Preview FA Cup:Arsenal-Bolton Wanderers

By Richard Clarke

It is hard to remember three such strenuous tests of Arsenal’s character in the space of just eight days.

Having produced two-goal comebacks against their traditional title rivals, Manchester United, and their traditional local rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsène Wenger will be hoping there will be no such heroics necessary for the visit of their traditional bogey team on Sunday.

Arsenal have won just two of their last 10 games against Bolton Wanderers. They lost the Premiership match at the Reebok Stadium on November 25 and were knocked out of the FA Cup in a Fourth Round tie at the same venue last season.

On Sunday it will be exactly a year since that defeat. And Wenger wants this Fourth Round clash to show the extent to which his young side have grown up — mentally and physically.

“Bolton are always a good character test,” he smiled at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “But they are a good side aswell. People sometimes forget that.

“OK they might have minimal resources but they have Nicolas Anelka and El-Hadji Diouf. They are not minimal resources players for me. This team can play.

“You can not say that Gary Speed is not a football player. Nor Ivan Campo or Kevin Nolan. They are good football players. Chelsea wanted Tal Ben Haim. It is not just because he can kick the ball, it is because he is a good defender. That is why they are a team who get results.”

Wenger has six players injured: William Gallas (thigh), Alex Hleb (hamstring), Robin Van Persie (foot), Emmanuel Eboue (ankle), Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) and Johan Djourou (hamstring). In addition, Gilberto will be seeing out the final game of his suspension.

The Arsenal manager has already stated that his FA Cup side this year would be similar to his Premiership side. That means few of the ‘Carling Cup kids’ will be used. Ironically the only one of the squad players employed at Tottenham certain to retain his place is Manuel Almunia. The 29-year-old was the oldest Arsenal player on show at White Hart Lane. However Thierry Henry is likely to be involved.

“Well I have 14 players available in the next two games so the choice is quite reduced,” said Wenger. “But the advantage is I have no decision to make. I think Thierry will play but Jens is out just to rest him.”

If anyone is likely to bring Arsenal down with a bump it is Bolton. Understandably they have revelled in the success their grit and guts has achieved over Wenger’s guile and style. However the manager believes his side now possesses much greater substance these days.

“I have felt we have not had the best of games when we go up there to Bolton,” remarked the manager. “Saying that we were a bit unlucky this year, Anelka scored two sensational goals and we had the best part of the game.

“Maybe one or two years ago we were not ready to face this type of opponent. But we are now. I feel the team has improved a lot on that side recently.”

Sitting the Bolton examination on Sunday will tell us just how much..

Arsenal.com

Wenger - I like Bale, but I won't bid for him

By Chris Harris

Arsène Wenger is a fan of Gareth Bale but he does not want to sign the Southampton left back.

Bale has been linked with a move to Emirates Stadium, a year after Theo Walcott made the same journey from the south coast. Wenger has kept his eye on the Wales international but believes that Arsenal are well-stocked in that department with Gael Clichy and Armand Traore both making steady progress.

"I think Bale is a potentially great player but I am not in the race because I have two left backs," said the Arsenal manager. "But the club who gets him will have a good deal - an expensive one but a good player.

"I have looked at Bale a lot. We have been looking at him because if he comes up for a normal price it's OK but we have already spent a lot for Theo Walcott. [If we bought Bale too] we would be the biggest sponsors of Southampton."

Arsenal.com

Wenger - Walcott will overcome 'growing pains'

By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger has backed Theo Walcott to come through his recent dip in form and emerge a better player.

Arsenal’s 17-year-old winger made some sparkling cameo appearances at the start of the season but had a quiet game at Tottenham on Wednesday in a rare start.

His manager puts this down to ‘growing pains’ as a footballer. The cure would be provided simply by a good game or a goal.

“I think he has developed very well in the year he has been with us but recently he had a little dip in form,” said Wenger.

“He is certainly a miles better player than six months ago. But I feel at the moment he needs a goal or a shot of confidence. He looks a bit short of it right now.

“I think it is necessary to go through that period when you are 17-years old. At the start it is all worryless, fresh and new. After that the responsibility hits you and you go through a little patch like that. But he is a level-headed boy and analyses things well though sometimes that is a disadvantage.

”I still think going to the World Cup speeded up his maturity and he will be ready earlier than everybody else. But you go through periods in your career. And when you grow at 17 sometimes physically you have a period where you feel a little bit less good. I think he is going through that period right now.”

Arsenal.com

Result : Bubtista Hatrick Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal

Julio Baptista blasted 3 goals by 1 og goals then get Arsenal flight back for 2 more goals to Help the Gunners Back to Final of Carling Cup Road

Macth Report from Asenal.com

By Richard Clarke

Julio Baptista blasted two more Carling Cup goals as Arsenal produced an incredible comeback against Tottenham in the Semi-Final first leg at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night.

Arsène Wenger’s Young Guns have already won well at Everton and Liverpool in this competiton this season but were caught in a Spurs maelstrom in the opening 20 minutes tonight. Dimitar Berbatov’s header and an own goal by Julio Baptista left the visitors reeling.

However, as the senior side demonstrated on Sunday, Arsenal do not know when they are beaten. Baptista, scorer at four goals at Anfield in the last round, bulldozered through to score in the 63rd minute and then tapped home after great work from Justin Hoyte 13 minutes from time.

Given the nature of the two sides, the occasion and the opponents, it was an utterly astonishing reverse.

Having almost been knocked out in the opening rounds, Arsenal are now well ahead on points at the halfway stage of this particular fight.

If they box clever in the second leg at Emirates Stadium next week, they will secure a place in the Final against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium on February 25

Wenger remained true to his Carling Cup principles and put out a side heavy with youth. Armand Traore, 17, Theo Walcott, 17 and Denilson, 18, all made the first XI while Mark Randall, 17, was on the bench. Abou Diaby, still only 20, started his first game since suffering a broken and dislocated ankle at Sunderland on May Day last year.

However the presence of Emmanuel Eboue, Alex Hleb and Mathieu Flamini on the bench suggested that Wenger was well aware a Cup Final appearance was at stake.

For their part, Tottenham were at full strength — and the first half would certainly reflect that.

Aaron Lennon and Berbatov dominated the opening stages. In the third minute the England winger skipped past Traore and Diaby only for Hoyte to hack his cross away. Almost immediately, Berbatov drove the ball into the sidenetting.

Aliadiere burst through for Arsenal allowing Fabregas and Denilson to unleash shots at goal. Both were charged down.

However by this time Tottenham had taken charge. It was no surprise to see them snatch the lead in the 12th minute. The simple nature of the goal was much more of a concern.

Defoe floated a cross from the right to the far post. It flew over Kolo Toure and an unmarked Berbatov had the simplest of headers past Manuel Alumina.

The Spanish keeper then blocked from Defoe as Spurs pushed for a second. They would only have to wait until the 19th minute.

This time the ball came from the left. Tom Huddlestone fired at free-kick low to the near post, Michael Dawson jumped over the ball and a surprised Baptista deflected the ball past Almunia. Again it was a highly preventable goal and Arsenal’s youngsters were in danger of leaving themselves far too much to do.

However their response was rousing. And the sight of Berbatov hobbling shortly afterwards certainly helped their cause.

They began to push Tottenham back for the first sustained period in the game. However it only produced one real chance. In the 27th minute Hoyte combined well with Walcott and then Aliadiere to give himself a clear sight of goal. Dawson raced across to charge down his drive. It was a vital intervention.

Lennon was still lethal however. On the half hour Toure was booked for illegally ending his rampaging run through the middle. Steed Malbranque cracked a shot over the bar and then an unmarked Dawson missed a header from close range.

However Arsenal might have hauled themselves back into contention with the last kick of the half. But an unmarked Baptista miscued five yards out when trying to turn in a corner by Fabregas.

The visitors were invigorated at the start of the second period. They pinned Tottenham back in their half but crucially could not force Paul Robinson into action.

Wenger made changes. He brought on Eboue and Hleb for Diaby and Aliadiere in search of a goal. Walcott was switched up front. It made an immediate difference. Dawson had to nod off his own line after Senderos had beaten Robinson in the air to a free-kick from Fabregas. Baptista had a shot blocked and then a dangerous drive by Fabregas was cleared.

Arsenal snatched their lifeline in the 64th minute. Eboue cut in from the right and crossed low into the heart of the area. The ball ran loose in the area as the challenges flew in and Baptista picked himself off the floor to power past Dawson then poke the ball home.

Suddenly Arsenal were in the ascendancy. Hleb and Fabregas both had efforts blocked and Tottenham’s forays forward were becoming rare. The most dangerous they got was when Hoyte hacked clear from Defoe’s low cross.

However the Arsenal right back would make a crucial intervention at the other end in the 77th minute. Fabregas sent Hoyte clear on the right hand side. He burst to the byline and measured a cross to the far post. Baptista arrived on time to bundle the ball home.

Tottenham were not spent. Almost immediately Defoe forced a decent save from Almunia.

However, after Flamini had replaced the limping Hleb, Arsenal might well have nicked a win at the death when Walcott volleyed wide from a deep hanging cross by Fabregas

That would have been the perfect finish to the fightback.

Arsenal.com

Wenger - I feared Diaby's career was over

By Richard Clarke

Abou Diaby returns to the Arsenal starting line-up this evening nine months after the challenge that Arsène Wenger feared may have ended his career.

The distress signals rang out on May Day last year as the French midfielder, then 19, was stretchered off in the final minutes at Sunderland. He had suffered a broken AND dislocated ankle. He would need complicated surgery, infinite patience plus a straight-forward rehabilitation. Wenger was fearful.

“I had a big doubt in my mind that he would come back,” he said. “They told me first that the broken ankle was very serious and they needed advice from the surgeon. He was only optimistic after the surgery. That is when he said Abou should recover normally. It was the first relief for me."

Did he have thoughts it might end his career?

“Yes,” replied Wenger. “And even after the surgery you never know how his rehabilitation will go and whether he will have any set-backs.

“He did have to have surgery on his knee so he needed to be really patient. But what is good at his age is he can recover fully and secondly when they have such a big blow they come back stronger mentally. They go through such a lot of suffering and that makes them stronger.”

Diaby’s contribution should not be underestimated. For all the talk of Theo Walcott, Wenger's other teenage signing in January would feature in 16 games. His first start was in last season’s Carling Cup Semi-Final second leg against Wigan at Highbury. He was substituted at half time that night after the first 45 minutes passed him by. But his latter performances brought comparisons with another lanky French midfielder bought over by Wenger very early in his career. Though the manager is wary of calling him the new Patrick Vieira.

“They are not similar sorts of players at all really,” said Wenger. “In the style of run and behaviour and especially in the strength of the challenges he reminds me of Patrick. But after that he is a different type of player. At the start of his career Patrick was more of a tackler and defensive player.

“But, having said that, it is strange because since Abou has come back from injury he is going into that kind of role. Before he was only interested in attacking, now he uses his strength in the challenges more.

“Abou is one of these players who needs a big boost of confidence. That’s a little bit of difference with Patrick, who had an assertive authority in his own game. Abou has not had as much experience and you could see when he played regularly last season he became stronger and stronger. He had a real authority of his own. Now he will need to go through that process again.”

Preview Carling Cup: Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal

By Richard Clarke

So far Arsenal’s Carling Cup campaign has been all about education, education, education.

Arsène Wenger’s young side have been to West Brom, Everton and Liverpool, each time coming back with their reputation enhanced. Yet although those can be considered taxing tutorials they pale in comparison to the examination confronting the ‘Young Guns’ this evening.

White Hart Lane is the most unlikely finishing school for anyone sporting the red and white of Arsenal. It may be ‘only’ the Carling Cup — reportedly fourth out of four in Wenger’s list of priorities — however this Semi-Final first leg will be played with the passion and pace of any North London derby. Despite all that Wenger can see the benefits.

“Frankly I would have liked an easier run of games to the Semi-Final,” said the manager. “But there is nothing like a tough education in life.

“When you are a parent you want your children to have a little less of a tough education and something a bit more soft. But at the end of the day if they get through it then you know they are equipped for the demands of playing at a club like Arsenal.”

The youngsters are not only equipped, Wenger argues their quality is actually pushing the first team to greater heights.

“I made a decision at the start of the Carling Cup that, because we have such a young squad, I needed to know about them,” he said.

“I could not waste a year with players who did not get top-level competition. To give them an education I needed to choose one trophy and play them in there. I did that in the Carling Cup.

“At the moment this team pushes so hard that you can see it has an effect in the first team. They know the competition is just so hard.”

Wenger has bolstered his squad this evening with a number of first-teamers. Cesc Fabregas, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Alex Hleb and Justin Hoyte all have more than 10 Premiership starts this season. However Denilson, Mark Randall, Armand Traore and Theo Walcott certainly represent the future of the Club. Meanwhile Abou Diaby, only 20 himself, is likely to start after nine months out with a broken and dislocated ankle.

“This is not only a Semi-Final, it is London derby and against Tottenham,” said Wenger. “That shows you the task will be very big. I am confident that not only they can do it but they really want to do it.

“When you can win at Everton and Liverpool you can win anywhere in England or in Europe. I was not surprised by the quality of their play at Anfield but perhaps I was by the score. I did not expect six goals.

“Of course this will be a different game with a different problem and we have to find the solution. We certainly want to score away from home tonight. Basically we went out at the Semi Final stage last year because we did not get a goal in the first leg at their ground.

“Overall I feel our young players are making progress. In the last four years our strength has become deeper and our young players have become better.

“But, in our job, talent is one thing then you have to show it on the pitch with no inhibitions. If you want to be an Arsenal player you need to do that.”

Let the lesson begin.

Final Score : Gunner shot Red Devil back to the grave

By Super Goal of Thery Henry Header let Arsenal Shot Manu and still keep no lost stat in Emirates Stadium

This is match Report from Arsenal.com

Full time - Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United - Thierry Henry's injury-time header secures all three points for the Gunners. When Rooney put the visitors ahead early in the second half with a quality header of his own, Arsenal's unbeaten record at Emirates looked in doubt. But substitute Robin van Persie turned in with seven minutes to go before the rejuvenated Henry completed a memorable turn around at the death.

90 mins - GOAl! Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United - Thierry Henry! An unbelievable finish here at Emirates! Deep into injury time, Eboue centres and Henry climbs above Vidic to power a header over Van der Sar. It was a superb cross from the Ivorian and an even better header from the captain. A memorable winner.

88 mins - It's full steam ahead Arsenal! The ball just gets ahead of Henry as he tries to turn in the box but the clearance falls only as far as Rosicky. Unfortunately the midfielder swipes his shot wide.

83 mins - GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United - Get in! The ball is played in low from the right, Henry tries a flick but misses, allowing the ball to roll through to Van Persie who slides it in at the back post. A fine finish from the Dutchman. Game on...

77 mins - Van Persie pumps in a free-kick. Ferdinand clears. Then he whips in a corner. Ferdinand clears. The United defender has been fantastic this afternoon. Nonetheless Arsenal are giving it a go and not a second is being wasted as they continuly probe the visitors' backline.

73 mins - A goalmouth scramble presents two opportunities to Adebayor. Neither are easy though and Van der Sar makes it difficult before the bouncing ball is finally cleared away.

68 mins - Rosicky tries to cleverly bend the ball up and over Van der Sar. He caught the Dutch keeper flat footed but his effort drifted high and wide.

67 mins - Wenger makes his first substitution as Alexander Hleb makes way for Robin van Persie.

62 mins - Henry looks to get in on goal but Ferdinand does well to get his body between the Arsenal captain and the ball. The Frenchman feels he was impeded but it was solid defending from the United centre back.

55 mins - The ball falls for Rosicky on the edge of the box but his rasping drive skids marginally wide of the upright.

53 mins - GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Manchester United - Patrice Evra's cross from the left takes the slightest of touches off Adebayor into the path of Wayne Rooney. The England striker stoops to guide his header inside Lehmann's near post.

51 mins - Rosicky tries to thread in Adebayor but the United defence stand firm. Ferdinand and Vidic deserve credit for restricting the number of balls through to our strikers.

47 mins - A positive start to the second period from Arsenal. Their early pressure results in a chance for Fabregas but the Spaniard's shot from the edge of the box is comfortbably held by Van der Sar.

Half time - Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United - Still goalless here at Emirates. After a positive start from the visitors Arsenal began imposed themselves on the game and created a handful of half chances. United always looked threatening however and Jens Lehmann had to be alert to prevent efforts from Wayne Rooney and Henrik Larsson on the half time whistle. Both managers will probably want more from their sides after the break.

45 mins - Jens Lehmann makes two superb saves in quick succession to deny the visitors. First he tipped over a swirling long-range effort from Rooney before palming away Henrik Larsson's header from the resulting corner.

44 mins - Henry blasts a free-kick into the United wall but the rebound falls invitingly back to the Frenchman. His drive is low and hard but Van der Sar watches it into his arms.

40 mins - Ryan Giggs tries to lob Jens Lehmann from the right of the box but the German keeper's having none of it. Moments earlier the ambitious Mathieu Flamini had fired over at the other end.

36 mins - Thierry Henry goes down in the penalty area under a challenge from Gary Neville. Referee Steve Bennett waves play on but replays suggest Arsenal have been hard done by.

32 mins - Adebayor floats a fantastic cross towards Thierry Henry at the far post. The French striker gets his head on the ball but directs it straight into the arms of Van der Sar.

30 mins - Cesc Fabregas has a go from 25-yards. His vicious strike looks goalbound until it strikes Vidic and deflects out for corne, which United clear.

27 mins - Arsenal have definitely stepped it up after United threatened to take the game to them early on. Tomas Rosicky whips in a corner but the commanding Van der Sar punches clear.

22 mins - Adebayor's cross is flicked out of the penalty area and Tomas Rosicky races forward to meet the ball on the half volley. Unfortunately, the Czech midfielder's effort was always going over.

21 mins - The visitors win a corner but Philippe Senderos does enough to stop Nemanja Vidic getting his header on target.

18 mins - It's getting a bit scrappy. A string of free-kicks for both sides have disrupted the flow of play in the last few minutes.

12 mins - Thierry Henry darts in from the left before trying his luck from an impossible angle. Catching practice for Edwin Van der Sar.

8 mins - Arsenal have their first meaningful spell of possession but the United reaguard stands strong.

5 mins - Manchester United have had a good opening five minutes. Ryan Giggs digs out the first effort on goal but it sails harmlessly wide.

2 mins - We're underway here. There's been little to report on the pitch so far but the Emirates crowd are in fine voice.

Welcome to Emirates Stadium for this afternoon’s crunch Premiership encounter with Manchester United.

Arsène Wenger names Mathieu Flamini in place of the suspended Gilberto while Emmanuel Adebayor and Emmanuel Eboue come in for Robin van Persie and Justin Hoyte, who are both named on the bench.

Manchester United's most notable inclusion is that of Henrik Larsson alongside Wayne Rooney in attack.