No love will be lost between Bolton Wanderers and Arsenal when
they meet for a Valentine's Day FA Cup replay at the Reebok Stadium
on Wednesday.
A fifth round tie at home to Blackburn Rovers this weekend is
the prize awaiting the winner of what will be a tough, physical
encounter that has plenty of recent history.
Though they are a much smaller club by reputation, Bolton
thrashed Arsenal 3-1 at the Reebok in November and have won four of
their last five home games against Arsene Wenger's side.
The misery Sam Allardyce's side have inflicted on Wenger over
the years also includes a 2-2 draw in April 2003 which effectively
scuppered Arsenal's title campaign.
More recently, Bolton were set to inflict Arsenal's first defeat
at the Emirates Stadium until Ivorian defender Kolo Toure cancelled
out Kevin Nolan's strike with a 78th minute equaliser.
Aside from the FA Cup, the two clubs are also duelling for a
fourth-place finish at the end of the season, worth a place in the
Champions League qualifiers.
Bolton occupied the prized slot for two and a half hours on
Sunday after beating Fulham 2-1, only for Arsenal to wrest it back
with a late 2-1 victory over Wigan Athletic.
Cup action gets underway on Tuesday with two other fourth round
replays, with Middlesbrough at home to third division Bristol City
after a shock draw at Ashton Gate.
Second division Norwich City are at home to third division
hopefuls Blackpool.
Boro, beaten for the first time in 2007 in Saturday's 3-0 defeat
at Chelsea, should make no mistake a second time and would line up
another winnable home tie with second division West Bromwich
Albion.
Southgate upbeat
"We've got a great week to look forward to," manager Gareth
Southgate told the Boro Web site (www.mfc.premiumtv.co.uk).
"It will be a tough game against Bristol but one we feel we can
win and that would keep things very lively for the rest of the
season."
Bristol City coach Gary Johnson had little to celebrate either
at the weekend and gave his men a dressing down after their 1-1
home draw with Huddersfield.
But he told the club's Web site (www.bcfc.premiumtv.co.uk): "It
will be a totally different scenario up there.
"We certainly don't want to be on the end of a hiding, even by
Premiership opposition, so we have to improve."
Whoever comes out on top between Norwich and Blackpool is
unlikely to have much of a run. The winners must travel to Stamford
Bridge to face Premier League champions Chelsea.
The final is due to be played at the new Wembley Stadium on May
19.
(China Daily via Agencies February 13, 2007)