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February 1, 2012 8:00 PM GMT
Reebok Stadium — Bolton
Referee: C. Foy
Attendance: 24371
Bolton - Arsenal Preview: Gunners have won nine of the last 10 Premier League matches with the Trotters
Both outfits saw Cup success at the weekend, but are in contrasting form in the league, with the hosts winning their last two and the visitors failing to win in their last three
By Sam Bisby
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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BOLTON
Bogdan Steinsson, Wheater, Knight, Robinson Eagles, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov Ngog, K Davies |
ARSENAL
Szczesny Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen Ramsey, Song, Arteta Oxlade-Chamberlain, Van Persie, Walcott |
Ricardo Gardner still looks like a week or two away from fitness and isn't thought to be under consideration for the game. With the odd player rested at the weekend for the Trotters’ FA Cup victory over Swansea City, a few names could be recalled to the starting line-up, including Zat Knight, Gretar Steinsson, Paul Robinson and captain Kevin Davies - who has been heavily linked with a deadline day move to Sunderland.
January signing Tim Ream joined the Bolton ranks in the week from American side New York Red Bulls and could make his debut appearance for the Lancashire outfit.
Wednesday’s visitors to the Reebok Stadium continue to have problems at the back and will be forced to send out a make-shift defence, especially at the full-back positions. Johan Djourou and Thomas Vermaelen are expected to fill in once again, whilst the pairing in the middle of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny should continue.
Bacary Sagna did make a cameo appearance in the dying moments of the Gunners’ Cup win over Aston Villa on Sunday, but shouldn’t expect to see much first-team action over the next couple of games and may come on once more late in the fixture.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
Arsenal are on the back of a three-match losing streak in the Premier League, with defeats to Manchester United, Swansea City and Fulham. Bolton however have won their last three in all competitions.
- The Trotters were the victors in this fixture last season thanks to goals from Daniel Sturridge and match winner Tamir Cohen. The win was Bolton’s first over Arsenal since November 2006.
- These two haven’t drawn a game in the league since February 2006.
- Goal machine Robin van Persie (pictured right) has 19 netted efforts this season, but has 11 more to grab before he matches club legend Thierry Henry's record of 30 in one campaign.
- Currently in fifth position, the north London side haven’t finished outside of the top four since the 1995/96 season when they finished in their present spot in the league.
- Bolton have conceded the most goals at home (25) than any other side.
- A late goal could easily be on the cards as there has been at least one scored in the last 15 minutes of each of the past nine league meetings between these two outfits.
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Bolton Wanderers 1-3 Arsenal FC
- 21.12 %
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Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Arsenal FC
- 15.59 %
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Bolton Wanderers 0-3 Arsenal FC
- 15.05 %
| Premier League (EPL) | 1 Feb 2012 | Bolton Wanderers 0 - Arsenal FC 0 | |
| Carling Cup (CCUP) | 25 Oct 2011 | Arsenal FC 2 - Bolton Wanderers 1 | |
| Premier League (EPL) | 24 Sep 2011 | Arsenal FC 3 - Bolton Wanderers 0 | |
| Premier League (EPL) | 24 Apr 2011 | Bolton Wanderers 2 - Arsenal FC 1 | |
| Premier League (EPL) | 11 Sep 2010 | Arsenal FC 4 - Bolton Wanderers 1 |
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| 13 May 2012 | Stoke City 2 - Bolton Wanderers 2 | EPL |
| 6 May 2012 | Bolton Wanderers 2 - West Bromwich 2 | EPL |
| 2 May 2012 | Bolton Wanderers 1 - Tottenham 4 | EPL |
| 28 Apr 2012 | Sunderland 2 - Bolton Wanderers 2 | EPL |
| 24 Apr 2012 | Aston Villa 1 - Bolton Wanderers 2 | EPL |
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| 13 May 2012 | West Bromwich 2 - Arsenal FC 3 | EPL |
| 5 May 2012 | Arsenal FC 3 - Norwich City 3 | EPL |
| 28 Apr 2012 | Stoke City 1 - Arsenal FC 1 | EPL |
| 21 Apr 2012 | Arsenal FC 0 - Chelsea FC 0 | EPL |
| 16 Apr 2012 | Arsenal FC 1 - Wigan Athletic 2 | EPL |
| 1 | Adam Bogdan | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Gretar Steinsson | Defender |
| 12 | Zat Knight | Defender |
| 18 | Sam Ricketts | Defender |
| 31 | David Wheater | Defender |
| 6 | Fabrice Muamba | Midfielder |
| 7 | Chris Eagles | Midfielder |
| 10 | Martin Petrov | Midfielder |
| 16 | Mark Davies | Midfielder |
| 19 | Nigel Reo-Coker | Midfielder |
| 24 | David Ngog | Striker |
| 22 | Jussi Jaaskelainen | Goalkeeper |
| 25 | Dedryk Boyata | Defender |
| 39 | Joe Riley | Defender |
| 21 | Darren Pratley | Midfielder |
| 9 | Tuncay Şanlı | Striker |
| 14 | Kevin Davies | Striker |
| 17 | Ivan Klasnic | Striker |
| 13 | Wojciech Szczesny | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Bacary Sagna | Defender |
| 4 | Per Mertesacker | Defender |
| 5 | Thomas Vermaelen | Defender |
| 6 | Laurent Koscielny | Defender |
| 8 | Mikel Arteta | Midfielder |
| 15 | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | Striker |
| 16 | Aaron Ramsey | Midfielder |
| 17 | Alex Song | Midfielder |
| 10 | Robin van Persie | Striker |
| 14 | Theo Walcott | Striker |
| 21 | Lukasz Fabianski | Goalkeeper |
| 7 | Tomas Rosicky | Midfielder |
| 10 | Andrey Arshavin | Midfielder |
| 30 | Yossi Benayoun | Midfielder |
| 35 | Francis Coquelin | Midfielder |
| 9 | Chu-Young Park | Striker |
| 14 | Thierry Henry | Striker |
| Chris Eagles | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 7 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
The winger’s heroics in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat of Swansea should see the former Burnley man keep his place and be a dangerous asset for the hosts against the tough visiting opponents.
A good player to have on the counter, Eagles will no doubt race down his flank and supply the likes of David Ngog and Kevin Davies to try and prolong the Gunners’ miserable run.
| Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 15 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
After impressing in his so far short-spell in the first-tem, the young attacker is set to continue his place in the senior side and help the ailing London side in getting back to top form.
The former Southampton hot property is slowly beginning to grow into the Arsenal team and can become a great source for frontman Van Persie with his sharp agility and storming pace into the danger zones, supplying chances and creating his own.
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Robin van Persie
Striker Arsenal |
30 | 2 |
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Wayne Rooney
Striker Manchester United |
27 | 6 |
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Kun Agüero
Striker Manchester City |
23 | 3 |
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Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker Blackburn |
17 | 4 |
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Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker Tottenham |
17 | 3 |