Morning all.
It’s been a while since Arsenal faced Bolton. Whether the fixture was at home or away, it usually involved big Sam’s ‘they don’t like it up em’ thuggish tactics which Arsenal had to deal with. Invariably, Bolton would win the physical contest. I think it’s fair to say that Sam Allardyce and Arsene Wenger were never going to be the best friends. One was articulate who described football as being an art, the other, well, his managerial style was probably better suited to football of years gone by.
In his book, yes, he released one called “Big Sam” he declared:
I enjoyed beating Arsenal more than anyone when I was in charge at Bolton. We’d really got to them and Arsene Wenger hated us. Of course, Arsenal beat us sometimes, but we drew with them or beat them more often than expected and Wenger couldn’t handle it.
He takes it all very personally and has an air or arrogance. He’s not one for inviting you into his office for a drink after games. He’s a fantastic manager, I cannot deny that. But the more I could wind him up, the more I liked it.
Allardyce lost just one of six home top flight games against Wenger and was beaten just twice in six games away from home in the Premier League and FA Cup.
Thankfully, Bolton Wanderers are no longer a Premier League club and Big Sam isn’t a Premier League manager. In fact I don’t believe he has a job in the game at all.
Bolton currently sit 19th in League One but they are still a big and strong team by all accounts.
Arsenal’s record in this competition has been poor over the last 20 odd years. The photo below from TransferMarket shows at what stage we were knocked out and by who.
There are some shockers in there, the worst being 2010/11 when we lost in the final against Birmingham. The Arsenal players rocked up at Wembley in tracksuits and to this day, I still think they believed the trophy was theirs before the game even kicked off. Once we got to the final I’m sure every Arsenal fan wanted us to win this competition but from the season’s start, is hardly one I’d imagine every club manager sets out to win.
What can we expect from Bolton, I’ve no idea but as always, Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke has given us an insight within the match day preview.
Bolton have set up in a 3-4-2-1 this season, which is no surprise as right across Evatt’s four years at the helm he has almost exclusively deployed a three-man rearguard with wing-backs.
At League 1 level the Trotters are known for their fluid, possession-based football. They like to pass out from the goalkeeper, and you will often see their wide centre-backs pushing forward to join in with build-up play inside opposition territory.
With Evatt’s players all comfortable on the ball they are encouraged to keep their passing short, and to move the ball through the thirds. Last term they ranked second for the highest number of short passes in their division. Most of their longer passes are switches of play, rather than hitting it direct from back to front.
They will not expect to have as much of the ball this evening, but in the third tier Bolton’s approach is built around controlling matches, and sustaining periods of pressure inside the opposition half.
Mikel Arteta said in his pre match interview that there will be a few players who are not available for tonight’s match so it’s anyone’s guess who might line up against Bolton. I strongly suspect Jakub Kiwior, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Jorginho will start this one and probably a few of the younger players too. I think the position we’re all waiting to see who plays in is the goalkeeper as Neto is cup-tied and Raya is rumoured to be injured. Lucas Nygaard (18), Tommy Setford (18), Jack Porter (16) and 18 year old Alexei Rojas (18) are the options depending on availability.
Whatever the result, I just pray we don’t pick up any more injuries. At least we know there won’t be a replay.
Catch up in the comments.
Having seen how the Sky Sports pundits thought it was funny when Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel’s head, remember this?
Thanks Rico,
Shearer was always protected by the refs wasn’t he.
If we don’t see a few youngsters tonight,we never will.
Agree Limey, it’s the perfect time to play them otherwise it tells the young players something very different to what he says publicly
Yep Keane.A complete hypocrite.Forgot all about that little incident.Wasnt too happy was he?And digs out Arteta to showsome class?
Hello again Rico and thanks for another interesting post.
I have to say that I can’t work up much enthusiasm for the Carabao Cup, to me it’s a banana skin waiting to trip us up. That said, I don’t like losing any match especially at home.
I think you’re right about Jesus and Sterling starting tonight along with Kiwior and Jorginho as for the rest I just don’t know, but I expect Arteta has a cunning plan.
As the game is being streamed on Sky +, I can watch it in the seclusion of the summer house, so my wife won’t be disturbed by my bad language if the wheels fall off. 😉
As I said before, tonight’s match is a micky mouse match and Arteta should start all the bench players and some younger one’s as well and use it as a practice match to see what they have to offer for the future and not risk injuring our senior players,
Exactly Pete.
Another thing from the weekend when Martinez got away with his two footed challenge, “no contact saved him” is said yet when Vieira got nowhere near van Nistlerooyd all those years ago, intent was enough to send him off.
Hi Cicero, I had to do a bit reading. lol
I can’t get excited ahead of tonight’s game either although if the youngsters play, it’ll be worth watching just to see how they get on.
Ha ha, will your wife be watching “your mum my dad”?
I guess the lesson to be learnt from that long list of cup defeats is don’t get drawn against Man City in the League Cup
Good post Rico, yeah I get the points made about not risking our players and that we shouldn’t play the seniors and fill the team with youngsters but at the same time there’s nothing to be learned for a team of youngsters to get roughed up and humiliated in front of their own fans.
I think it’ll be a strong’ish team with a lot of kids on the bench. Hopefully the quality of our forwards can put the tie to bed in the first hour and Arteta can make a lot of subs.
I understand the concern about putting players at risk in a 4th tier competition but they can get injured just as easily in training and that seems to have been the case a lot already this season!
Nygaard has recently recovered from a hand injury and Setford hasn’t been fit either so I don’t know their situation. Can Raya put in another 90 minute performance, I’m not sure I’d risk him but if he’s good to go and the alternative is a 16 year old, I’d go with Raya.
Bolton are quite strong on corners and free kicks and despite what Adrian Clarke wrote they are a big, physical team who from what I saw recently ‘put it about’.
I don’t want to see a rookie goalkeeper beaten up in our goal or our youngsters booted up in the air by frustrated old pros who can’t get near to them…
Good afternoon Rico and all
David Raya is expected to be rested for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup tie vs Bolton.
The Spaniard suffered a knock, which is thought not to be serious, against Man City.
With Norberto Neto cup tied, and Tommy Setford injured, 16 year-old Jack Porter is next in line.
Both David Raya & Jurrien Timber were NOT spotted with the Arsenal squad at the team hotel today.
Arsenal are taking precautions over the fitness of David Raya, who left the Etihad Stadium on Sunday showing some signs of a knock. Raya’s injury is believed to be minor & he is expected to be in contention to face Leicester City this weekend.
Arsenal’s 16-year-old academy goalkeeper Jack Porter is set to START their Carabao Cup third-round tie against Bolton Wanderers tonight.
Calafiori was also absent from the squad
During training, Arteta was seen focusing on Nwaneri and Sterling
Thanks for that Dev
youre welcome Kev
Arsenal goalkeepers in the first-team squad to face Bolton tonight:
Jack Porter (16)
Alexei Rojas (18)
Khari Ranson (17)
From training it seems that Porter will get the nod.
A’noon Rico.
Carabao Cup? I preferred Carling Cup. At least there was some alcohol in that one. This is a game for the youngsters and reserves.
I was at that Birmingham game in 2011. One of my worst days out following Arsenal. You’re right the team turned up expecting to walk over the opposition.
The result wasn’t helped by two idiot Arsenal fans sitting behind me needling for a fight all the way through the game even following me out of the stadium at the end. Fortunately my friends were waiting for me outside, so the idiots slinked away when the odds turned against them. Unfortunately there are some Arsenal fans like that…
No one has mentioned Pep nearly taking off the hinges of his chair ,which is criminal damage and deserved a red card .
Is it right that Oliver got £20K to ref a match in Dubai or Saudi Arabia .
It can’t be right for the game to have major controversies in every match and often 15/20 minutes added on . Not the game I grew up with .
Were you bit of an herbert at one time Pete?
Kelsey :- I am surprised that you didn’t know about this , of course the article only mentions Oliver but I believe a few others went as assistants. Article from The Athletic.
20 Apr 2023 GMT+1
Premier League referee Michael Oliver was paid huge fee for officiating Cristiano Ronaldo’s team in Saudi Arabia
Michael Oliver officiated Al Nassr’s 2-0 defeat to Al Hilal and Premier League referees might be a little jealous of the arrangement.
Michael Oliver might just have made fellow Premier League referees jealous after collecting a huge pay packet for officiating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr against Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
Oliver refereed his first top-flight game in 2010 at the age of 25 years and 182 days, becoming the youngest referee in the history of the division.
He’s been a FIFA listed official since 2012 and a member of the UEFA elite referees group – taking charge of the 2022 UEFA Super Cup to add to the four domestic cup finals he has officiated.
But in a surprise switch, Oliver was not refereeing any Champions League games this week and was instead in the Middle East for a huge clash.
He was the man in the middle for Al Hilal’s 2-0 win over managerless Al Nassr and booked Ronaldo for an MMA style takedown on an opponent.
Former Manchester United and Watford striker Odion Ighalo scored a brace at the King Fahd International Stadium.
According to the Daily Mail, Oliver was paid around £3000 for the appearance – which is more than double he would typically earn refereeing in the Premier League.
As an added perk, the 38-year-old also had business class flights to and from Riyadh included in the arrangement.
Howard Webb, now head of the PGMOL, was previously head of referees in Saudi and is said to be supportive of the move.
While the FA were hesitant in the past, he believes it is beneficial for referees to gain valuable experience and wants to develop ties with other associations.
Oliver’s next refereeing task comes at Anfield on Saturday, when Liverpool host struggling Nottingham Forest.
Featured Image Credit: SSC Sports
Topics: Premier League, Michael Oliver, Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo
Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless
QUIZ: Can you name the team from Cristiano Ronaldo’s first international start for Portugal?