Arsenal vs Bolton Rescheduled… For This Week

Arsenal have just announced that their recently canceled fixture at home to Bolton (ruining the dreams of many Arshavin double gameweek captains) has been rescheduled.

However, what really puts the cat amongst the pigeons is that the game is due to be played a week from tomorrow. That is slap bang in the middle of the upcoming gameweek 22. Brace yourselves then, as we try to get to grips with what this all means…

Firstly the facts. Arsenal will face Bolton away and home in the same very gameweek – that’s not something we come across all too often – a first maybe? It’s worth noting however that fixtures for the Gunners stiffen after this gameweek (bol, BOL, avl, MUN, che, LIV). The again, with the Arsenal attack the standout aspect of their game, and all expectations on a Fabregas return this weekend, the potential is still there, at least at one end of the pitch.

The buys look fairly obvious then, those of us who held onto Fabregas and even Arshavin now, can count ourselves lucky as being (somewhat fortuitously) fully prepared. If Fabregas is to be believed and he is fully fit and raring to go – then he has to be option number one. As shown in his 27 minute cameo Aston Villa, he is capable of beating anyone – so must be a major consideration.

Andrei Arshavin, despite failing to impress recently and fighting the pain, will remain an option as we know he does have the talent to open up teams. With the aide of the aforementioned Fabregas, that will surely be of assistance too. It’s probably a case of those that have him should keep, and those that don’t dare not try.

Honourable mentions must go out to hatful of players: Eduardo is starting to play with a bit more guile in recent games, Diaby is a lovely cheap option at only £5.8m and Samir Nasri showed he does have it in him against Portsmouth – even if it was the only game this season he has returned any points for us.

Bolton however now make for very interesting budget choices. They have the already announced double coming up in gameweek 26, and now this just around the corner. However, quite obviously, two fixtures against Arsenal isn’t exactly the most rosy of situations – but you never know, with new manager Owen Coyle now in charge they will surely want to start with a bang.

With fixtures not dreadful to follow (ARS, ars, BUR, liv, FUL), especially a plum tie against Coyle’s old boys Burnley so soon after his departure, investment wouldn’t be the worst idea.

The investment card should look at the names mentioned in the article linked. Gary Cahill in defence knows how to keep his wits about him, Matty Taylor has talent even if he hasn’t really shown it so far this season, while Davies and Klasnic up front always have the potential to nick a goal or assist – Arsenal definitely aren’t the tightest club at the back. We just have to run the gauntlet of not knowing who Coyle’s favoured team is, and be willing to accept disappointment if/when he shakes Megson’s old team up a bit.

Add in Manchester United vs Hull on January 23rd, and this coming gameweek looks like it could be a monster. Something is bound to go awry, but we can’t look a gift horse like this in the mouth.