched Bogdan against Chelsea, and, I know with Fabianski we cant really talk, he doesn’t look to good, but I like Mannone more than Fabianski.
Still hope all goes well.
@George, There are some players in the line up I have never heard of. Who is Nico Yennaris? Never even heard of him and he’s starting.
@seattle gooner, no info on Nico via Soccernet either! go NICO!!!!!!!!!!!