Arsenal Look To Gun Down Any ‘New Manager Syndrom’ Itch That Bolton Have

Last season, the story of this fixture was the revelation that journalists do indeed have despicable habits like trawling through the garbage left by Arsenal players in their hotel rooms in Manchester. Apparently, one lucky journalist found a crumpled letter addressed to Arsenal players from Wenger and his psychologist who decided to impart their wisdom unto this team, keenly stressing the virtues of team spirit and the need for working hard for each other. Needless to say, it was the most popular expos of team psychology, if you believe everything you read on the internet – or in the paper for that matter.

The letter to the Arsenal players supposedly worked because they left the Reebok with 3 points after a 3-1 score line to the Arsenal. I prefer to file that episode of the famous Arsenal psychology letter under the section of urban football legend and suggest that Wenger does his team talk face to face in the dressing room.

He will need a good team talk because Bolton are itching to get rid of that disease called the ’New Manager Syndrome’. Apparently, there’s an inexplicable phenomenon where teams that were otherwise in the doldrums garner this mystical power when a new manager starts. Considering that the previous manager is usually fired for bad performances, you sometimes wonder where a team would be if they actually lifted their game consistently as opposed to doing it just to impress a new manager…but that’s neither here nor there.

What’s important is not to under-estimate the resolve of a new manager with form against Arsenal who is determined not to lose his first 2 games. In my view, it makes Owen Coyle’s Bolton a tricky proposition.

I’m fairly confident that we have players all over the pitch who are technically more superior than the Bolton players and I’m sure very few bookmakers would suggest that Arsenal aren’t the favourites. However, keeping our eye on the ball is paramount because football games are not played on paper or at the local bookies. What happens tomorrow on match day between the 22 players is another thing altogether.

Wenger was quick to kick into touch the template of peddled theories about Bolton being Arsenal’s bogey team. It was the sort of lazy journalism that churns out headlines and clichés like ”Arsenal don’t like it in the cold winters of the North West”. The manager hit it spot on and kicked the notion that we traditionally struggle against Bolton into the long grass, despite the journo asking that question trying every tactic to follow the template and force the issue.

And it’s true, we don’t traditionally struggle against Bolton, we traditionally struggle against any team if we don’t play well, and according to Wenger, that’s the only history that matters.

We need to be on top of our game and the team spirit will be boosted enormously by the return of the Mac, Captain Fabulous, and the sight of Gael Clichy on the bench. Arshavin called it right by asking for a miracle to have all our players fit and rearing to go – but off course the doom and gloom brigade and sensationalist headline writers suggested that the Russian says we can only win the title with a miracle. Why am I even surprised about lazy journalism.

Bolton have only won 1 of the last 9 league games, and Arsenal will need to be wary of the fact that they’ve found the net in their last 6 games. I’m sure Kevin Davies would very much like to introduce our Thomas Vermaelen to the Premiership and show him how hoofball is played. It’s been 8 days since our last game and in the grand scheme of things, that truly looks like an age in itself. It’s good to have the football back.

My sense is that tomorrow’s line-up will be:

Almunia
Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Traore
Diaby, Rosicky, Fabregas
Nasri, Arshavin, Eduardo

I see Wenger giving Rosicky a run out but relieving him later with Ramsey and depending on how things go, he might also give Clichy a run out.

A win will keep the momentum at the top of the table and give us the opportunity to cement our position. It’s important that we go into the series of the 4 consecutive games of death against Villa, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool with a strong grip at the top of the table.

Enjoy the game tomorrow wherever you are – and we’ll be back on Monday.