We'll make Bolton pay
By DAVE KIDD
Arsène WENGER has accused Bolton of kicking his Arsenal team out of the title race last season.
The Gunners boss is out for revenge at in-form Bolton today after his side blew a two-goal lead in the 2-2 draw at the Reebok Stadium in April which proved the decisive point in their duel with Manchester United for the Premiership crown.
Wenger’s cool image was shattered when he famously pulled off his tie in frustration after a Youri Djorkaeff strike and a Martin Keown own goal earned Bolton a dramatic point.
Arsenal had just lost Freddie Ljungberg and Lauren to bad tackles and also saw Pascal Cygan limp off in a five-minute spell before Bolton dragged themselves back into the match.
Wenger is still raging about that match as he prepares to take his unbeaten leaders back to Bolton.
And he has even taunted Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce by insisting star players Youri Djorkaeff and Jay-Jay Okocha would not be playing for him if they were not over the hill.
The Frenchman fumed: “The referee was very lenient because we had two players kicked off the pitch in Lauren and Ljungberg without any punishment.
“It was the decisive moment in the league last season. On the day we were unlucky to be 2-0 up and lose three players in five minutes and be pulled back to 2-2.”
Allardyce had angered Wenger before that match by warning ref Andy D’Urso to be wary of Arsenal’s physical approach. The feud between the pair was heightened this week by Allardyce’s insistence that he would receive more credit if he was a foreign manager and his name was Allardici.
Wenger scoffed: “That’s not my problem. He can change his name - it doesn’t bother me at all.
“We expect another committed game, but we will go into this match with a completely different mindset — we want to be positive and play our game.
“I enjoy it when we go back to a place where we have had a bad experience.
“We can show we have improved. We were a bit too nervous at that game last year and we paid for it.
“At the moment we are not under any special pressure.”
Wenger could not resist another barb at Allardyce by insisting French star Djorkaeff, 35, and Nigerian playmaker Okocha, 30, would not be at the Reebok if they were younger.
He said: “They have players who were they younger would not play for Bolton.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002 ... 42,00.html
***
I'm really expecting our lads to come and give a great performance for 'The Boss'.
By DAVE KIDD
Arsène WENGER has accused Bolton of kicking his Arsenal team out of the title race last season.
The Gunners boss is out for revenge at in-form Bolton today after his side blew a two-goal lead in the 2-2 draw at the Reebok Stadium in April which proved the decisive point in their duel with Manchester United for the Premiership crown.
Wenger’s cool image was shattered when he famously pulled off his tie in frustration after a Youri Djorkaeff strike and a Martin Keown own goal earned Bolton a dramatic point.
Arsenal had just lost Freddie Ljungberg and Lauren to bad tackles and also saw Pascal Cygan limp off in a five-minute spell before Bolton dragged themselves back into the match.
Wenger is still raging about that match as he prepares to take his unbeaten leaders back to Bolton.
And he has even taunted Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce by insisting star players Youri Djorkaeff and Jay-Jay Okocha would not be playing for him if they were not over the hill.
The Frenchman fumed: “The referee was very lenient because we had two players kicked off the pitch in Lauren and Ljungberg without any punishment.
“It was the decisive moment in the league last season. On the day we were unlucky to be 2-0 up and lose three players in five minutes and be pulled back to 2-2.”
Allardyce had angered Wenger before that match by warning ref Andy D’Urso to be wary of Arsenal’s physical approach. The feud between the pair was heightened this week by Allardyce’s insistence that he would receive more credit if he was a foreign manager and his name was Allardici.
Wenger scoffed: “That’s not my problem. He can change his name - it doesn’t bother me at all.
“We expect another committed game, but we will go into this match with a completely different mindset — we want to be positive and play our game.
“I enjoy it when we go back to a place where we have had a bad experience.
“We can show we have improved. We were a bit too nervous at that game last year and we paid for it.
“At the moment we are not under any special pressure.”
Wenger could not resist another barb at Allardyce by insisting French star Djorkaeff, 35, and Nigerian playmaker Okocha, 30, would not be at the Reebok if they were younger.
He said: “They have players who were they younger would not play for Bolton.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002 ... 42,00.html
***
I'm really expecting our lads to come and give a great performance for 'The Boss'.