Gooner Talk

Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy has NOT broken his leg during this evening’s Premier League win over Bolton Wanderers after the official website confirmed that the Frenchman only suffered “shin bruising”.

The 22-year-old had be taken to hospital following a challenge from Trotters striker Kevin Davies, who was booked for the tackle, and Cesc Fabregas claimed after the full time whistle that his side had come in for unwarranted special attention.

“We know every time we come here it’s going to be a tough game, very physical, they only look for corners, free kicks and throw-ins,” Fabregas told Setanta Sports.

“The tackle on Gael Clichy, I remember last year Abou Diaby was sent off for even less than that.

“But we know we are Arsenal. When we come to the North we know something like that is going to happen, and we have to cope with that.”

Gael was able to join up the rest of the Arsenal squad for the coach journey back to London Colney and will be avaliable for next Saturday’s game at home to Hull City.

Arsenal took on a tough Bolton side at the Reebok this afternoon looking to extend their points in the Premier League table.

Arsene Wenger left Robin van Persie and England ace Theo Walcott on the bench for the trip to the Reebok Stadium.

Nicklas Bendtner was handed a start to partner Emmanuel Adebayor up front and Emmanuel Eboue was restored to the line-up as Wenger made two changes to the side that drew with Dynamo Kiev.

Bolton Starting XI:

Jaaskelainen
Steinsson – Shittu – A O’Brien – Samuel
J O’Brien – Smolarek – Muamba – Nolan – Gardner
Davies

Arsenal Starting XI:

Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Eboue – Fabregas – Song – Denilson
Adebayor – Bendtner

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Arsenal will be looking to shoot down the white’s in a tough looking clash at the Reebok tomorrow afternoon.

Gary Megson’s side don’t have a very good record against Arsene Wenger’s boys, and pundits are already writing them off despite Arsenal’s draw against Kiev in midweek.

Games between the two sides usually create plenty of goals, and Bolton fans may be tempted by the 9-1 on offer for the in-form Kevin Davies to bag the opener.

He has already netted two goals in the four opening games of the season and could prove a real handful for the Arsenal defence.

Injury News

Arsenal will again be without midfielder Samir Nasri (knee).

Recent signing Mikael Silvestre remains out with a muscular problem but there were no fresh injury worries from the midweek Champions League trip to Kiev.

Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Abou Diaby (thigh), Amaury Bischoff (groin) and striker Eduardo (leg) all remain in recovery.

Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Eboue – Fabregas – Denilson – Vela
Adebayor – van Persie

As for Bolton, Megson is still without defender Gary Cahill who completes his three-match ban tomorrow following his Carling Cup sending off against Northampton.

Matty Taylor is still unavailable through a broken toe while Portuguese striker Ricardo Vaz Te kept himself in the manager’s thoughts with a goal in the reserves’ 3-0 victory over Newcastle.

Match Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Arsenal

Bolton v Arsenal build-up starts at 4pm tomorrow afternoon and will be broadcasted live on Setanta Sports 1with kick-off at 5:30.

Catch all the post-match reaction and player ratings here on Gooner Talk seconds after the final whistle.

Leave your views and predictions of tomorrows game in the comments section below.