Arsenal v Bolton - Carling Cup 4th round

[boltonboris]

Looking back at that first goal.. Although Knight failed to go to the ball, so to did Mark Davies. He did Knight no favours at all.

Proper shite goal to concede.. Ricky G also found himself wandering into the middle of the park a couple of times and Oxlaide-Chamberlain, luckily seemed to have a bit of an off-day. Bit Robinson-esque on the highlights, 'cept with more going forwards.

[jimbo]

Credit to our fans who still managed to be louder than the whole Emirates Stadium apart from the 2 x30 second intervals when the Arse scored.

I was sitting in the North Bank. Hate to bring the bad news but you couldn't hear the Bolton fans at all from there.

As for the game, we played well, had more movement up top, and looked a mile more threatening than we have at other times this season. Shame we couldn't put another couple away. Not sure what to change for Swansea aside from the odd tweak. Maybe Eagles for Tuncay and Ngog for Klasnic.

[Prufrock]

How did we start? 4-5-1 Tunners and kakuta wide, or 4-4-2 Mavies wide right?

[thebish]

So who should start at Swansea? I'd be intrigued to hear from attenders at Arsenal.

I'd like to see....

Jussi (though Bogdan did nowt wrong)

Boyatta (if recovered) cahill wheater Ricardo Moo Mavies kakuta Tuncay Ngog Klasnic

(not sure how that works formation wise - but I'd like to see Mavis, kakuta, tuncay, n'gog and Klas given a few games all on the pitch at once to forge what (last night) looked a whole lot more of a dynamic attacking threat that I have seen with other participants this season...

[jimbo]

How did we start? 4-5-1 Tunners and kakuta wide, or 4-4-2 Mavies wide right?

Was more the 4-2-3-1 that people have been wanting. Mark Davies sat very deep next to Muamba, with Pratley right up with Klasnic in attack.

[thebish]

How did we start? 4-5-1 Tunners and kakuta wide, or 4-4-2 Mavies wide right?

it was not immediately obvious! but it seemed to me that it was 4-5-1 with tuncay wide left and kakuta wide right... Mavis sat quite deep - but probed further forward when we went behind...

[Prufrock]

N'Gog on for Pratley and 4-4-2? I saw the last 25 mins and we looked very dangerous like that, though I think Eagles had come on (I assume for Kakuta?)

I'd have Bish's back 5, then

Eagles-Moo-Reo-Coker-Mark Davies/Tuncay

----Klasnic----N'Gog.

[thebish]

N'Gog on for Pratley and 4-4-2? I saw the last 25 mins and we looked very dangerous like that, though I think Eagles had come on (I assume for Kakuta?)

I'd have Bish's back 5, then

Eagles-Moo-Reo-Coker-Mark Davies/Tuncay

----Klasnic----N'Gog.

I'd be happy enough with that... tbh - I'd forgotten about Reo Coker! (I'd go with kakuta over eagles, though)

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Intriguing how many are still advocating the 4-4-2 that's failed us for five months. I suppose that's the Klasnic effect.

[Beefheart]

Intriguing how many are still advocating the 4-4-2 that's failed us for five months. I suppose that's the Klasnic effect.

I want to see us stick with a 4-5-1. Maybe with Ngog in for Klasnic, perhaps Reo-Coker in for D-Pratz and definitely Wheater in for Knight.

[Prufrock]

I think you can get away with 4-4-2 if you have two defensively strong, mobile midfielders in there. We saw that last year with Moo and Holden, and then it's frailties when Holden got injured. I think Moo and Nireoker are capable of that, and that allows us to play our only goal threat at the mo, Klas. i don't think he has the mobility to play up front on his own. If we wan't to play either Pratley or Mavies I think we need to go 4-5-1 (whichever variation you choose) and that means no Klas.

[thebish]

Intriguing how many are still advocating the 4-4-2 that's failed us for five months. I suppose that's the Klasnic effect.

I think it is. Klasnic was quite a "complete" player last night - not the "passenger who also might score a goal" character that has become the settled opinion. It was reported that Coyle gave him some kind of ultimatum to improve his fitness and all-round game in the pre-season - and i think he has.

I'm not convinced it is the 4-4-2 that is the problem - and I probably wouldn't try it every game - but you asked specifically about the swansea game!

i think a big part of the 4-4-2 problem is KD - half of the two is mostly out of the game - and also - Petrov - too flaky for the added midfield burden that a 4-4-2 presents. also - the return of a decent looking Moo brings confidence of more rearguard solidity - partnered by Mavis - adds a better shape. Moo can offload it with a short pass to Mavis - who is more prone to do summat creative with it... easy!

[lovethesmellofnapalm]

not convinced by Davis (M) in the heat of a Premier League battle away from home
he's ok for the (essentially) reserve team kickabout that was last night and possibly one to come off the bench with half an hour to go
Eagles/Muamba/Reo-Coker/Pratley/Kakuta
N'Gog
front six for me

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

So who should start at Swansea? I'd be intrigued to hear from attenders at Arsenal.

I'll be annoyed if Muamba doesn't get the nod now.

He tackled well, was tidy and took his goal well.

[thebish]

So who should start at Swansea? I'd be intrigued to hear from attenders at Arsenal.

I'll be annoyed if Muamba doesn't get the nod now.

He tackled well, was tidy and took his goal well.

and you wouldn't like me if I was annoyed!

[bobo the clown]

So who should start at Swansea? I'd be intrigued to hear from attenders at Arsenal.

I'll be annoyed if Muamba doesn't get the nod now.

He tackled well, was tidy and took his goal well.

Agreed .... & yes he did take his goal well. You will, of course, recall that he also redefined "miscuing" at one attempt from outside the box.

[Gooner Girl]

So who should start at Swansea? I'd be intrigued to hear from attenders at Arsenal.

I'll be annoyed if Muamba doesn't get the nod now.

He tackled well, was tidy and took his goal well.

Agreed .... & yes he did take his goal well. You will, of course, recall that he also redefined "miscuing" at one attempt from outside the box.

Funniest moment of the whole evening!

[TANGODANCER]

Thebish reports on a close encounter:

http://www.the-wanderer.co.uk/bolton/me ... ring-souls" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Gary the Enfield]

'the tall and buffed triathlon hunk' ? I'll have that.

Although truth be told I was just holding my belly in for GG.

[Hoboh]

'the tall and buffed triathlon hunk' ? I'll have that.

Although truth be told I was just holding my belly in for GG.

creep!