SOCCER:ARSENE WENGER and his Arsenal players were left frustrated yesterday as the club's English Premier League fixture with Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium was called off, a little before 4pm. Wenger was eager for the game to go ahead, reasoning that there could not have been a better time to face Bolton, who are without a manager following the sacking of Gary Megson.
The Lancashire club are in the process of appointing Owen Coyle as Megson’s successor.
Arsenal are in form, having taken 16 points from 18, and they had hoped for another three to close to within a point of the league leaders, Chelsea.
Wenger had taken his players to a hotel to conduct their usual pre-match preparations and even at 2pm he expected to play. A predicted flurry of afternoon snow, however, arrived and it became clear the match was in danger.
The Bolton squad had travelled to London on Tuesday and were at their hotel, awaiting news. Wenger wanted to know if there was any chance the weather might turn but although the pitch might have been cleared, it was decided that the stadium’s stairs and concourses could have become too dangerous. There was also the pressing concern of how supporters might have got home afterwards.
Once the postponement was announced the Bolton squad headed home by train. Discussion will now turn to when the fixture can be rescheduled. There are few available midweek slots in a season that will finish early, to allow England extra time to prepare for the World Cup.
As neither club has an FA Cup replay next week, Tuesday or Wednesday night may be an option. Coincidentally, Bolton are due to play Arsenal in the Premier League at the Reebok Stadium a week on Sunday.
The Premier League, which does have a few contingency dates for postponed fixtures, would not be averse to the game being played on a Champions League or Europa League night, although it would try to avoid such a scenario.
Meanwhile, Wenger admits he may be forced to step up his search for a new striker should Nicklas Bendtner take longer to recover from a groin injury.
With Dutch forward Robin van Persie sidelined until April at the earliest because of an ankle injury sustained while on international duty and Theo Walcott also struggling for full match fitness, Arsenal are rather light in attack.
Wenger hopes Denmark striker Bendtner – who turns 22 later this month – will soon be back in action, following surgery for a hernia, otherwise he may have to step up his search for new talent.
“It depends on Bendtner and how bad (his injury) is,” said the Arsenal manager. “He is being treated now and will come back on Friday for tests then we will assess the situation.
“The real test will be in the next two weeks, with the projection with Bendtner.
“If he is out for two months, there is no way – we will need someone absolutely. We cannot have one (striker).
“We are looking anyway and if we find a good bargain then, despite that, we will still do it. But there is still a 50-50 chance that we will sign somebody.”
