The Kids To Do It Again?

It’s FA Cup time, so we must be playing Bolton again. Predictably Sam Allardyce is trying to raise the temperature ahead of the contest, picking up on the theme of the moment and accusing Arsenal of time-wasting.

While we as supporters can enjoy and react to the mind games that are a feature of the contest, I cannot help but think that the Bolton boss is not holding a full hand. Kevin Davies, his long-ball outlet and battering ram is missing, as is Abdoulaye Faye, one of the Trotters prominent ‘enforcers’.

In fairness to Bolton, there were times in the first tie when they did get the ball down and play a bit. The catalyst for that, Gary Speed, is also doubtful.

Arsenal have travelled north without Jens Lehmann and Thierry Henry. Gallas, Eboue, Flamini, and Senderos are also excluded, but Freddie Ljungberg and Alexander Hleb return to the squad after injury.

Arsene Wenger will have one eye on next weeks Champions League clash with PSV, and a potential home tie with Blackburn on Saturday lunchtime. There could be a distinct ‘Carling’ flavour to the starting eleven. (If I keep advertising Carling I wonder if they will be good enough to provide me with a complimentary ticket for Cardiff?)

Holic’s pound will be going on an Arsenal triumph. The time has come to put the Reebok hoodoo to bed. I quite fancy a few pence on Manuel Almunia picking up a booking for being the first goalkeeper in history to take forty-five minutes to take a goal-kick when we are a goal up at the start of the second-half! Have that Sam!