Gut Feeling: I feel like it's Arsenal's chance to show they can have learnt to play with the physical and competitive northern sides. The only problem is that we'll be facing them with six first team players out. Arsenal always seem to get tough draws in the cups and this season's FA and Carling Cup oppositions are testament to that feeling. I think Arsenal will miss Gilberto today and he seems to form an invisible force field just in front of the back four, but there is no direct replacement as I feel that Flamini may be needed elsewhere. I have a feeling that Bolton will be arriving with the "nick an early goal and hold on" attitude and so Arsenal must counteract that by scoring first. If they do, then Arsenal will win.
What Arsenal Need: Arsenal need to be able to cope with the direct tactics from Bolton and the tough tackling midfield. Senderos and Toure will suffer a deluge of long balls and how they cope with them will decide how successful the Bolton attacks are. Equally, Bolton use throw-ins as a dead ball situation and the Arsenal defenders will need to concentrate on their zone marking and pick up late runs into the box.
Things To Watch Out For: Allardyce's team will come out all fired up and it will be interesting to see how the referee deals with the challenges that Fabregas is destined to receive. I hope he is protected somewhat because I don't believe that the "rough-em-up" tactics should be allowed at this level.
Hopes For The Match: I hope Baptista continues his recent development and shows more of what he has. I have only ever seen the big Brazilian as a striker as I don't think he has the intrictae skill and delicate first touch required of a central midfielder in the Premiership. If you compare his first touch and distribution with those of Brazilian compatriots Gilberto and the departed Edu, he is left in their wake. His strength is to fend off defenders and to make runs into the box at the right time, skills he showed in bucket loads in his recent run in the Carling Cup team.
Team Selection: The simple decisions he has made are to rest Lehmann for Almunia, to field the best four defenders he has and to play Henry and Adebayor uo front. But Wenger really has some tough decisions when it comes to the midfield. Rosicky will play on the left and Fabregas in the middle but it is the other two positions which require more thought.
I have a few scenarios:
1. Play Flamini on the right wing and Baptista in the centre.
2. Play Flamini in the centre and Baptista on the wing.
3. Play Flamini in the centre and Walcott on the wing, leaving Baptista on the bench.
Each scenario has pros and cons as follows:
1. Flamini can play on the right wing but Baptista isn't the right choice in the centre of midfield.
2. Flamini is a good replacement for Gilberto in the centre of midfield but Baptista is a fish out of water on the wing.
3. Flamini is a good replacement for Gilberto in the centre of midfield but Walcott is off form and Baptista is coming into form and so deserves to play.
So I'm really not sure which way Wenger will go.
| My team selection for this game: Henry, Adebayor Rosicky, Baptista or Flamini, Fabregas, Flamini or Walcott Clichy, Senderos, Toure, Hoyte Almunia Subs: Poom, Traore, Diaby, Walcott, Aliadiere |
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Unavailable: Gilberto, Gallas, Ljungberg, Eboue, Djourou, van Persie, Hleb
Long-term issues: Arsenal seem to be picking up lots of muscular injuries this season and I will address this is a separate post.
Prediction: Arsenal 2 Bolton 1
