Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal ~ Nov 25
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Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal
Ch 24 - 1:15am - (Live)
Bolton captain Kevin Nolan returns after missing the defeat at Everton to attend the birth of his first child.
Quinton Fortune (groin) is available again, but Ricardo Gardner is not quite ready after his long-term knee problem.
Arsenal captain Thierry Henry has been ruled out because of a neck injury but should only miss one game while fellow striker Robin van Persie is suspended.
Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott are vying to start up front. Tomas Rosicky and William Gallas are still out.
BOLTON WANDERERS will want to maintain their tag as Arsenal's bogey team, when they clash in this Saturday teatime fixture at the Reebok. Victory would see Sam Allardyce's side leapfrog their north London opponents and further damage the Gunners' fading title chances. The so-called "law of the ex" could mean that Nicolas Anelka scores his first long overdue Premiership goal for Bolton in this game.
El Hadji DIOUF and Ivan CAMPO are Bolton's joint top scorers with four goals each.
ARSENAL returned to winning ways in the Champions League midweek with a 3-1 home victory over Hamburg, but failure to defeat Newcastle at the Emirates last Saturday has seen them lose more valuable ground in the title race. Both these clubs have won six Premiership matches, but Arsenal have drawn one more game and find themselves superior by just two places and one point. The Gunners are chasing a first win in five League visits to the Reebok. They last took away maximum points on 29 April 2002. Frederik Ljungberg and Sylvain Wiltord scored in a 0-2 victory.
Thierry HENRY is Arsenal's top scorer with seven goals, six in the Premiership.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Arsenal
28 January 2005 - Ref: Howard Webb
Bolton scorers: Faye 20, Giannakopoulos 32
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
at Bolton.
League: Bolton 26 wins, Arsenal 12, Draws 15
Prem: Bolton 3 wins, Arsenal 2, Draws 2
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Faye, Meite, Ben Haim, Giannakopoulos, Campo, Speed, Tal, Davies, Diouf, Anelka, Walker, Pedersen, Vaz Te, Fojut, Smith, Al Habsi.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Fabregas, Hleb, Gilberto, Ljungberg, Baptista, Adebayor, Almunia, Djourou, Hoyte, Song, Flamini, Walcott, Aliadiere.
REFEREE
Mike Dean (Wirral) -
Why arsenal always lose to bolton one !!!
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DIOUF: GUNNERS ARE SCARED OF US
El-Hadji Diouf has taunted Arsenal ahead of their trip to Bolton, claiming the Gunners are "scared" to play at the Reebok Stadium.
Arsene Wenger's men have not beaten Bolton on enemy territory in the Premiership since 2002 and were defeated in both league and FA Cup combat at the Reebok last season.
Their departure from the tenacious north-west outfit is usually accompanied by loud complaints from Wenger about dirty tricks and over-physical tactics, which only ensures more of the same will be dished up on their next visit.
Already 12 points adrift of leaders Manchester United, Arsenal know they cannot afford to lose any more ground if they are to retain any realistic chance of regaining the title.
However, as Diouf has been made only too aware, Wenger and his squad will head up the M6 with all the enthusiasm of a condemned man heading to the gallows.
"Arsenal are scared to play here," said the Senegal striker.
"My personal manager knows Arsene Wenger very well and when they came up to Bolton last season he said then he didn't like coming here.
"I have also spoken to Thierry Henry and he said exactly the same thing.
"They know Bolton is a hard team to play against. We battle for everything and if we keep a clean sheet, we always win.
"When they complain about us, we just find it more amusing. It is far better to win ugly than lose playing well."
Although some might claim Diouf is seeking unnecessary confrontation, he is only backing up the comments of manager Sam Allardyce, who said it was "wonderful" to hear Wenger moaning because it usually meant his team had been successful.
With strike partner Nicolas Anelka yet to score in the Premiership this term, Diouf has been carrying the majority of Bolton's attacking threat.
The 25-year-old currently tops the Trotters' scoring charts with four, meaning he still has 11 to get if he is to win his pre-season wager with Allardyce.
"I had a bet with Sam that I would get 15," said Diouf.
"I have a lot of belief in my ability and providing I don't get injured, I am confident I will reach the target."
For Anelka, one goal is the aim just now. -
Henry ruled out of Trotters trip
Thierry Henry has been ruled out of Arsenal's trip to Bolton on Saturday because of a neck injury. "It is a short-term problem, and he should be okay for Wednesday night against Fulham," said manager Arsene Wenger this afternoon.
Fellow forward Robin van Persie is suspended following a fifth yellow card of the season against Liverpool.
Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor could lead the attack, although England starlet Theo Walcott may get a start.
Gilberto is pressing for a return after dropping to the bench against Hamburg following his trip to Brazil on compassionate grounds.
Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and defender William Gallas (thigh) are both making good progress, but will not yet be available.
Abou Diaby (ankle) and Lauren (knee) are longer-term absentees, but should return in the New Year.
Kick-off 1.15am.
Arsenal's top scorer HENRY with seven goals, six in the
Premiership has been ruled out for the trip to Bolton.
Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Fabregas, Hleb, Gilberto, Ljungberg, Baptista, Adebayor, Almunia, Djourou, Hoyte, Song, Flamini, Walcott, Aliadiere. -
good match which can go either way
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With Henry out, Tomas Rosicky and William Gallas not available and Robin van Persie suspended... Do you still want to take Arsenal?
Its still not too late to change your prediction for this match considering that Arsenal always do badly at Bolton even with them around... -
Originally posted by zocoss:With Henry out, Tomas Rosicky and William Gallas not available and Robin van Persie suspended... Do you still want to take Arsenal?
Its still not too late to change your prediction for this match considering that Arsenal always do badly at Bolton even with them around...
never under estimate a team which reached the ucl final -
more like never over-estimate a team just because they had reach a cup final...Originally posted by used:
never under estimate a team which reached the ucl final 
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BOLTON!!! gogogo
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arsenal do not have a good record against bolton.
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Bolton!!!!
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Originally posted by zocoss:more like never over-estimate a team just because they had reach a cup final...
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Bolton v Arsenal
Will Anelka score against his old team? -
vs
9 mins
Bolton Wanderers 1 - 0 Arsenal
Bolton has done it again!! -
r.v persie will mk a comeback..
for sure...
*prays hard* -
bloody jinx i say
the Gunners are always intimidated by Bolton -
true.Originally posted by the Bear:bloody jinx i say
the Gunners are always intimidated by Bolton
they just cant seem to break away frm bolton.. -
siege mentality. come on..you young guns.. band together and give them hell.
Bloody Davies.. -
Kelvin Davies is a lucky boy! could have been red.
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ref obviously being lenient to the home team
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Yellow Cards
Davies
Ljungberg
Lehmann -
fwah! what a goal by Anelka!
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Bolton v Arsenal
Anelka score against his old team! -
great goal by Gilberto immediately after!
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Anelka!!!!!!!