Out of the walkway and onto the motorway. Can Eduardo propel Arsenal to the title starting today against Bolton?

By 1970’s Gooner

It has been said many times before. It’s not your first team players that win you trophies but your squad. And today, against Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal has to begin relying even more on the quality of the squad players.

This process had really started since the beginning of the season with the injury to Gallas giving Senderos the chance to show what he can do. He could have been better of course but he did get us through this period of need.

Now he is injured, Gallas is thankfully back at the right time having played a full 90 minutes for France last Wednesday.

The trickiest injury however that Wenger will have to cope with is Van Persie’s. He is out for up to six weeks and unfortunately this period is likely to prove crucial in deciding whether these young Gunners will challenge forcefully for the title.

The games Robin is likely to miss cover very difficult fixtures against major contenders for the title. After Bolton at home the boys travel to Anfield and then a home game against Manchester United. He is also likely to miss games against Reading and Wigan.

So in step Eduardo Da Silva. He has been doing it for his adopted country Croatia consistently, scoring goals for fan as you can see on the video window.



But he has needed time to adjust to the Premiership. This is Eduardo’s chance to do so. He is likely to get a good run of games now and this will give him the exposure that all football players need. Especially if he gets a goal against Bolton.

As Wenger has said. “When you come from the Croatian championship to the English Premier League, it's like you go on the motorway from a walkway."

Let’s hope that against Bolton the latter rules the day as this game is more important than just getting the three points. It’s a game that is going to shape Arsenal’s chances of winning the title.

No easy peasy

There are a lot of fans that consider today’s game as easy peasy since Bolton are manager less and a shadow of themselves since Big Sam departed for (theoretically) greener pastures.

I have my doubts. I watched Bolton’s defeat to Chelsea and they were unlucky to lose playing very well especially with Ken Davies returning up front for them. He is likely to feature today and he gives them that aerial threat that is so important to their game.

If they pitch Davies against Clichy or Sagna and pump long balls to him then I can see them troubling the Arsenal defence especially if Anelka is there to pick up the pieces.

So don’t expect an easy ride today especially with Eduardo in the starting line up who will need time to get used to his colleagues on the football pitch rather than the training ground.

Team selection

The only difficult decision for Wenger is whether to start with Rosicky or replace him with either Eboue or Walcott. Rosicky sat out the Czech Republic’s last game due to muscular problems.

I would go for Eboue due to his more experience of the physical games and the fact that Walcott is, for now, more effective coming off the bench.

Almunia
Sagna (with locks on) Toure Gallas Clichy
Hleb Fabregas Flamini Eboue
Adebayor Eduardo

Prediction: Home win 2-0