Arsenal Preview - from an away fan

[TommyGun]

Hi,

I write an Arsenal blog, TommyGun, and have recently started a new feature where I ask a supporter of the away team to write a match preview from your club's perspective. It's effectively a Q&A and the idea is that it's more interesting as it presents your views rather than the standard 'fan-previewing-his-own-team-again' preview.

I did this for the Shrewsbury Town match and had the STFC Fanzine contribute - you can see the link here so you have some idea of what I mean: http://tommygunafc.wordpress.com/2011/0 ... n-preview/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Would anyone on here be kind enough to spend a few minutes replying to a few questions? If so, please see below:

- What’s the mood among Bolton fans heading to London?
- What has Owen Coyle done for the club since his arrival?
- How do you feel about your start to the season so far?
- What game-plan can we expect Bolton to adopt?
- What weaknesses will Bolton try to exploit?
- Who do you think holds the key for Bolton?
- Who will Bolton be most concerned about?
- To what extent does Arsenal’s recent form give an added sense of optimism?
- What have we missed by not signing Gary Cahill?
- What would a positive result do for the team?
- How do you expect it to go?
- Anything else we should know?

You can either reply directly here, or feel free to email me direct to: [email protected] I'll be sure to include your name/Twitter info throughout.

Thanks a lot and I hope you enjoy your trip to the Emirates (although not too much!)

Many thanks,
TommyGun

[farnworth scum]

*Grins, sits back and waits*

[Worthy4England]

- What’s the mood among Bolton fans heading to London?

Fcuking gutted. It's a shithole.

[TKIZ!]

The 'What has Coyle brought to the club' would definitely be Ping Pong and Connect 4

[Beefheart]

The 'What has Coyle brought to the club' would definitely be Ping Pong and Connect 4

and Depeche Mode.

[thebish]

Hi,

I write an Arsenal blog, TommyGun, and have recently started a new feature where I ask a supporter of the away team to write a match preview from your club's perspective. It's effectively a Q&A and the idea is that it's more interesting as it presents your views rather than the standard 'fan-previewing-his-own-team-again' preview.

I did this for the Shrewsbury Town match and had the STFC Fanzine contribute - you can see the link here so you have some idea of what I mean: http://tommygunafc.wordpress.com/2011/0 ... n-preview/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

what a startlingly new idea!!

- What’s the mood among Bolton fans heading to London? better than it would have been before we beat Villa. The mood will still essentially be resignation and anticipation of defeat - but in the back pocket will be that irritating bit of lumpy hope that always ruins everything.

- What has Owen Coyle done for the club since his arrival? The aqueduct.... And the sanitation! And the roads.. Irrigation... Medicine... Education... Health...And the wine... yes, WINE! And it's safe to walk in the streets at night now. oh... and he's brought Peace.
- How do you feel about your start to the season so far? We expected it to be a bit crap - and it lived up to expectations.
- What game-plan can we expect Bolton to adopt? We haven't got the faintest idea. Coyle has stubbornly stuck with 4-4-2 but intriguingly shuffled the formation in the cup.
- What weaknesses will Bolton try to exploit? general Arsenal girlishness - and I'd expect a lot of crosses into the box - if we can get the ball.
- Who do you think holds the key for Bolton? We have several keyholders, but we tend to use a combination lock now. the combination is 4-2-3-1
- Who will Bolton be most concerned about? Paul Robinson
- To what extent does Arsenal’s recent form give an added sense of optimism? to a limited extent - but we know we have a team capable of reversing any bad run of form the opposition might have...
- What have we missed by not signing Gary Cahill? the plot - entirely!
- What would a positive result do for the team? It might get you out of the bottom four... oh - did you mean us?
- How do you expect it to go? badly
- Anything else we should know? yeah - Wenger is a tosser.

You can either reply directly here, or feel free to email me direct to: [email protected] I'll be sure to include your name/Twitter info throughout.

Thanks a lot and I hope you enjoy your trip to the Emirates (although not too much!)

Many thanks,
TommyGun

[TANGODANCER]

The 'What has Coyle brought to the club' would definitely be Ping Pong and Connect 4

And ear-flicking and a big love-in for opposing managers. Oh, and "The Barclay's Premier League"

[TKIZ!]

The 'What has Coyle brought to the club' would definitely be Ping Pong and Connect 4

And ear-flicking and a big love-in for opposing managers. Oh, and "The Barclay's Premier League"

And Super Girl outfits

[Raven]

What’s the mood among Bolton fans heading to London? - Amused at what whinging Wenger will get up yo
- What has Owen Coyle done for the club since his arrival? More positivity
- How do you feel about your start to the season so far? Amount of points I thought we would likely have but too many goals let it
- What game-plan can we expect Bolton to adopt? Get SKD to wind up your babies
- What weaknesses will Bolton try to exploit? See babies above
- Who do you think holds the key for Bolton? Coyle
- Who will Bolton be most concerned about? Zat Knight
- To what extent does Arsenal’s recent form give an added sense of optimism? None still a bunch of whining ninnies
- What have we missed by not signing Gary Cahill? A decent defender, better than what you have and could have gone on for some imte
- What would a positive result do for the team? Create more positivity
- How do you expect it to go? We will win
- Anything else we should know? Wenger has ruined Arsenal and made me dislike them as much as the other so called big lot.

[jimbo_bwfc]

- What’s the mood among Bolton fans heading to London? I wonder which out of form Arsenal striker we'll let score.
- What has Owen Coyle done for the club since his arrival? Brought back fans, bit of hope and spirit around the club, few decent cheap signings (and a top class one in Stuart Holden) bit of irritation with some of his tactics and team selection at the moment, but nothing a good couple of results wouldn't repair.
- How do you feel about your start to the season so far? Great, then good effort, then shit, shitter, shittest. Hopefully it's all up from here!
- What game-plan can we expect Bolton to adopt? Probably an open 4-4-2 and we'll lose about 6-2, but hopefully the Villa game has shown we have to be a little tighter in midfield and at the back to get anything out of the game.
- What weaknesses will Bolton try to exploit? The fact your centre-backs are shitter than Zat Knight.
- Who do you think holds the key for Bolton? Holden- if he starts. If not then perhaps the wildcard of David Ngog
- Who will Bolton be most concerned about? Our own defence, emphasis on Zat Knight.
- To what extent does Arsenal’s recent form give an added sense of optimism? Not much. We're well renound for giving teams and players who are out of form a welcome boost.
- What have we missed by not signing Gary Cahill? A technically proficient and aerielly dominant England international who would have been perfect foil for Vermaelen...good luck with Djourou, Mertesacker and Koscielny!!
- What would a positive result do for the team? Lift a bit of pressure and spark a renewed confidence that we're not destined for a relegation scrap.
- How do you expect it to go? 1-1 or 6-2 to you. Depending on line-up's.
- Anything else we should know? Megson Out.

[Lord Kangana]

You're shit.

So are we.

But you are millions-of-pounds-more-spent kind of shit.

Therefore, when you probably win, you'll see it as some kind of moral victory. It won't be. Everybody else with sackloads of cash beats us quite easily and regularly.

[Gooner Girl]

- What’s the mood among Bolton fans heading to London? better than it would have been before we beat Villa. The mood will still essentially be resignation and anticipation of defeat - but in the back pocket will be that irritating bit of lumpy hope that always ruins everything.

- What has Owen Coyle done for the club since his arrival? The aqueduct.... And the sanitation! And the roads.. Irrigation... Medicine... Education... Health...And the wine... yes, WINE! And it's safe to walk in the streets at night now. oh... and he's brought Peace.
- How do you feel about your start to the season so far? We expected it to be a bit crap - and it lived up to expectations.
- What game-plan can we expect Bolton to adopt? We haven't got the faintest idea. Coyle has stubbornly stuck with 4-4-2 but intriguingly shuffled the formation in the cup.
- What weaknesses will Bolton try to exploit? general Arsenal girlishness - and I'd expect a lot of crosses into the box - if we can get the ball.
- Who do you think holds the key for Bolton? We have several keyholders, but we tend to use a combination lock now. the combination is 4-2-3-1
- Who will Bolton be most concerned about? Paul Robinson
- To what extent does Arsenal’s recent form give an added sense of optimism? to a limited extent - but we know we have a team capable of reversing any bad run of form the opposition might have...
- What have we missed by not signing Gary Cahill? the plot - entirely!
- What would a positive result do for the team? It might get you out of the bottom four... oh - did you mean us?
- How do you expect it to go? badly
- Anything else we should know? yeah - Wenger is a tosser.

GIRLISHNESS? Excuse me! Mr Sexism, You can go off people, you know!

[Prufrock]

Be nice to go into a game where the shittest centre half on the pitch isn't ours! I do have Tom-style fears of us giving Mertesacker the Haangeland treatment.

[boltonboris]

Be nice to go into a game where the shittest centre half on the pitch isn't ours!

[LiOC]

- What’s the mood among Bolton fans heading to London? My mood is "Why am I spending so much when I know it'll be rubbish?"
- What has Owen Coyle done for the club since his arrival? Well, he's generally been the first team manager... and Ping Pong specialist.
- How do you feel about your start to the season so far? Well, it was always going to be bad - and it's bad.
- What game-plan can we expect Bolton to adopt? An open 4-4-2 you can waltz right through our midfield.
- What weaknesses will Bolton try to exploit? Your wimpishness and terrible defending.
- Who do you think holds the key for Bolton? We shouldn't be playing Knight - so whoever his replacement is.
- Who will Bolton be most concerned about? The referee probably
- To what extent does Arsenal’s recent form give an added sense of optimism? If Blackburn can beat you, anyone can.
- What have we missed by not signing Gary Cahill? A Champions League place
- What would a positive result do for the team? 3 pts and some spirit for a very tough fixture next week against Chelsea.
- How do you expect it to go? We're usually the team that when you're on a bad run, we kindly improve your form. So I expect it will be terrible.
- Anything else we should know? No.

[TANGODANCER]

What’s the mood among Bolton fans heading to London? Probably hope.
- What has Owen Coyle done for the club since his arrival? Lots. He's an ex-Bolton player and wants us to do well. Lousy start via fixtures but it'll change after beating Arsenal.
- How do you feel about your start to the season so far? About the same as you I'd imagine.
- What game-plan can we expect Bolton to adopt? An unexpected one. Wait and see.
- What weaknesses will Bolton try to exploit? Softness. You have some decent players but suffer from "Divine right" syndrome. Wenger will probably call for protection of his darlings.
- Who do you think holds the key for Bolton? Usually first to arrive and open up. Oh,right... if the defence perform we're in there with a big shout. Holden, if he plays.
- Who will Bolton be most concerned about? Van Persie.
- To what extent does Arsenal’s recent form give an added sense of optimism? None at all. Teams always recover form just before they play us.
- What have we missed by not signing Gary Cahill? Your chance. He'll go elsewhere due to Wenger thinking he was bargain basement.
- What would a positive result do for the team? Make us three points better off before we play Chelsea.
- How do you expect it to go? In the lap of the referee probably.
- Anything else we should know? Bolton. Check your history. We won't be coming to lose. Remember Cohen?

[hisroyalgingerness]

- What’s the mood among Bolton fans heading to London?
Buoyed by blind faith. The journey back on the other hand

- What has Owen Coyle done for the club since his arrival?
Praised other managers

- How do you feel about your start to the season so far?
It was an amazing away win at QPR, and my view on that hasn't changed

- What game-plan can we expect Bolton to adopt?
Game...plan?

- What weaknesses will Bolton try to exploit?
Just the defence

- Who do you think holds the key for Bolton?
The Head Groundsman

- Who will Bolton be most concerned about?
The Head Groundsman. Imagine if he lost the keys

- To what extent does Arsenal’s recent form give an added sense of optimism?
Anybody that loses to Blackburn invites optimism

- What have we missed by not signing Gary Cahill?
A clean sheet against Blackburn

- What would a positive result do for the team?
Give us 3 points

- How do you expect it to go?
The ref'll blow a whistle. Folk'll run around for an hour and half. it'll end

- Anything else we should know?
There'll be a tube works this weekend on the Victoria line. get the bus

[TommyGun]

Thank you for all of your considered - and varying replies - so far. Since I couldn't possibly choose between all of the reponses I've already had, I think I'll have to choose a selection of the best answers.

Keep 'em coming...!

(... and is Zat Knight really that bad?)

[Beefheart]

Thank you for all of your considered - and varying replies - so far. Since I couldn't possibly choose between all of the reponses I've already had, I think I'll have to choose a selection of the best answers.

Keep 'em coming...!

(... and is Zat Knight really that bad?)

He's often been called 'the Black Mertesacker'.

[CrazyHorse]

(... and is Zat Knight really that bad?)

Not at all.
In fact, thinking about it, he's just the sort of player you jokers need to firm up your back line.

I've emailed Wenger several times now insisting he buys Knight from us but so far I've not so much as even received a standard thankyou letter from his secretary. Mind you, thinking about it I probably didn't do myself any favours by starting the email with "Dear Scrotumface".