Arsene
Active Member
We’ve seen a tranquil week for the Arsenal before the storm that will undoubtedly follow next week starting with Chelsea. A congested fixture schedule where we play our two major domestic rivals twice within the space of a fortnight has overshadowed an important league fixture. Despite Bolton currently lying 13th in the league this game is poised to be the proverbial banana peel that so many have waited for. Much has been made about our 28 game winning run, this being the 29th; we have the chance to equal the records of both Leeds and Liverpool. However, I think all Arsenal fans would agree that Saturday’s game takes on much more importance in the context of our season than most would appreciate. A defeat at the hands of a dejected Bolton would surely dent the team’s confidence coming in to perhaps the most defining period of recent Arsenal history. While fans can look ahead of the ensuing fixtures, the team must concentrate and not underestimate Sam Allardyce’s men.
The injury scene for the next to week has grown increasingly more exciting for Arsenal supporters. Injuries to Freddie Ljunberg, Dennis Berkamp and Jeremie Aliadiere have cleared up, giving Arsène a myriad of options for the Bolton game. Bolton however, are not so lucky with one of their main creative influences, Youri Djorkaeff, again ruled out. This will most likely result in Henrik Pedersen starting upfront with Kevin Davies.
Bolton will most likely mirror the tactics used last week versus Chelsea. They outplayed the Londoners for the first 45 minutes with long balls into the box. Big, strong, strapping men in Pedersen and Davies will definitely test out Kolo Toure’s aerial abilities. The Bolton game, while tactically simple, has caused a number of teams discomfort in previous season, including our own. Last season’s results, 1-1 away and a fortunate last minute Kanu winner at Highbury give a stark warning of the dangerous play Bolton are capable of. Having recently been through a rough patch which has seen them drop several places in the league, Bolton will be scavenging for points at every possible opportunity. Aptly coined the ‘draw specialists’, Wanderers have draw nine games this season, only surpassed by the under-achieving Newcastle. It would seem unlikely that Bolton could topple a pumped-up Arsenal outfit; however a draw is most certainly a possibility especially with the likes of Kampo and Okocha in the Bolton ranks.
Last weeks admittedly lethargic performance has given the rest of the teams in the premiership a sniff of weakness in an otherwise faultless few months. A fresh 11 will take the field this week, the week’s rest definitely an advantage to have at this point in the season.
A deciding factor in the game will be the effectiveness of closing down from the Wanderers midfield. Having already announced their intentions to sit back and frustrate a fluent Arsenal side, the game will be won or lost in the middle of the park. Patrick Vieira, appropriately described as a ‘colossus’ by the Highbury faithful will have a integral part to play in a gunners victory. The lynch pin of Wenger’s men, Vieira, has had an immense impact since returning from suspension. The difference between a ‘Vieira less’ Arsenal side, such as ones in the closing stages of last season, and this season’s conquerors is of titanic proportions. Accompanied by an ever improving Edu, the pair will be more than a match for the likes of Kampo.
In my heart I see a ravishingly irresistible performance that will totally sweep Bolton aside. My head, the useless thing, feels differently. The amazing winning run cannot last forever and as an educated individual the law of averages is to compelling to ignore. I however can rely on one thing, the self-interest of bookmakers. And in an effort to dispel thoughts of a possible Arsenal lose I will go with the odds. 1.22 for an Arsenal victory, the lowest odds of the round – surely this cannot lie.
Didn't want to try and stretch it out to long, I took gooner's lead and did around 700 words.
The injury scene for the next to week has grown increasingly more exciting for Arsenal supporters. Injuries to Freddie Ljunberg, Dennis Berkamp and Jeremie Aliadiere have cleared up, giving Arsène a myriad of options for the Bolton game. Bolton however, are not so lucky with one of their main creative influences, Youri Djorkaeff, again ruled out. This will most likely result in Henrik Pedersen starting upfront with Kevin Davies.
Bolton will most likely mirror the tactics used last week versus Chelsea. They outplayed the Londoners for the first 45 minutes with long balls into the box. Big, strong, strapping men in Pedersen and Davies will definitely test out Kolo Toure’s aerial abilities. The Bolton game, while tactically simple, has caused a number of teams discomfort in previous season, including our own. Last season’s results, 1-1 away and a fortunate last minute Kanu winner at Highbury give a stark warning of the dangerous play Bolton are capable of. Having recently been through a rough patch which has seen them drop several places in the league, Bolton will be scavenging for points at every possible opportunity. Aptly coined the ‘draw specialists’, Wanderers have draw nine games this season, only surpassed by the under-achieving Newcastle. It would seem unlikely that Bolton could topple a pumped-up Arsenal outfit; however a draw is most certainly a possibility especially with the likes of Kampo and Okocha in the Bolton ranks.
Last weeks admittedly lethargic performance has given the rest of the teams in the premiership a sniff of weakness in an otherwise faultless few months. A fresh 11 will take the field this week, the week’s rest definitely an advantage to have at this point in the season.
A deciding factor in the game will be the effectiveness of closing down from the Wanderers midfield. Having already announced their intentions to sit back and frustrate a fluent Arsenal side, the game will be won or lost in the middle of the park. Patrick Vieira, appropriately described as a ‘colossus’ by the Highbury faithful will have a integral part to play in a gunners victory. The lynch pin of Wenger’s men, Vieira, has had an immense impact since returning from suspension. The difference between a ‘Vieira less’ Arsenal side, such as ones in the closing stages of last season, and this season’s conquerors is of titanic proportions. Accompanied by an ever improving Edu, the pair will be more than a match for the likes of Kampo.
In my heart I see a ravishingly irresistible performance that will totally sweep Bolton aside. My head, the useless thing, feels differently. The amazing winning run cannot last forever and as an educated individual the law of averages is to compelling to ignore. I however can rely on one thing, the self-interest of bookmakers. And in an effort to dispel thoughts of a possible Arsenal lose I will go with the odds. 1.22 for an Arsenal victory, the lowest odds of the round – surely this cannot lie.
Didn't want to try and stretch it out to long, I took gooner's lead and did around 700 words.
