Injured Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is likely to have to watch from the sidelines again as the Gunners bid to move into second place in the table with their sixth win in seven Premier League matches. Bolton will be seeking a long-overdue first clean sheet of the season at the Emirates with caretaker-boss Chris Evans expected to take charge again, even if Owen Coyle is named as Gary Megson’s successor before the game.

Quick Check

Arsenal

  • Arsenal have dropped only three points at home this season, winning eight out of nine matches.
  • The Gunners have won their last six meetings with Bolton.
  • Arsene Wenger’s side has scored ten goals in their last three Premier League fixtures.
  • Arsenal have taken 16 points from a possible 18 since losing to Chelsea at the end of November.
  • The Gunners have won nine of their 19 league games this season by three goals or more.
  • Captain Cesc Fabregas and winger Theo Walcott are still sidelined by injury.
  • Midfielder Alex Song is away at the African Cup of Nations.
  • Striker Nicklas Bendtner is three weeks away from a return after groin surgery.
  • Full backs Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs are still out with back and foot problems.
  • Dutch ace Robin van Persie could miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury.
  • Defender Johan Djourou will miss the rest of the campaign with a knee problem.

Bolton Wanderers

  • Gavin McCann is in contention to start in midfield after an ankle injury.
  • Bolton are unbeaten in their last four league games, and five in all competitions.
  • The Trotters have scored in seven of their last eight Premier League fixtures.
  • Striker Ivan Klasnic has scored five goals in his last six matches.
  • Bolton are still to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League this season.
  • The Trotters have conceded in their last 20 league games.
  • Bolton have not won at Arsenal since February 1994.

Expert Advice

Results have been much improved for Bolton over the last three weeks but they weren’t enough to save Gary Megson from becoming the third managerial casualty of the Premier League season and it could be a long evening in London for the visitors. The Trotters have struggled against Arsenal in recent years and there’s little to suggest they can stop the rot here with the Gunners in such a rich vein of form. The losses of Robin van Persie and, more recently, Cesc Fabregas, have done little to halt the momentum of Arsene Wenger’s side and they are the team to watch in the league at the moment. Bolton could trouble the home team at the back but their defence could find themselves overrun at times and Betsson’s odds of 2.5 for there to be over 3.5 goals looks a value bet.

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