Ok the mighty Wanderers (snicker) limp into Highbury after gifting a match to Chelsea. If you saw this one, Chelsea really didn't deserve to win. I see Arsenal breaking off the chains from Bolton's stiffling defense that plagued them at The Reebok. The Gunners take this one with ease, late goal by Bolton due to the lads getting bored....3-1. (Henry, Pires, Edu) Up The Arsenal!!!
Bolton are a tough team. They'll play for the draw and try to catch us on the break. I suspect they'll do what all Allardyce clubs do to us and that's get a boot in and play physical. Hopefully, we're not looking ahead to the CL or Man Utd. If we take it one game at a time we should get at least 2 goals but it will be a hard fought game. They have the quality to get at least a goal if not two. I'm hoping for a 2 nil win but anything is possible. I hope Henry's statement about taking one game at a time and all they are concerned right now is the next game -- Bolton, seriously. If so, then we should do okay.
...and then moan incessantly about the standard of refereeing & how it's cost his side yet another game that they didn't deserve anything from in the first place.
It seems like Bolton is able to bring out poor form from the Gunners....at least over the last couple of matches anyway. I expect this match to be difficult. Hopefully, as others have mentioned, the lads will be focused and ready.
This one's on FSW at 12 Eastern, tape delayed, I believe, so steer clear of any sports news source until you've watched it.
at highbury... nah... dont think so prenn.... you may of caught us offguard up there.. but not at highbury~~~ different levels in talent all over the pitch... okacha has been really poor of late.. i hope this isnt a breakout match for him...
What do you mean 'of late'? He's been pretty poor most of the season. He had good game last week though so you needn't worry about him playing well on saturday. The person you do need to worry about is Henrik Pedersen, he's the second coming of Jesus.
..the shoulder that i leaned on was carved out of stone.. i fear kevin nolan more.. hehehe but okacha can zing in those free kicks like a certain henry can... always dangerous..
Re: ..the shoulder that i leaned on was carved out of stone.. Kevin Nolan, our top scorer and arguably best midfielder. He's been a bit off form recently but maybe he'll be back to his old self this weekend. Okocha has scored 3 free kicks this season, all in the Carling Cup, and two of them before the opposition goalkeeper had properly prepared a wall. He's really not that good at them, tends to send them high an wide. Per Frandsen and Youri Djorkaeff are both better but cos Jay Jay's captain they never get a look in.
Pedersen is definitely a danger man. He hit the post against Chelski and scored a great goal against us in December. This game has definite slip-up potential, but I still think Arsenal will win 1-0 is my prediction.
Pedersen is shite but he does have this knack for scoring important goals such as the 'winner' agaisnt Chelsea in December (okay a Terry OG but is was his fumbled cross), the equalizer against your lot at the Reebok and the injury time winner against Southampton in the Carling Cup quarters. Without Youri I don't think we stand much chance of getting anything out of this match unless Okocha decides he going to have a good game. The Kevins will be a handful as will Nicky Hunt but we're lacking depth elsewhere and our defence is just apalling.
As I said before, I expect this match to be quite difficult for Arsenal and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up a draw. As if on cue, Big Sam is saying on soccernet.com this morning that he plans on playing very boring and defensively. Perhaps he's being cagey but regardless the Gunners need to be focused to get a result against Bolton.
A well thought out, and well presented argument. Pardon me for introducing some facts: Arsenal # A maximum requirement of 22 points (six wins and four draws) from their last 10 games to be guaranteed a third Premier League crown and 13th English League title. # Can afford to drop as many as eight points and still lift the silverware. # Won the last nine in League and Cup against Wolves (1-3 a), Southampton (2-0 h), Chelsea (2-1 h FA Cup), Chelsea (1-2 a), Celta Vigo (2-3 a CL), Charlton (2-1 h), Portsmouth (1-5 a FA Cup), Celta Vigo (2-0 h CL) and Blackburn (0-2 a). # Won the last eight Premiership games against Middlesbrough (h), Aston Villa (a), Manchester City (h), Wolves (a), Southampton (h), Chelsea (a), Charlton (h) and Blackburn (a). # Not managed nine Premiership wins on the bounce, since building a club record 14 League wins between February and August 2002. # Won 21 and drawn seven in the Premiership this season. # Won 23 and drawn seven in the Premiership since going down 2-3 at home to Leeds on 4 May. # Lost just twice in 49 Premiership matches, winning 33 of them. # Dropped only 14 Premiership points to far. The least a title winning side has dropped in a 20-club Premiership is 23, the most 39. # Won 21 League games - more than any other club. # The only remaining unbeaten club in the English League. # Scored more goals than any other club in the top division (55) and conceded fewer (18) # Undefeated in 14 home League games (13 this season). # Won 12 and drawn two (11 wins, two draws this season) at Highbury since losing to Leeds over ten months ago. # Failed to score in only two Premiership games this term - fewer than any other club. # Scored in all but four of the last 105 Premiership matches. # Holding the longest winning run by any club in the top division this season (eight matches). # Used fewer players in Premiership matches this season than any other club (21). # Bolton's only win in nine Premier League engagements with Arsenal was the very first meeting at Burnden Park on 30 October 1995, in which they prevailed 1-0. The Trotters' only win in 12 League visits to Highbury over 45 years was 1-2 in the old First Division on 13 January, 1962. They've only won once at Arsenal with a clean sheet. That was 0-1 in their first ever League game at the North London clubon 24 February, 1900.
Lehmann Toure Campbell Cygan Cole Reyes Gilberto Vieira Pires Bergkamp Henry massive week after this match.. lets hope we come out firing... phishy~
I was thinking we perhaps rest a couple regulars as next week is going to be a huge with the midweek CL match then the (yawn) game with manyoo... dunno wot les boss is thinking.. kanu maybe?? i know the big nigerian rescued a point last year at the whistle against bolton.. i just dont see us throwing out the standard european lineup.. phishy~
Allardyce has hinted he will put 10 behind the ball. My guess is he's trying for a nil nil draw and possibly nick a goal if we commit too much forward. He will probably try to kick the hell out of us as well. I hope we have a good referee, meaning one that will call some of their fouling and issue bookings for the worst offenders. If does do what Fulham did and go for a nil nil draw we'll have our chances. Our finishing is a lot better. If we can get a first half goal they'll have to come forward and I do fear Okocha and a couple of players like Djorkief (sp., if he's healthy and playing) but over all, we should win this one. They are not as good away from home.
This line-up with Reyes on the wing (just that part) is mentioned some. I think it is easier to play up front in the prem than on the wing. Has there been anything mentioned that would suggest Arsene is considering playing reyes on the wing this season? Arsene knows
Billy, ya, straight from the boss' mouth... something about the flexibility of using JAR on a wing and upfront... his dribbling on that side, with toure as a wing back... could be devastating.. as bergkamp would be a setup man/striker..
Okay, bolton comes in on the heels of a game they should have at least taken one point from. They will definitely be disapointed and ready to make amends. Unfortuneately for sammy's army, they have to deal with the gunners. I'll say 2-1 to the gunners, sol and bergie. See you guys in the morning!! gp
well 2-1 was the score and it was an absoloute beauty from pires and an exquisit finish fro bergkamp - who is on top form right now! that knob campo scored for bolton - very blustery conditions tho - k/o was delayed by 15 mins! next up is chelsea on wed then manure on sunday - roll on the good times!