Right, i shall talk about everything else that has happened before moving onto the Bolton game tonight. First up is Wilshere, the rumours are back to being that he is out for the season, which would be massive blow as it leaves our midfield a little short of rotation options although if Rosicky can keep up his good form and start getting a couple of goals, then we hopefully will look like a stronger squad. Chamakh is returning this week and to my knowledge did not do much in the Africa Cup of Nations. I know he got an assist last night which might help his confidence a little bit. I assume this means Park will move further back into obscurity after his Man Utd cameo.
I was talking the other day about Miyaichi going on loan to a Championship or League One club and he has only gone and done one better than that. He has followed Wilshere's route by going on loan to Bolton. This is a great move for him as they are a team who are struggling and if he performs remotely well, then he will be getting a lot of game time. We now have a big interest in Wolves and Bolton with Frimpong and Miyaichi at each of those clubs respectively. We have signed a player from Dortmund, but not the player we all wanted. Thomas Eisfeld has joined the club and it has been rumoured for a few days now. He won't be playing any first team football this season, well i would be shocked if he did as he wasn't anywhere near the first team for Dortmund. He is a 19 year old, attacking midfielder, that is all i know about him. I am sure he will have his adaption time for the rest of this season and get some reserve games to show what he is all about and if he impresses there, then might get some game time in friendly games before next season.
Okay now onto tonight's game. We travel to Bolton in what is going to be a tough fixture mainly because of the amount of energy we exerted against Villa on Sunday. It is the type of game we have failed at this season and after collecting zero points from a possible 9 in January, it is crucial that we start February on the right track. We beat them comfortably in the home fixture earlier in the season and another 3-0 win will suit me just perfectly, especially after last nights results. Chelsea slipped up again but that was not too surprising as they were playing Swansea away and we all remember how good a team Swansea can be at home. What is surprising about Chelsea is that they have pretty much their first team available where as we aren't playing well but are missing a number of first team players. Liverpool haven't dropped off as much as they thought they would have while Suarez was away, but that is also down to us not picking up any points, so they are still a threat. The next 3 games is going to be a big test, Bolton, Blackburn and Sunderland. If we pick up 9 points then we will be in top 4 as Chelsea play Man Utd and Everton, while Spurs play Liverpool and Newcastle. Can't see our rivals picking up full points, but then again i can see us dropping points.
The team news for tonight's game is good with no new injuries. Gibbs has returned to training which is good news but probably won't be in contention until Sunderland. I imagine Arteta will come back into the fold and that it will be a game too soon for Sagna to come back in, plus Coquelin did well against Villa. I wouldn't be surprised to see Rosicky given the nod in midfield as he has been playing well recently, the only worry there is that he rarely plays so many games in a short space of time, but i think it would probably be the right call as Ramsey could do with a break and will be a good option to bring off the bench. I wouldn't be shocked to see Arshavin given another chance on the wing even though i would prefer Chamberlain. Then it will be Van Persie and Walcott taking up the other positions, leaving a team that looks roughly like this.
Szczesny
Coquelin Mertesacker Koscielny Vermaelen
Rosicky Song Arteta
Walcott Van Persie Arshavin
Subs: Fabianski, Sagna, Ramsey, Benayoun, Henry, Chamberlain, Park
I think we will have enough to win the game because Bolton are not the same team who use to boss us of the park with their hard tackling. They have gone backwards recently and no longer look like a solid team, although they have started picking up points and results recently. I believe we will win though because Arteta is back in the team. If he wasn't fit i wouldn't be as confident, purely because he compliments Song well and keeps the ball well under pressure which we have missed over the course of January and it is no surprise that our revival since August was partly down to Arteta.
This is our squad until the end of the season, so we should all get behind it and not talk about new signings or getting rid of players until the end of the season. That means, no more booing players like Arshavin and Walcott before the game even starts. I am sure the boys will get massive support from the away fans up at Bolton. Enjoy the game.
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