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A few welcome changes for the trip to Bolton tomorrow evening.
Manuel Almunia returns in goal of course, despite Jens Lehmann's bizarre statement that he thought he might get another game. He didn't do anything in the Stoke game to suggest that he's any more solid then before, and his appearance in that game only confirmed that he's second choice. But Wenger has rejected suggestions that he'd had a bust-up with the player over things Jens had said in the press, and that he wouldn't be playing for Arsenal again. We have had no offers for Lehmann, but he will stay," Wenger said. "I'm not saying he is happy not being in the team, but we do not have a bad relationship. I can show you 10 players who are not happy when they are not playing every week, but I have good relations with them.
Manuel Almunia will play against Bolton. As I have explained before, we need two good players to have a successful season. I make decisions and I stand up for them."
Sol Campbell is fit again and returns to the heart of the defence. Ashley Cole and Freddie Ljungberg are fit again and should play too so we're almost back to full strength. Dennis Bergkamp will be in the squad at least, having recovered from his thigh problem. He'd be going straight in but Reyes is back from injury too, and van Persie had a good game at the weekend too.
The main question is at right back where Lauren still has a knee problem (to add to his contract problem). Will we get another look at Emmanuel Eboue or will Hoyte return? I suspect the latter, but if things are going well towards the end perhaps the new boy will get his first Premiership run-out.
Bolton striker Kevin Davies is a doubt after being forced off during the Ipswich cup tie with a hamstring problem. But Jay-Jay Okocha, Gary Speed, El-Hadji Diouf, Kevin Nolan, Nicky Hunt and Raidi Jaidi are all likely to return. Some previews reckon that Henrik Pedersen, who scored the late equaliser at Highbury earlier in the season, will be one of those to make way. But quotes from Sam Allardyce suggest otherwise. Anthony Barness (medial ligaments) and Julio Cesar (broken toe) are out. |