No Nik, no Thomas, no Theo, no Robin but Cesc says he's back!

So after what seems like the longest two weeks ever, Arsenal are back playing football at 3pm this afternoon.

The Emirates welcome Bolton Wanderers and Owen Coyle. We know a bit about Bolton and their style of play but to be fair that roughtie toughtie ‘in yer face’ football they played was under the instruction of Fat Sam, Owen Coyle has tried to get his side to play football. This afternoon we will see if that remains the case.

Their last game was a 2-2 draw at home to Birmingham, a game that saw Jussi Jaaskelainen sent off in the 37th minute. They did well to come back from 2-0 down with ten men and a ‘rookie’ goal keeper in Adam Bogdan. We will of course be up against the same rookie today as Jaaskelainen will be suspended. Most Arsenal fans I am sure will be glad Jussi is not playing, he’s a class goal keeper and one that I wish Arsene Wenger had tried to sign instead of Schwarzer, hey ho, we didn’t get him in the end either.

In front of Adam Bogdan will be a defender on cloud nine. Having just had a run out for another side in white, Gary Cahill will be desperate show everyone just why he deserved his chance. During their last game, Bolton had five shots on target and five off target but I don’t see them scoring today, not even the spiky little Kevin Davies.

The battle of the day for me will be Fabrice Muamba and Chung-Yong Lee up against Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song and I fully the latter duo to win the duel. Win that and we win the game in my opinion, don’t let anything get through the middle and let Cesc dictate our play going forward. Ahead of him will hopefully be Arshavin and Chamakh, Arshavin being able to destroy any side on his day. Just depends which Arshavin ‘turns up’.

Bolton haven’t lost yet this season so confidence will be high, especially after getting a hard-earned point at home in their last game. But then neither have we and our confidence must be sky-high after beating Fat Sams Blackburn away in our last game. Yes we have a few injuries but like I said yesterday, that’s what squads are for and we have a deep one. Some maybe younger than we would like but if you’re good enough, you’re old enough and I think some of ours are old enough 😉

We all know we have injuries but nevertheless we should win this game today, we are at home, we are playing Bolton and to win the league, games like this should be a definite three points to us.

Bad news for us is that Thomas Vermaelen has been added to our already long looking list of injured players. Wenger has hinted he will call on Squillaci to fill the void – he played midweek and is now set for his full debut. I look forward to it too, even though I haven’t seen him play yet, something makes me think he will be a better option than throwing Djourou in, he needs a few more games in the reserves in my opinion.

Good news is that Cesc says he’s back and ready for Bolton and even with the players we have, we should still win, that’s what squads are for. Wenger has thankfully hinted that strikers from the reserves will help bridge the gap left by Nik, Robin and Theo so no more seeing Arshavin up front on his own like last season.

Talking of Cesc, hopes he sees the latest comments made by Alex Hleb,

“I regretted leaving Arsenal. Not a lot of players say ‘No’ to Barca. But if I’d known before what would happen, I wouldn’t have gone there. I was unhappy. I didn’t play much. I lost form and confidence.”

Other news going around is that the FA are going pay £1M to the Spuds for the injury suffered to Defoe, no mention of any payment to us though for the Theo injury and what about the Dutch paying out for all the injuries Robin has suffered?  

I don’t know what’s going to me better viewing on Football First tonight, our game against Bolton or the Everton fans laying into Wayne Rooney, time for the record button I think. Credit where credit is due whilst on the subject of Manchester United, Old Red Nose manages his 700th game for them today. Out of that 699 so far, his side has only lost 100 games, that’s some record so well done Fergie, I hope that loss count becomes 101 today though!

Almunia
Sagna Kos Squilli Clichy
Eboue Cesc Song Rosicky/Vela
AA Chamakh

2-0 home victory….

Have a good day all, we’re back and roll on 3pm.

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Dgob
Dgob
15 years ago

I hope Nasri starts in the centre and we bring Cesc on from the bench. Crazy? Maybe, but we need to be building and with him making it crystal that he’ll be going home next year, Cesc’s importance to the team needs to be managed. Also, given Nasri’s commitment and strengths, I’d like to see us grooming him as the natural replacement. Maybe we could allow Rosicky to also share that creative central role.

Today will be a challenge but one that we should win. A 1-0 result would do me although I’m as prone as the next gooner to a little greed (6-0 being even better). A clean sheet and goals is my key hope!

COYG

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

Morning Rico and Dgob, personally I think we will retain our 4-4-3 if we play 4-4-2 me thinks Chamakh will play on the right side and Vela on the left Arshavin behind hem.

Anyway we have more then enough gun powder for 2-0 🙂

would like to see a link about the 1 mill payoff.

Erick
Erick
15 years ago

Howdy Folks today we get back to the best team in the world playing am hoping to see Diaby Rico or is he injured

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

morning rico..

it will be interesting to see cygan and stepanovs against old pointy elbows, if they wanted a baptism of fire then theyve got one

bolton have changed the way they play though under coyle they like to pass more the days of long ball have gone so we should win..

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

theyve still got davies so the long balls and set pieces will still be a weapon but they will try to play..

as long as we take our chances when we get them we be ok..

what i dont want to see is 10 chances before half time only to miss the lot cos bolton will score..maybe a couple

weve got the same average keeper and a whole central defence whove never played together..

no club has won a major trophy under those circumstances never mind a PL game so we have to be alert against bolton

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

stepanovs might look mean rico but davies has been mean for about a decade in the PL

today will be a test if he cant handle davies then hes got no chance against drogba and the rest..

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

almunia may have had a few decent games but he still looks the same dodgy keeper we had last year and the year before and the year before.. its only a matter of time before he throws the ball into his own net

no rico ive never seen stepanovs play and i dont think wenger has either..

he was a desperation signing..he just signed him cos he wouldnt pay over 6mil for anyone decent and he was out of options..he needed backup so he bought another frenchie..

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

theyve got a little china man as well rico..

one hung low or something like that 😉

very tricky..i can see clichy having yet another bad game if he doesnt concentrate

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Hi Rico, Guys and especially you JJ. 🙂

Good post Rico, saves me reading the newspapers!

JJ it would be good to see you more often. Someone has to give WATH a run for his money! 🙂

I hope you are wrong about Squidgy, the idea of another Stepanovs would be too much to bear!

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

we needed quality..

silvestre had experience look how that turned out..

we might as well have given gallas 6 mill for one more year at leaast we knew he could do it..

if stepanovs was that good then for 6 mil he would have been at a big club long before now..

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

who was the other CB wenger un earthed??

around the same time as stepanovs??

he was a greek chap and was supposed to be the next keown and turned out to be quite the opposite

stavis tavidis or something..

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

bonjourno RA

RedandDread
RedandDread
15 years ago

Why do so many of our bloggers continue to select a team in a 4-4-2 formation. We no longer play that system. He will play Cesc, Song & Diaby in a midfield trio if all are fit…….

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Rico,

You are right to give everyone a chance, of course, and I will too, but I have always thought much the same as JJ.

If Squidgy was any good, we would at least have heard of him before now. His signing is so out from Le Prof’s usual finding of a rough diamond it does smack of either money issues or a Sylvestre space filler.

Hope I am wrong. 🙂

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

i just think wengers prudence is gonna come back to bite him in the arsenal once again..

only this time there are no excuses..

he had all summer to sort out the weak spots and he pissed it all down the drain chasing a 97 year old keeper for £1.95 and ignoring the best young CBs in the land for the sake of the language they speak and a few million..

shame on him..

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Bonjour JJ je ne savais pas que vous parlait Espagnol! 🙂

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

i remember saying a while back id be angry if we went after any french players..

we had enough and the french had a shit attitude and werent good enough anymore to get away with it..

who were our biggest signest..two frenchies and a player who speaks french and played in france all his career..

we were that busy pissing about that players like VdV get bought for 8mil and wenger didnt even know about it

what a joke this summer was

there are no more chances..

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

Salou mon amigo..

je voudris le trois points sil vous plait 😉

in the words of willy g.. je suis un pomme de terre..

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

As I said Rico, your right to give him a chance.

I watched the Ligue1 last year, from time to time. It isn’t the most interesting league, I was keeping an eye out for Cham, but I never noticed Squidgy among a host of other also rans.

But I wasn’t interested in old CB’s. I did also keep an eye out for a great big hunky CB playing for PSG, only 20 years old, built like Sol, and I was convinced Winkie would sign him. But what do I know?

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

didnt he play for sevilla??

sevilla bought him from lyon for 6mil and told him to us..

weve basically bought gallas backup for the french squad for 6mil at the same time losing gallas for naff all..

fantastic business makes sense to me..

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

JJ, 😉

It is brilliant to have my forthright linguist friend back among us! We are a better mix with you JJ. 🙂

Unfortunately, I am not going to be around for the next couple of weeks, so I hope you will help Rico keep Agag and WATH away from the GG! 🙂

And what about a JJ Post?

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

haha RA if ive got anything it will go up on AR..

i just come on here to catch up with old friends.. 😉

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

there is no system red and dread

it looks a 433 on paper but we never look like it on the pitch

its either a 4-5-1 or a 2-0-8 or a 0-10-0

wenger lets them do what they want we have no shape and thats why we conceed shitty goals

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

thats why im not bothered if stepanovs gets a chance or not rico

he can have all the chances he wants but bottom line is he shouldnt be here we should have signed a monster at the back..a young english leg breaker like shawcross..

see how the other teams like it when we kick them in the air

but no we pissed about trying to save 50p and ended up with another soft french dude whos not even as good as the other french dude we let go..and it cost us 6 mil to do it

rubbbish..

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

haha rico

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Rico, JJ,

Did not mean to cause any embarrassment. I have enjoyed both AR and HH and AA and as I am only a blogger I was expressing a personal and perhaps selfish wish to see more of JJ, as AR is not around v. much at the mo’.

I will shut up now and mind my own business! 🙂

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

😆

sharpgunner
sharpgunner
15 years ago

Good post.Let us see how it turns out. Nasri should be given more time to fully recover instead of rushing him back and risk worsening his injury. Even with Nasri and the injured regulars out, I still believe that we have enough quality and depth to deal with Bolton.

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

wheres the rest of you guys im nipping out in a while i was hoping to catch a few of you 😉

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

unless almunia has his gloves sponsored by lurpack today

we’ll win but i expect some squirty bottom moments

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

jag would have been too expensive

everton arent skint in the last few years theyve sold two players for 60mil rooney and lescott..

we would have had to break the bank for him

cahill and shawcross on the other hand play for shite clubs who are on their arse and i would have taken either of them

shawcross maybe in the bad books but hes what we are missing at the back and i wouldnt have minded getting him..

good young player and takes no prisoners..just ask aaron..

thats what we need..not some 60year old from france..

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Hola! rico, we’re looking quite lightweight on the striking front; definitely worrying at defense; and our captain is still grappling with certain stainy distractions (no, not Song’s atroocious hair)… All in all we’re looking good! Could be worse.

Hello, JJ. You are very sunshiney. 😉 Haha.

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

il always pop in rico..

i wont be around as much as i used to but when i am i’ll come say hi 😉

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

ola AGAG 😉

i think weve got enough firepower in the midfield even if we are short of numbers up top..

its not scoring goals im worried about its almunia scoring a hatrick of goal kicks in his own net and stepanovs getting bullied by pointy elbows

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

im off..

ill speak to u all soon..

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

I think we are all agreed Almunia is not and will never be great; but he hasn’t been all that bad in our first few games. And Squidward has the look of someone who will not hesitate to elbow back. He looks psycho-ish too, JJ. In the best possible way. 🙂

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

I really hope so, rico. It’s not as if we haven’t been patient with Almunia. 🙂 Pepe Reina, on the other hand, ha ha ha. First that clanger v. Arsenal, and now several clangers for Spain. He deserves it, the ding-dong!

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

hello Ladies, would be interesting to see who will chose AW to start Jack had a gr8 game for England U-21 so did Diaby for France, Nasri was doing good b4 he was sidelined it, Eboue is Eboue :D, Rosicky was very good but always second choice Vela is lovely technician who desperately needs some time on the field.
who will most definitely start the back six, weird Al + the 4 def + Song, Cesc + AA(he can play forward and middle) and Chamakh up front.
So we have two spots for the rest of the players to bad for ’em really.
PS i cant see why you missed JJ, Squillaci is far from Stepanovs or what evere his name is.
I have seen him play in Monaco and Lyon he did good and he has won trophies with all of his previous clubs and he will win something with Arsenal I am real positive about this.
Vermaelen will play the next game as long he puts a sock in it.

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

hi stef

Tv told the truth though..

hes more the arsenal captain than what cesc is..but your right hes been dropped..dont know why though..

if find it ironic that wenger will drop a player in form yet he wont drop a player who puts in poor performances or wants to move to another club..

and if your happy with squidgy then thats your right but its also my right to express dissapointment in summer purchases..it was shockingly bad..

we needed a new keeper..we didnt get one..and we embarassed ourselves chasing schwarzer..

we also needed some quality reinforcements at the back..and we buy two players who cant even get into the french national squad and we all know how bad that is

im not convinced..not one bit

we’ll be good at the start of the season we always are but i’ll start to judge these players when the real test comes against the big teams

only then will we know how good they are..im afraid wenger has to deliver this year..and his signings doesnt convince me hes after the title..

hes after 4th.. again..

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

Nasri can play as a substitute in the last third.
Good we have some `proper` football upon us, the interlull was sickening.

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

i think we’ll go with

cesc song diaby

rosicky chamakh AA

we dont need to risk nasri or play jack either..jack reminds me of a young paul scholes..hes nasty in the tackle and he’ll get alot of cards.. wenger shouldnt risk him against bolton..hes too young he’ll be too fired up and get red carded in 5 mins..

still too much fire power up front..no matter who plays they are all capable

its the defence im worried about

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

i vaguely remember rose

i’ll see what i can do

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

yeah rico..i thought that when i heard he wasnt playing..

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

JJ, we saw Nordtveit in the preliminaries he did very good in my book., so he is a contender for a plays in the defense.
We need it another defender and DM that’s it really Almunia is better then Mark Schwarzer.
There are at least 6-7 keepers in the PL who are better.
Last thought it is OK not to be satisfied with the transfer period, but I don’t like the trash talk.

Erick
Erick
15 years ago

How are you JJ Everton making the Manc work hard

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

Rico, re Vermaelen it’s not the first time AW did it.

Erick
Erick
15 years ago

Stef howdy

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

howdy erick the mancs have just hit the post though..

toffees started brightly..mancs are there for taking

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

exactley

cesc wanted to leave and he never got dropped

wengers man management skills are wierd..hes got favorites and its bad for morale..

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

hi Erick hows the intern 🙂

I was reading this hope we sign her in the mid season transfer window she could play as a defender 🙂
Theo sister is a rock

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

Sure the are better Rico, better for us 🙂 1 nill down.

Pienaar from South Africa with love…

to bad Fletcher makes it 1-1

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

need to stop gloating at Mancs 2-1. sheet!

Oh well c ya after the game.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Rico,

Gibbs and Ebouuuuu, are the fullbacks.

Sagna, Clichy, Vela, Denilson, Flappy all on the bench.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Rico,

I think Vela might as well pack his bags, he will never get a chance!

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

wow and I thought we will have all french back 4.

To bad 4 Vela he will need to learn to play on right flank to ever get a chance.

Red Arse why are you blue? :D:P

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Can you believe that result? 😉

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

looks like 4-5-1 formation will be interesting to see how creative we will be

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Rico,

Part business/part break from tomorrow afternoon. Not sure how long for.

Still trying to finish off my last minute bits and pieces!

Working/blogging and keeping an eye on the Formula 1 qualifying and the footie. You see, we men can multi-task providing sport is involved. 🙂

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

Hail the King Cahill and King Arteta 😀

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Hi Stef,

Not sure what you mean.

Rico, I am also watching Rugby, Harlequins v Northampton. That’s probably why I keep having to re-do my presentations! 🙂

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

Your avatar is blue RA 😛

l8r

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Stef,

I think Rico thinks I am a bug! 🙂

Your avatar looks like a green octopus. 🙂

Got to go guys.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Afternoon all.hoping you’re having a very good afternoon.its quite encouraging to see the mancs conceding goals in the last minutes an attribute that we have seen all too often with our team.the mancs are quite poor by the way…

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Arshavin has missed some really fantastically set-up ones… 🙁

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

1-1 Koz scored 2 goals 😀 Arsh knows better then this.
put Vela in the second half Mr Wenger.

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

😥 What on earth…?

I don’t have a link, rico. The ones I found have since been taken down. The footie police have cracked down on our desperation streams, it seems. 🙁

It’s live on my TV, rico. The MU debacle was too. 🙂

Rosicky, Wilshere, Song, and Cesc are playing well. Gibbsy and Eboudinho not so well. Arshavin has been quite wasteful with three really excellent chances.

Davies?? Muamba?? These people will get away with murder…

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Jack is okay. Not to worry. He just came off and Abou is in…

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Cahill red card!!!!

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

I don’t think so, rico… I think he’s being saved for Braga.

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

That red was harsh though.

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Diaby’s hobbling, Robinson took him down hard…

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

He’s fine now… Arshavin is off the pace. Bring Vela on!!!!

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Diaby (who came in for Wilshere) is off. Denilson is in…

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

And he was offside a dozen times, our Arsh… TR7 has been fantastic so far though…

We’re failing to get a grip on this game, however… Vela should be brought in…

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Song scores!!!!

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Denilson tries from distance. Super save from Bolton.

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

I’m rubbish, rico. Honest…

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Vela scores!!!! Our captain seems to be back…

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Cesc had something to do with three of the four goals. (Kozzer’s, Chamakaka’s and Vela’s)

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

TR7 deserves a goal… To be fair, Denilson’s looked solid.

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

It occurred to me just now, this is the sort of challenge that Sami would like. High tempo and high-temper. 😉

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

You know, I just saw the highlights. Cesc had a foot on all four goals. Even Song’s.

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

Cesc was great today Song too 🙂 don’t know what wrong with Arsh, Vela would of scored at least 3.
Cesc is the man of the match most definitely.

Erick
Erick
15 years ago

Am back the net has been crap today Song was amazing both in defence and Attack oh to be a gooner 🙂

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

There’s a Goal highlights show after the games at ESPN, rico. Fergie was trying hard to appear cool which means that inside, he must be livid with rage… 🙂 I luv it.

I think Vela’s goal was a study in composure. Really, really promising stuff from him.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Alex dimitry blondie billong!!!the new vela…

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Jambo, Erick. 🙂 See, we’re quick studies? Cesc was really good, no?

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

I thought Eboudinho was unlucky not to get a penalty 😉 Haha. Chamakh could’ve gotten one.

I saw Kolo’s booboo at the Citeh game. Haha. But Paddy scored.

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Hakuna matata is a Disney song too, rico. 🙂

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Rico im up for it.i didn’t know how much i hated the bloody mancs till today!!!…they fielded a team with an average age of 30 years and 277 days…if the mancs win anything all other teams should be ashamed!

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

I had an eye on the chavs… Essien was fantastic. He’s the only pensioner I could possibly like.

Jambo, KT. 🙂

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

Yeay for todays game lets keep winning and lets hope we didn’t lose any new players today.

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

I hate Malouda’s swagger… but he’s come a long way. And he’s well, it pains me to admit– good. 😉

If we had Essien, we’d be unplayable, rico.

Stef, I think we just lost Abou for Wednesday.

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

Malouda is better then good he is great.

to bad for Jack he looked good so far, ah well hope Vela starts next game that boy is good 😀

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

at least he is not from the lane 😀

ok Rico I am out to

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Control yourself, rico. He’s in the wrong side of town now. There’s more where that’Dutch Treat’s from (Affelay, VDW, Stekelenburg)– and we should be getting some of them next year… 🙂

Who knows, we may even get Torres? 🙂 But that’s another story… 🙂

Good night. I’m off out in a little.

Erick
Erick
15 years ago

Everybody is gone boo

JonJon
JonJon
15 years ago

evening all

did anyone notice the 25 passes in velas goal and did anyone notice vela point to cesc and tell him where he wanted the ball?? brilliant forward play..

goal of the season already..what a goal..

we were excellent and although we looked dodgy at the back we dominated the final third a finished them off..

the ref was a joke by the way..cahills tackle was nothing more than a yellow card and he should have played advantage cos we were in it was a good move but he spoilt the game i thought..

good performance and good result i though..

realsocialdad
realsocialdad
15 years ago

not quite alberto brazil italy or cambiasso goal 2006

Stef
Stef
15 years ago

morning all, gloating sickness 😀 feels so good being a Gunner 🙂
I don’t care if they don’t say we are title contenders it doesn’t matter until in the end of day we win the title.

It’s smells like silverware to me.

I know, I know u probably thinking `hold ur horses`.
But it really feels like it, everybody is playing better, even Denilson was solid. If we didn’t lose insane amount of players above 10 is critical me reckons there is 50-50 chance.
Our defense is still our weakest link but in time they will better hopefully soon.

Come on Rico wake up 😛