The Importance Of Victory vs Bolton

Since Sheffield beat us in a boxing match in December we have proved every critic wrong at every hurdle we have faced, wether the kids are playing at Anfield or WHL and embarrassing first teamers and established internationals, or the Big(ger) boys are winning with ten men up north against a bunch of thugs who like Sheffield cared more about a fight than a football match or coming back to win against the ‘best’ team in England in another massive humiliation of an old enemy.

If we can overcome yet another group of thugs tonight in the FA cup, we have truly turned the corner form wise and psychologically. The importance of victory in this match cannot be underestimated as there is nothing more the anti foreigner press would love than to be able to wake up in the morning and once again write about another false dawn for the once mighty arsenal and be given ammunition with which they have reason to label us soft yet again, attempting to crush the confidence of the youngsters who have done so much to be proud of in the last month. In their eyes if this side cannot beat their ‘bogey’ team at home all these achievements since the Sheffield catastrophe will mean nothing and we will once again just be the foreign push overs, same old soft arsenal not fit for the British game that they have been telling us we are since the invincibles were disbanded bit by bit.

If we can beat Bolton tonight, and even better convincingly with a mixture of strength and skill, no matter who the eleven on the pitch are, this team will know that they have silenced all the critics and so called ‘experts’ such as Lawro and Hansen who love so much to see us fail and, that they can go on from here to continue an incredible run with incredible confidence. Without a victory, and even worse a loss, the self doubt that could reappear in the squad due to the endless barrage of crap they will no doubt be forced to endure from the sports media will not only threaten to derail any challenge for silverware this season with important fixtures like Sp*rs and the CL coming up, it could also spread into and destroy what looks to be such a promising season to come before its even begun.

Article submitted by Ozi Gooner.


Articles submitted by Vital Arsenal members are based on the opinion of the member and not necessarily the view’s of the network itself.