I hate to play Bolton! Heard that before, eh? Now it’s compounded by the fact that one goal could send the Gunners home in their only domestic trophy race. I hate to play Bolton!
As I have written about the Wanderers, in the past, so I elected to not bore you with the introductions to players. Instead, I’d like to ramble on about Bolton’s match against ManCity. Fortunate to catch a glimpse of our opponent before the big game; here are my thoughts.
-Bolton lined up in a 4-4-2 but it evolved into a 5-3-2 in no time. The Gunners are sure to see a 4-5-1, though.
-Bolton looked to the long ball far more times than I remember them playing in the past. The long passes were both forward and square and went 25-35 yards.
-Bolton scored twice in the first half but kept pressure during most of the second.
- Borghetti scored his first Prem goal and I believe the first goal for a Mexican national. After this he did absolutely nothing and I forgot he was on the pitch.
-Davies is a physical presence and a very practical player. He plays more to the rear of where a striker should be and tends to look like a midfielder.
-There is nothing pretty to the way Bolton plays but it has a hard edge.
-Bolton did not play a dominating sort of game but took advantage of the two real mistakes by the Man City defense. It’s this “practical” style that gets them the points.
-Bolton countered with three players nearly every turn. Vaz Te was the teams most impressive and active wing and he took the initiative on most counters.
-Campo was placed as a midfielder but never moved forward. He played as a fifth defender at times but who knows if he will play against the Gunners.
-Bolton were without Diouf, Pederson, Jaidi, Okocha, Speed or Faye. They looked to be suffering for it as their communication was not the best.
I predict the scorelines based on what a 100% effort can show. That would be part of why I’ve missed nearly every one this season. I’m going out on a limb and predicting that the physical nature of Bolton will be matched. The Gunners will show a nasty streak and move to the next round.
Bolton 0-1 Arsenal
24 Responses to “Bolton-FA Cup”
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January 26th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
Sure, we might put in 100% effort, but so will they - that’s guaranteed.
I’m not saying it’s impossible to beat Bolton, they might play like cr*p, but I don’t really understand where you’re coming from.
What Arsenal players are going to show a nasty streak? We don’t have those sort of players. It’s like asking Senderos to fire a Van Persie-style free kick into the top corner, it’s not going to happen. We might win another way, but not that way.
We all know what Bolton will do, we’ve seen it all before - there’s no reason for Allardyce to change it. They will play it physical, long balls all over the shop. Arsenal’s forwards will get completely isolayed, the midfield will be outmuscled and the defence will wilter under the long balls and pressure. If Wenger plays 4-5-1, it won’t make any difference, because they all just get in eachothers way and the focal point of the attack will be unable to hold it up - we don’t hav ethat sort of player.
This is the biggest nailed-on defeat of the season in my opinion. I’m sticking with 3-0 Bolton, hope I’m wrong.
January 26th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Us winning or playing hard and well on the road… is not based on anything we’ve shown all season.
It would be the exception not the rule.
But Bolton are hardly a great team… and we are probably favored to win the match.
We can win.
I thought we would win, prior to Wenger saying that Henry won’t play.
That makes absolutely no sense at all. Just another reason to ask wtf is Arsene thinking.
January 26th, 2006 at 10:15 pm
Jeez DannyT, I sure hope your wrong!
Don’t gamble like you said you would. If you do bet then bet on the dogs or ponies or something else (American Football). I noticed your comments in the other posts about gambling. I was paying attention, but if you get paid it’s at too high an expense.
January 26th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
I kinda agree as it’s probably our only real hope at silverware this season. But maybe the youth will play harder and more determined than the older guys. RVP will I’m sure of that.
January 26th, 2006 at 10:25 pm
It should be a good game. The young lads will play hard and maybe more determined than some of the vets. We need this silverware though; then again I?d rather place in the top 4 of the EPL; which Wenger has always said is more important than cups. Win or loose we can?t loose focus on the EPL.
Bolton always grind us down but with a little brilliance from RVP and some good support from the other young players we can win this. I certainly don?t think Bolton ?own us? or will ?school us? as others above are predicting.
All this bad luck and form is going to stop with this game and we?ll win it if only by a hair. I?m sure it will be an ugly game though, but they?ll grind through it.
January 26th, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Hi all you Fellow Gooners! I have recently moved from London to California and I am so happy to have found fellow Gooners this side of the Atlantic!!!! I went to a few games become I came here and sad to not be able to get a season ticket to the new stadium! Anyway, I think the transfers in January were good. Apparently there are some to come in the summer. I do feel Henry may be off though…something is brewing in Arsene’’s mind. I think the poor season is good for us - it will spur (hate that word!!) Arsene and Arsenal into changing the team. I remember Arsene saying in a programme earlier this season that ”this is a period of change for Arsenal. We cannot compete with Chelsea…yet! This is a period of transformation of 2-3 years. Arsenal fans must be patient”. Though I think we need 1 or 2 expericenced players, I detest Chelsea and their money. When we were buying Walcott, they suddenly came in and offered more. We had tracked Walcott for 2 years. All they wanted to do was stop us from buying him! Like Sean Wright-Philps, Walcott would have decayed on the bench. Good on Wlacott, good on Arsenal. Success will come…lets be patient! Oh yes, Bolton? Well..expect Arsenal to win 2-1.
January 26th, 2006 at 11:27 pm
Common lads.. I predict a narrow victory to arsenal 1-0.. RVP we need you! COMMON GUNNERS!!!
January 26th, 2006 at 11:33 pm
I don’t reply to many comments. Its nice to hear someone like you out there who still believes in a miracle. One thing we must all remember is that this game has already been “hyped up”. Only a Round 4 game! However, by the looks of things, We (AFC) are despirited and cautious and have handed over the gauntlet to Bolton who must now feel they have a huge advantage over us. I have a feeling they (Bolton) will be in for a rude shock. I think counting their chickens b4 hatching would cost them “big time”. Many times Bolton have gone into games as “favourites” and as a result of such a false sense of security, they often falter!
YES they will win the physical battles. It does not mean a trashing for us. I support Wenger. There’s no point! I’ve seen AFC lose in all comps many seasons, simply bcos of the lack of focus and prioritisation and most particularly - falling for the psychological “hype”. We had better get our thinking caps on guys bcos finishing out of the top4 will be a massive slap on the face.
Let me cast your mind to just 12months ago. Liverpool was exactly in this sort of mess. I’m sure they had more experienced players but they humbly rose above the hype of the FA Cup and I must say they were extremely LUCKY to be at Istanbul last Summer. Looking at the Arsenal team, we have less experienced players and a couple of vets who are simply “past it”. I wish Walcott could grace this FA Cup game. We need something else from somewhere else now. I believe the gaffer has done the right thing. Beating the Hype. I will close by saying: “Dont be suprised if it ends up a 1-0 to AFC
January 26th, 2006 at 11:41 pm
Bolton are clear favourites to win this hyped up game. The fact that it is hyped up will fire up Bolton but something will happen to them! Mark my words. They will fall! Why? Because they have the physical and psychological advantage and I’m sure they’ll be counting their chickens b4 hatching. We’ve seen many times that the line up doesnt really matter. Its what happens on the day. This one is for the less hopeful. Shock win. 0-1 to Arsenal.
January 26th, 2006 at 11:45 pm
Arsenal beating Bolton is now a SHOCK WIN?
Are we truly that pathetic?
January 27th, 2006 at 12:01 am
Just thought I’d throw this little factoid out there to cheer some of you up a bit.
This from the Evening Standard, via the Arsenal Digest List that I get via email…
Apparently Spurtz will play the fewest matches by a premiership team EVER in a season… as they have gone out of the FA CUP and Carling Cup in the first round, without even a replay!!!
Obviously, they don’t play in Europe…!!!
ONLY 40 matches for our arch enemies up the road from Highbury! I guess they’ll be fresh at the end of the year?!!!!!
January 27th, 2006 at 2:17 am
Its a Cup game. So no rush for us to get the 3 points. I predict a 0-0 game. Maybe 1-1 (if and only if we score first).
Bolton is still Bolton. Bolton is not Barca, they are not Chelsea. …
I think we might survive with a 2-0 win …
No way Bolton to beat us more than 1 goal difference. … who said 3-0. … Is Ronalidnho, Roony and Henry are playing with Bolton… ITS Fuc*ing Bolton !
**AYE CARUMBA**(censored), our young kids can beat them, and also can be beaten. Being so negative to predict a s tupid score like 3-0 Bolton is such a non Goonerness.
January 27th, 2006 at 3:03 am
And they still sh*t
January 27th, 2006 at 3:08 am
This is a cup game and you don’t need super stars but players with real passion, desire, grit and commitment.
The team that wants it most will win this game. Bolton will play hard and if Arsenal are going there to play like girlies and dive all over the place they might as well prepare for the Wet Ham and forget about the FA Cup.
January 27th, 2006 at 8:03 am
Hopefully our training this week has been boxing, kung fu and Martin Keown Streetfighting, because it’s about time our team toughened up. So I for one am pretty glad that we play Bolton now and again in 2 weeks, because Wenger needs to confront our weaknesses and deal with them.
January 27th, 2006 at 8:31 am
I’m hoping for a draw and a replay at home. But if you entered all the stats of the year into a computer, including the stats of recent years away to Bolton, I think you’d get something like 1 nil to Bolton.
I see no reason to think otherwise, unless they sneak a late goal at the end when our defenders are tired like Wigan did.
Outside bet: RvP to score a brace, Arsenal to go through 2-1.
January 27th, 2006 at 8:54 am
I will now not be betting on the match. I had no idea Bolton were missing Pedersen, Okocha, Diouf, Faye, Jaidi, Fadiga and Speed.
I think it’s possible to win now.
January 27th, 2006 at 9:48 am
BOLTON have many folks out of action as DannyT mentioned… Diouf Pederson Jaidi Okacha etc
Here’s our list: (taken from Arseblog)
In team news ahead of Bolton we’re a bit threadbare. Campbell was supposed to be rested but now it seems Gilberto is out with a calf injury so he’s back in the squad. Lauren and Thierry are definitely out with hamstring problems and Cesc is suspended. There’s no Ashley Cole or Pascal Cygan either so the left back choice is going to be an interesting one.
We are as screwed as Bolton in some positions!
Its likely to come down to:
a) who wants it more and is willing to play hard for the full 90.
b) who get the breaks with refereeing decisions and bounces
Advantage to Bolton for being at home, and our awful away form, sheer physicality of play.
Its a jump ball tomorrow…
January 27th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Right on!
January 27th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
Right you are Stag. At this point, any club who wants to harry play, bully up and long ball has a shot. That’s what has me so beside myself.
January 27th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
I am amazed, and shocked at how quickly its all gone South.
2 years ago, we couldn’t be beaten. I could not see us losing a match to anyone!!!
We ran the f’n league, INVINCIBLES.
Fast forward to today… we have folks predicting 3-0 to Bolton, others “hoping” we can draw so we have the replay at home!!!!!!!
Holy freaking crap… what has happened.
I think we miss you know whoooooooooooo!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 27th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
In fairness, Bolton away is never an easy game - even in our unbeaten season we drew 1-1 and were lucky to get that.
But yes, it has been a terrible fall. The blame lies squarely on Wenger’s shoulders. Surely it would have been easier just to buy a couple of world class players and 2 top class kids to keep things ticking over instead of blowing ?40m on Hleb, Reyes and 7-8 kids.
January 27th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
I have a good feeling about this game. a 4-5-1 with van Persie up front will be significant as he has the ability to win those high balls that Campbell likes to play to the striker. Also, I believe he will stay up front instead of running all over the pitch like Henry does.
With Gilberto out I can see Diaby providing us with someone who can actually complete a pass. With five in the midfield we tend to maintain possession fairly well. I still don’t know who’s going to play LB.
I believe with van Persie playing up front his presence will help keep Bolton honest. They can’t punk van Persie as this kid used to school bullies in the park for fun. It’ll be like being back on the block for him. I’m sure he’ll feel right at home.
Freddie’s going to break his duck tomorrow. 3-1 for the Arsenal. Senderos is going to get beat and he’s going to cost us atleast one goal. Lehmann will have a fine game. We’re going to win.
January 27th, 2006 at 5:22 pm
Arsenal 2, Bolton 1 AET
Van Persie, Campbell for Arsenal
Borghetti for Bolton