Bolton Preview + Predicted Lineup + Thoughts + Our All French Defense

Well, it’s Bolton today, the club where Wilshere was last loaned to.  For today’s match, we’ve got an injury galore, with RVP, Walcott and Vermaelen out.  All of them are key players and are bound to be missed.  However, unlike last year, this time, we' have proper cover (no Silvestre or AA as centre forward).  So Chamakh replaces RVP and Squillaci replaces Vermaelen.

Who replaces Walcott though is another problem.  We could be playing Eboue there, or Rosicky, Nasri or Wilshere or Vela.  I wouldn't risk Nasri though, since he’s just been back from a minor operation.  Personally, I would like to see Vela given a chance today, but knowing Wenger, he’s probably going to make him sit on the bench and give him a cameo appearance at the end of the match.  I guess he will prick Rosicky to play in the spot vacated by Theo.  So my predicted lineup comes as follows:

------------------Almunia--------------------

Sagna – KOS – Squillaci – Clichy

---------------------Song---------------------

----------------Fab – Diaby ----------------

--------Rosicky – Chamakh – AA -----

 

As you can see from the lineup, we’re probably going to have an all French defense line.  So, there should be no communication problem today.  It would be good to see how they handle Bolton.  Kevin Davies will surely act as a battering ram against our defense, but I think we will hold good.

Almunia again has a chance to prove he’s a good keeper.  Diaby should show some consistency, following up with a good performance after that authoritative display against Blackburn.  Fabregas should find his fitness quick as we’ve got many top players out, and he’s the one who can make a difference.  Arshavin should try to put in more effort and Rosicky should keep up his good performances and especially avoid any injury.  Chamakh in my opinion should aim to make sure he finishes all the chances he gets.  He should have had at least 6 goals had he not missed all those glorious chances in the first three matches.

So that’s it.  I’m hoping for a big win to keep us in second place.  I’m hoping that both Everton and West Ham topple their opponents (MANU and the Chavs), but West Ham – last to beat Chelsea – leaders, a long shot.  I can hope though, can’t I? See you later!