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Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal, Sat 20th Sept, KO 5:30pm (Live on Setanta)

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Arsenal's injured trio of Frenchman will NOT be fit to return against Bolton this weekend.Samir Nasri picked up a knee injury on international duty earlier this month while Abou Diaby (thigh) has not featured since the Emirates Cup. Mikael Silvestre (muscular problem) has yet to make his Arsenal debut and all three players will have to wait a little longer for first-team action.On a brighter note, Arsène Wenger reported no new injuries when he spoke to Arsenal TV Online on Thursday afternoon."The good news from last night is that nobody has come back with any knock or severe injury," said Wenger. "We have no injuries from last night and we have no-one coming back as well, so the group will be stable."For Diaby, I would say two more weeks [until he is fit], Silvestre and Nasri should be available for Hull [at Emirates Stadium on September 27]."Arsenal's visit to the Reebok Stadium will be their third away trip in eight days after the 4-0 win at Blackburn and the 1-1 draw at Dynamo Kyiv. Wenger is likely to give some of his players a breather."There will be a little bit of rotation of course, because it was a very physical game and we had to give absolutely everything. But I cannot tell you yet how it will work," he said.
Bolton news...
Johan Elmander has been out for the last three to four weeks with a hamstring injury, they’re hoping he’ll be back in some capacity for the Arsenal game. Matt Taylor is definitely out, he’s got a broken toe. Gary Cahill is suspended and he’s sitting out the final game of his three-match suspension against Arsenal. Loan signing Ebi Smolarek has been unavailable ever since he signed. They're going to assess him and see if he’s available.”
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Arsène Wenger believes Alex Song can fill his 'problem position' in central midfield on a permanent basis.For most of this season, Denilson has occupied the defensive role in the middle of the park and the Brazilian has certainly done a competent job. However, after Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto left in the summer, the manager had suggested he may bring in an experienced name from outside to act a shield for his centre backs.The other option is Song, who had a difficult start to his Arsenal career but, in the last 12 months, he has blossomed into a confident and versatile squad player.The 21-year-old made his first start of the season in the 1-1 draw in Kiev as Wenger switched from his usual 4-4-2 to 4-5-1. The Frenchman argues his Cameroonian star may be set to stay whatever formation he employs.“Alex is capable of doing it,” said Wenger. “[When I signed him I liked] his personality, his technical quality, his composure, his strength in the one against one, the way he uses his body in the fight and, overall, his intelligence.“He is a good centre back and he is a good central midfielder. I believe in him.”
Arsène Wenger believes that Denilson can follow in Mathieu Flamini’s footsteps.The French midfielder took advantage of Gilberto's absence after last summer's Copa America to stake his claim in the Arsenal first team. Flamini ended up making 40 appearances as Cesc Fabregas' regular midfield partner.This season an injury to Abou Diaby has given Denilson his chance in Arsenal's 'engine room' and he will rack up his 50th Club appearance if he features at Bolton on Saturday. Wenger believes the Brazilian can make the most of his opportunity.“Football is to be always ready when you get your chance,” Wenger told Arsenal.com. “To show that you have the quality. You can only do that if you have exceptional concentration level, exceptional stamina and motivation.“Denilson has different qualities to Flamini but if you look at the numbers at the end of the season you will see he is a very good player. You look at the assists he has had since the start of the season, the balls he wins, the interceptions he has and the distance he covers.“He is maybe not a flashy player but he is an efficient player.”
Theo Walcott claims his new-found fame has not changed his life but it has had an effect on the defenders who mark him.The 19-year-old winger has always been high profile. His Southampton debut, his acquisition by Arsenal, his World Cup call up and his assist against Liverpool were all headline stories BEFORE he hit that hat-trick against Croatia. However his England exploits have certainly opened up the frontiers of his fame.Walcott came in for ‘special treatment’ in Kiev on Wednesday. His manager criticised the referee Luis Medina Cantalejo in Arsenal’s opening Group G game for not taking a stronger against his marker.However Walcott himself seemed pretty happy about the reasons behind those strong-arm tactics.“It is a nice feeling when a defender is scared of you,” he said afterwards. “It always puts a smile on your face. It means you will hopefully win the battle with him. I got kicked a few times but you just have to win the battle with them. You just have to suck it up and get back at them.”And as for the off-the-pitch effects of Theo’s trio, the youngster appears to have taken it all in his stride.“It has not really touched me,” he went on. “It has [affected] more the family than me. We have had a few paparazzi outside the house but I have just got away from it. I have been training well and really just trying to take each game as it comes. That is all I can do.“I just love playing. I mean playing for Arsenal at 19 is a dream come true and starting in Champions League is brilliant.“I just want to play well for Club and country now.”
Arsène Wenger has called on referees to punish any defender targeting Theo Walcott with over-zealous tackling.The Arsenal winger already had a growing reputation as a dangerman but that has developed exponentially since his hat-trick for England in Croatia. On Wednesday night, Wenger complained that his Kyiv marker “could have been sent off three times” for fouls on the 19-year-old. Ahead of the trip to Bolton, the Frenchman was not arguing for special treatment, just fair treatment.“Unfortunately, it is always the way of a player who gets a reputation for being dangerous,” he said. “The first answer he gets is harsh treatment. We do not expect any presents from anybody but we want the right protection from the referees.“It is all in the rulebook [and] if you allow the first bad tackle then the second one becomes difficult for the referee.“As I say we do not want any special protection but I thought Wednesday night, for example, the target was not the ball. If a guy plays hard it is down to Theo to deal with it. But if the guy targets Theo as an individual, he has to be punished.”Last season, Wenger had similar concerns over Alex Hleb and described his legs as “black and blue” after certain games.“Hleb got harsh treatment,” said the manager. “But he had a game that is very provocative. He invited the opponent and then escaped - like a matador.“Sometimes the tackles are mistimed but Hleb had a game which would provoke that kind of reaction. In training, without even wanting to hurt him, that happened to him.”If Hleb was Arsenal’s matador then Walcott is their gazelle. And, as we know, the latter is an increasingly rare creature.That is why it has been deemed a protected species.
Arsène Wenger believes that William Gallas' nose for goal could be a vital weapon in Arsenal's chase for honours.The Arsenal captain prodded home a late equaliser at Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday to take his tally to three goals in three Champions League games after netting in both legs of the qualifier against FC Twente.Gallas returns to another happy hunting ground on Saturday - his volley set up Arsenal's comeback at Bolton last season - and Wenger insists it is no coincidence that his captain keeps getting on the scoresheet."There is no coincidence in football," Wenger told Arsenal.com."He was a striker when he was young and you can see he has the nose to be where you have to be at the right moment. If it is a corner or a deflected goal, William Gallas is there. He has kept something of a striker in him and that comes out in these desperate situations. "The biggest quality of a striker who scores goals is exceptional skill or through anticipation and understanding where the ball will be. William anticipates and attacks the space. "His goals can make the difference. I am convinced that in a game like Kiev it was an important goal, because coming back from Kiev with a defeat or with a point, it is a completely different perspective for the Champions League and the game at Bolton."
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