By Myles Palmer
Bolton look safe and they now have Youri Djorkaeff,who is still a class act.
Djorkaeff is a brainy, acrobatic,tightly-focused performer who was signed by Arsene when he was at Monaco.
An inside forward with a half-back’s toughness,a very resourceful player, a terrific reflex finisher, Djorkaeff has helped Bolton to avoid relegation.
The injury to Robert Pires brought Djorkaeff back into Roger Lemerre’s squad last month.
Bolton drew 1-1 at Highbury in September.
HOW TOUGH WILL THIS GAME BE ?
Tough enough, but I’m sure Arsenal will beat Bolton and then beat Chelsea in Cardiff.
That will put them in great shape to win the title at Old Trafford.Where a draw would be enough!
We all hope United beat Leverkusen, so they will be concentrating on Real Madrid at Hampden, not on Arsenal’s visit on Wednesday May 8th.
Everything looks good for tonight’s game : the defence is playing efficiently, Sol Campbell is expected to return to add pace, Ashley Cole is getting back into the swing of things, Freddie is on fire and loving Dennis’s killer passes, and Patrick knows that one more super-colossal effort, showing us all his skill,style and steel, will tip the balance in Arsenal’s favour and put the Gunners ascloseasthis to the title.
Sol was having a fitness test yesterday.I reckon his fitness tests are probably tougher than a game at the Reebok.So if Sol’s out there, he is fit. And if he is fit, he is up for it.
I have a feeling that Sol, like Patrick, will be a HUGE INFLUENCE on this game. Freddie Bobic, watch out!
Will it be Edu or Parlour in central midfield? Wiltord or Parlour wide on the right?
Depends on fitness and the conditions.
Edu keeps the ball moving quickly and that might give him the edge over Parlour, who might just be retained in that wide position, with Wiltord ready to bounce off the bench if needed.
Arsenal will want to win the game in the first 20 minutes, rather than the last 20, and they are equipped to score early.
If not, they can grind out a result again.
If the first goal takes a while to come, don’t get bent out of shape.This team has the desire, the talent, the experience, and the organisation to win tonight.
It’s a team game and the team is playing very well and has won their last 10 games.Bolton will be 11, a club record.
The boys are not gonna freeze, not gonna bottle it now, not gonna flush a year’s work down the toilet.
But they are men, not gods, so there WILL be nervous moments. But I expect their excellent keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to have a busy night.
After all, Fulham beat them 3-0 last week.
If Bolton get a goal, Arsenal will get two or three.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Vieira and Bergkamp really turn it on tonight,so that the team looks elemental, like the tide, the wind,an irresistible, overwhelming hurricane force that just blows away the opposition.
Bolton might raise their game and still not be able to live with Wenger’s wonders.
29th April 2002.