It was 44 years ago – going for a Song?

Celebrate
By Boris Mellor
February 10 2006

Are Bolton really a bogey team? It is 44 years since they beat Arsenal at Highbury in the league. True they knocked us out of the cup in 1994, and they have had a few draws – but bogey team? So few teams, until recently, ever beat the Gooners that one victory earns the exalted status of bogey team.

 However the Arsenal were having the best of the game at Bolton in the cup when they conceded a schoolboy header from easy bonce. Campbell had a good game that day, but controversy still rages over who was to blame for the error that sent Arsenal out of the cup.

 So Arsenal fans will be aching for revenge over Sam Allardici’s trotters, lobbers and kickers. Though to be fair they didn’t bully us on either occasion this season. In the league we were crap, and in the cup the Gunners won the physical battles.

Diaby and Adebayor give Arsenal a physical presence, as does the newly invigorated Jens Lehmann. Lets hope that for big Sam the war will be over by 5pm on Saturday.

Campbell’s return has been delayed by an ankle injury, and none of the other defenders are yet to return. Kolo and Eboue will either be in the Ivory Coast celebrating and dodging bullets, or in deep mourning, as the match kicks off.

That being the case Wenger is considering playing Alexander Song as a centre back – there are, apart from the big Swiss, no other defenders available. Apparently Song played at centre back early in his career.

Van Persie will be rested, but all the other forwards, and midfielder/forwards, including Freddy are available. The Gunners are only 5 points behind Liverpool – I must admit I blinked twice when I noticed that, as according to some we are a mid table team. So a win is very important – Arsenal often play well but do not get the result. There is a lack of consistency – but that goes hand in hand with playing so many youngsters (doesn’t it Kevin?). Youngsters are not consistent so the results mirror that. Lets hope they can find that consistency and put Arsenal on a run for third place.