And although Bolton are comfortable in eighth place, they will still be smarting from last week’s semi-final setback and be keen to make amends, even if it does move local rivals United a step closer to winning back to the league championship.
United stretched that gap to nine with a late win over Everton yesterday so failure to win at Bolton would surely kill off the Gunners’ title hopes.
That draw on Wednesday night meant Arsenal failed to capitlise on Manchester United’s 0-0 draw at Newcastle the previous evening and left them six points behind the Premier League leaders with five games left.
Arsenal make just the one change after losing a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 at Tottenham on Wednesday night. Young Player of the Year Jack Wilshere, who had a spell on loan at Bolton last season, returns to the starting line-up in place of Abou Diaby.
Daniel Sturridge returns up front for Ivan Klasnic having been ineligible last week. Matt Taylor is the other man to come in, replacing Martin Petrov on the left wing.
Bolton have made two changes to the side which suffered a dismal 5-0 defeat by Stoke in last week’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri, Van Persie. Subs: Arshavin, Chamakh, Eboue, Gibbs, Ramsey, Squillaci, Lehmann.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Muamba, Taylor, Elmander, Sturridge, K. Davies. Subs: Cohen, M. Davies, Klasnic, Petrov, Rodrigo, Wheater, Bogdan.
The team’s are in for today’s game at the Reebok Stadium…
Continued here:
Bolton v Arsenal live!