D-DAY FOR GUNNERS DUO

Arsenal pair Emmanuel Eboue and Emmanuel Adebayor will not have to wait long to discover the full consequences of their involvement in the fracas which marred the Carling Cup final.

Both men have been charged by the Football Association and have until 6pm on Wednesday to respond.

The melee had been sparked following a confrontation between Chelsea midfielder Mikel Jon Obi and Gunners skipper Kolo Toure during the closing stages at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, with players and coaches from both sides becoming involved.

Once calm had finally been restored, Toure and Mikel were both shown straight red cards by referee Howard Webb, with Adebayor also dismissed following consultation with his assistant.

The Togo striker - whose reaction to the decision prompted a separate FA charge - had lodged an appeal, which, along with Mikel's, was rejected.

Adebayor, like centre-back Toure, will now serve an immediate three-match ban, ruling them out of the FA Cup fifth-round replay at Blackburn.

As it was Mikel's second sending off of the season, the Chelsea midfielder will see out an extra game's suspension.

All three players will, however, still be available for their respective sides' Champions League last 16 second leg clashes next week, with that being a UEFA competition.

It is, though, the separate charges levied on both clubs, as well as Adebayor and Eboue individually, which could prove more costly, particularly for Arsenal.

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ARSENAL DUO DENY FA CHARGES

Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor and Emmanuel Eboue have denied Football Association charges resulting from Sunday's Carling Cup final.

Adebayor has denied a charge of reacting aggressively and failing to leave the field of play immediately after being sent off in the match against Chelsea, which ended in a 2-1 defeat.

The Togo striker has requested a personal hearing, which will take place next Tuesday (March 6), while Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Eboue has denied a charge of violent conduct, following an incident with Wayne Bridge.

The case will be heard by an FA disciplinary commission on Thursday.


The FA rejected appeals by Adebayor and Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi for wrongful dismissal on Tuesday.



Both were sent off for violent conduct during the closing stages of Sunday's match, along with Gunners defender Kolo Toure.

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WENGER TO PERSIST WITH YOUTH POLICY

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger declared "complete confidence" in his young Gunners as he prepared to throw them into action again in tomorrow night's FA Cup fifth-round replay at Blackburn.

The average age of the team for the Carling Cup final on Sunday was just over 21, and it looks set to be a similar story at Ewood Park.

Captain Thierry Henry, Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby are sidelined through injury, while combative midfielder Cesc Fabregas is set to be rested.

Add to that the suspension of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor along with knocks to full-back Gael Clichy and Mathieu Flamini, Wenger would seem to have little option but to turn to his emerging players for cover.

The Arsenal manager, however, has no qualms about continuing with a policy which has so far served him well in both domestic knockout competitions.

"What these boys have done against Liverpool, Everton, Tottenham and Chelsea on Sunday is not a coincidence," Wenger said.

"To repeat top-level performances is never that, and that is why I have complete confidence in them."

Wenger told Arsenal TVOnline: "[Jeremie] Aliadiere has come back to challenge for the first team, so has [Theo] Walcott. Players like Denilson are serious contenders now and some younger players like [Armand] Traore have played.

"We have discovered Diaby again after a serious injury. He is a massive talent and can be a massive player.

"Overall it is a very positive experience.

"This team produced some excellent football, some excellent entertainment and some excellent emotions even for people who are not Arsenal supporters.

"I would like to keep that as a very positive experience. For me they are now contenders for the first team and everybody who plays for the first team has a serious battle."

Given the fallout from the mass brawl which marred the Carling Cup final on Sunday - and resulted in both clubs being charged for failing to control their players as well as individual indictments for Adebayor and full-back Emmanuel Eboue - Wenger knows it will be good to let football take centre stage again.

"For us it is important just to win and to qualify to get positive vibes again after our disappointment on Sunday," said the Arsenal boss.

"The FA Cup is another opportunity for us to go to another final and win a trophy."

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SEVERAL OUT FOR ARSENAL

Arsenal will be without several first-team regulars for tomorrow night's FA Cup fifth-round replay at Blackburn.

Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor are both suspended after their red cards in the Carling Cup final, while captain Thierry Henry (foot), Tomas Rosicky (groin) and Abou Diaby (ankle) will not feature.

Cesc Fabregas is also set to be rested, with full-back Gael Clichy (foot), Justin Hoyte (hamstring), Mathieu Flamini (foot) and Johan Djourou (ankle) are all concerns.

Manager Arsene Wenger told the club's official website, www.arsenal.com: "We have lots of injuries. There are plenty of changes, but it will still be a strong team.

"William Gallas is coming back, so are [Alexander] Hleb and [Freddie] Ljungberg. They will be involved. Denilson will be there as well."


Benni McCarthy is expected to return to Blackburn's starting line-up.

The 15-goal striker was left on the substitutes' bench for Sunday's 3-0 Premiership win over Portsmouth in order to protect his fitness for the clash with the Gunners.

Youngster Matt Derbyshire is most likely to make way up front while boss Mark Hughes' only doubt is defender Chris Samba, whom he expects to recover from inflammation on his knee.

Teams

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WENGER SORRY FOR CARLING BRAWL

Arsene Wenger has yet to decide whether to appeal Tuesday's Football Association misconduct charge for Arsenal's part in the Carling Cup final fracas.

The FA have taken action against both the Gunners and Chelsea over the mass brawl which tarnished Sunday's Millennium Stadium showpiece.

According to Arsenal's official website Wenger is considering whether to contest the charge but he also apologised for his side's part in the unsavoury episode, which saw three players sent off.

"I feel we should not have reacted at all," he said. "Overall, we are sorry for what happened. When you do not behave like you want to then you have to apologise.

"We want to focus on playing football well. We want to deal well with the frustrations [of football] and want to be exemplary.

"But we also want to remind people that we have been top of the Fair Play table twice in the last few years.

"Also, this year, we are the team who have committed the least fouls in the league and been the most fouled against.

"What happened was a one-off for us in the last three years and we are sorry for that.

"It was a good game and that was an incident of one minute. But we do not want to behave like we behaved and that is it."

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BLUES TAKE SPOILS IN FRENZIED FINAL

Two goals from striker Didier Drogba earned Chelsea their second Carling Cup triumph in three years at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium as they beat London rivals Arsenal 2-1.

The Gunners had forged an 11th-minute lead in a thrilling contest when England international Theo Walcott scored his first goal for the club with a lofted shot.

But Chelsea equalised nine minutes later through Didier Drogba's angled drive - and he outjumped Philippe Senderos to glance home a cross from Arjen Robben for his 28th goal of the season five minutes from time.

But the afternoon was marred by a serious head injury to Chelsea captain John Terry and late red cards for team-mate Jon Obi Mikel and Arsenal skipper Kolo Toure and substitute Emmanuel Adebayor.

Despite his double strike, and Chelsea's win, Drogba said he had mixed emotions given the injury suffered by Terry.

The Ivorian told Sky Sports: "We won and we're happy because we've got the cup but we are also scared because we don't know what to expect when we saw JT on the floor.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was quick to pay tribute to Arsenal's youngsters.

He told Sky Sports: "They played a very good game. In the second half it was completely different, we dominated the game and...we deserved the victory."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger regretted the brawl at the end of the match, claiming "we lost our nerve".

He said: "You must keep your calm no matter what. I regret it [the brawl] but we lost our nerve and that is part of the learning process. That is not what we want."

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CARLING CUP FINAL RATINGS

ARSENAL

MANUEL ALMUNIA - Little chance with Chelsea's goal, otherwise the Spaniard produced another solid display. 7.

JUSTIN HOYTE - Did not look out of place and slotted comfortably into the defence, as has done when asked this season. 7.

KOLO TOURE - Captain for the day had lead by example until the closing moments, when he was sent off for his involvement in melee following clash with Mikel Jon Obi. 5.

PHILIPPE SENDEROS - Much improved display on his return to the Millennium Stadium. More of a test for Didier Drogba this time around, but the Ivory Coast striker had the final say. 7.

ARMAND TRAORE - Young French right-back got forward well, particularly in the first half. Quick recovery when needed. 7.

ABOU DIABY - Involved in pure accidental clash with John Terry, which ended England captain's game. Clearly upset, the French midfielder was withdrawn soon afterwards. 6.

CESC FABREGAS - Another impressive performance from the young Spaniard. Sent in plenty of long-range efforts and pinpoint passes. Tainted performance with involvement in late melee. 7.

DENILSON - Effective, if unspectacular, display from the young Brazilian in his first major English final. 6.

THEO WALCOTT - Brilliantly executed opening goal for the Gunners in the first half. Continued to look dangerous, but could have produced more telling passes. 7.

JEREMIE ALIADIERE - Full of running and was a handful for the Chelsea defence, but often held onto the ball a fraction too long. 6.

JULIO BAPTISTA - The 'Beast' used his power well, and forced a fine early save from Petr Cech. Influence faded as match wore on. 7.

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MOURINHO AGREES WITH WENGER

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho admits he does not see eye to eye with his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger on many subjects, but when it comes to being great managers the pair are, for once, in full accord.

The duo have never missed an opportunity to snipe at each other and have been involved in another unsavoury bout of verbal sparring in the run-up to Sunday's Carling Cup final in Cardiff.

In Porto, Mourinho appeared to taunt Wenger over his failure to win the Champions League after Arsenal lost out to Barcelona in the final last season.

It was a comment which forced the Arsenal boss to respond by claiming that a coach does not have to win Europe's top competition to be acknowledged as a great manager.

Wenger's words appear to have paved the way for a spell of harmony between two managers who once fell out over Christmas cards.

Mourinho said: "I agree with him totally. He has never won it but he is a great manager.

"We don't agree on many things but on this we agree completely. In Porto I said to win the Champions League does not make you a great manager.

"A great manager can be a great manager without winning the Champions League and because I won it once, I feel very privileged. This time we are of the same opinion."

One thing they appear not to agree on is the footballing philosophy. Under Wenger, Arsenal are regarded as purveyors of the romantic side of the game - attacking, free-flowing and easy on the eye.

Wenger's side has been built around young players who are now proving their worth both at home and in Europe.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are physical, direct, powerful and clinical and have sacrificed youth for big-money signings.

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JOSE NOT SO SPECIAL - WENGER

Arsene Wenger has hit back at Jose Mourinho, saying that winning the Champions League does not make you a great manager.

With Sunday's Carling Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea fast approaching, Mourinho had made the point that his achievement of winning Europe's most coveted trophy with Porto is missing from many other managers' C.Vs.

But Wenger does not like the way the Portuguese boss appears obsessed by individual glory and believes there even are coaches in the French lower leagues who, relatively speaking, have done as good a job as Mourinho.

He said: "Am I big or small is not so important - it's not my obsession.

"We played a whole season unbeaten (2003-04) but you did not see me every week jumping on the tables.

"Once it's over it's over and you do in the next one as well as you can. Plenty of managers who have won the Champions League will not be considered great managers.

"There are plenty of people working in France in divisions two or three who I rate very highly. What is important is that you look at the careers of 10, 15 or 20 years.

"If I did not win the Champions League, it would not change my life."

Meanwhile Wenger insists he is not tempted to bring senior players back into the starting XI for the final.

The Frenchman is set to rely on the youngsters who have taken Arsenal to the final at the Millennium Stadium, with players such as Thierry Henry and Jens Lehmann set to be on the sidelines.

Despite a poor recent record against the Premiership champions, he wants to show his faith in his young players.

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YOUNGSTERS HAVE 'X-FACTOR' - WENGER

Arsene Wenger has compared his Carling Cup youngsters to X-Factor hopefuls - and he insists unearthing talented youngsters in his decade at Arsenal gives him greater pleasure than winning silverware.

The Frenchman is set to keep faith at the Millennium Stadium in the young players who have helped reach Sunday's final against Chelsea, whose boss Jose Mourinho recently claimed managers such as Wenger are under pressure to win the Champions League.

Mourinho won Europe's top prize with Porto, while Wenger was beaten in the final last season, but the Gunners boss believes developing talent is a better measure of a manager's ability.

"Plenty of managers have won the Champions League who will not be considered as great managers," he said.

"There are plenty of people working in France in divisions two or three who I rate very highly because what they do is absolutely sensational.

"What is important is that you look at the careers of 10, 15 or 20 years. What kind of quality have you brought in your work and on what consistent level you have done it?"

Teenagers such as Denilson and Theo Walcott are tipped to eventually make an impact on the highest stage after getting their chance to shine this season.

Wenger said: "You have singers in England going on the X-Factor where talents are discovered which nobody knew about.

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HENRY: WE CAN FINISH OFF PSV AT HOME

Thierry Henry is convinced Arsenal can overcome any stubborn defending by PSV Eindhoven and overturn a 1-0 defeat to keep their Champions League dream alive.

The Gunners were beaten by the Dutch league leaders on Tuesday following a long-range effort by Edison Mendez.

Manager Arsene Wenger was not impressed by some negative tactics from Ronald Koeman's side, especially in the first half.

Henry, however, accepts that is something Arsenal have to rise above in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium in a fortnight.

He said: "They were waiting for us at the back, we knew that.

"For once we were patient and we were passing the ball around well, creating some chances - but did not find the way to score.

"It is still an open tie and we can do the job at home."

The Frenchman added: "Before in the past we were not doing enough against teams who were just waiting for us.

"But last night (Tuesday) but for three or four magnificent saves by their goalkeeper, we could have gone back home with the victory.

"The only thing I can say is that for once we have to stop being 1-0 down.

"Sometimes football is kind of weird. Before we were more of a team which when we went ahead we won and when we went behind we struggled.

"Now we have turned that around and hopefully we can in this tie.

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CARLING IS HENRY'S CUP OF TEA

The young Gunners have already proved worthy this season - having claimed away victories over West Brom, Everton and Liverpool before recovering from a slow start against Tottenham to defeat their north London rivals over two legs in the semi-finals.

Manager Arsene Wenger maintains he will "adjust to the difficulty of the team we are playing" against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

Although Henry is one of several first-team regulars likely to be rested, the skipper has belief in the ability of the squad to produce another top-class display.

He said: "Arsenal in the Carling Cup have the capacity to beat anyone.

"You know that winning at Everton is never an easy task and winning at Anfield is never an easy task - but they did it and did it in style.

"It is a competition we do not win very often at Arsenal and it is a great competition.

"When you look at the clubs who have won it, you know that teams take it seriously even though Arsene sometimes plays the kids.

"Of course it is exciting, Chelsea versus Arsenal, whoever is going to play.

"I will be there, cheering and will be in the dugout or something like that.

"The most important thing is to bring the trophy back for the fans."

Wenger's plans at the moment are to keep faith with the men who have served him so well in the competition so far against the big-spending Blues on Sunday.

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COCU: GUNNERS A DIFFERENT CLASS

PSV Eindhoven captain Phillip Cocu agrees with his coach Ronald Koeman that the two-legged meeting with Arsenal is likely to be an entirely different type of game to their encounters with Liverpool this season.

The Dutch side will be looking to end Arsenal's recent hold over them when the two teams meet in the last 16 of the Champions League tonight.

Having never crossed swords in European competition prior to September 2002, the sides are fast becoming familiar foes. And the Gunners have not tasted defeat in any of the previous four encounters over the past five years.

While the Eredivisie front-runners have faced Arsenal's compatriots Liverpool twice this season in the group stage, both Koeman and Cocu are all too aware of the difference in style between the Premiership sides.

"This will be a completely different match," Cocu said.

"Liverpool was in the group stage and now we are in the knockout stage. That means there must be a winner in two games.

"In relation to the games of two years ago - the last time we met Arsenal in Champions League - it is different because both sides have got completely new teams.

"Of course, Arsenal are a good team - one of the best in England with much creativity in the midfield."

Koeman, a European Cup winner with Barcelona in 1992, added: "Arsenal are not a typical English team. They play more a European system with fast players up front, a lot of talent in the midfield and a solid defence.

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WENGER BACKS GUNNERS SQUAD

Arsene Wenger feels Arsenal can meet the challenge of a hectic fixture schedule head on.

The Gunners resume their Champions League campaign in Holland tonight against PSV Eindhoven, runners up in Liverpool's qualifying group.

There will be little time to digest the result in Holland as Wenger must then regroup his squad for the Carling Cup final against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

With an FA Cup fourth-round replay at Blackburn to come the following week, and another Barclays Premiership game against Manchester City now to re-arrange, Wenger's men will certainly have to dig deep to maintain their challenges on all fronts.

The Arsenal boss, though, is confident his squad have the quality to cope.

He said: "I feel that since December the team has taken off.

"The understanding within the squad is very good, there is a high spirit and we are ready for a big challenge.

"I am hoping for a good response.

"Against PSV, who have dominated Dutch football for a while now, you know you will get a tough game.

"We will try to play our game and score goals."

Wenger looks set to have to shuffle his defence, as right-back Justin Hoyte has picked up a hamstring problem.

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WENGER: WE MUST DO BETTER

Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal stars that any repeat of their lacklustre performance in a dreadful FA Cup draw with Blackburn over the course of the next ten days could be fatal to their ambitions for the rest of the season.

After allowing rugged Rovers to tie them up in knots in a stultifying fifth-round encounter at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal now go to Holland to face PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie on Tuesday night.

After that they have Sunday's Carling Cup Final against Chelsea in Cardiff and then another trek to the north west for the Blackburn replay three days later.

And it seems certain that up to 22 different Arsenal players will figure in those three knockout clashes as boss Wenger keeps mixing and matching the high-class talents at his disposal.

It appears that whoever pulls on the Arsenal shirt, in whatever combination, Wenger now feels assured of the quality of his squad. What he does not know is whether the team will be able to make it count.

Sadly for the Frenchman, Saturday lunchtime in north London was one of those occasions when it just did not happen - and it showed up all the inconsistencies which have made Gunners also-rans once more in the Premiership title race this season.

Now they have to hope for continued success in the cups to put at least one piece of silverware in the vaults at their sparkling new home.

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FABREGAS JIBE SPARKS HUGHES BLAST

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes had a run-in with teenage Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas when the Spanish teenager asked him after a goalless, soul-destroying fifth-round draw at The Emirates: "Did you really play for Barcelona?"

Rugged Rovers had battled for a replay from the start and were benefactors of referee Martin Atkinson's generosity in turning down a stonewall Arsenal penalty.

But boss 'Sparky' flew into a fury, gesturing at Fabregas as he went down the tunnel after his sniping remark.

And the four-times FA Cup winner with Manchester United and Chelsea insisted: "I thought the boy showed disrespect to somebody who has won a lot more FA Cups than him."

Hughes explained: "He came off the pitch and asked me if I had played for Barcelona and when I said that, yes I did, he said something to the effect of 'that wasn't Barcelona football, was it ?'

Fabregas, a Barcelona fan from a lad, later apologised to Hughes but was frustrated by a 90-minute rearguard action by Rovers which earned a replay at Ewood Park next Wednesday.

Arsenal now play PSV in Eindhoven in the first leg of their second round Champions League on Tuesday and then Chelsea next Sunday in the Carling Cup final, while Blackburn have the second leg of their UEFA Cup clash with Germany's Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday at Ewood.

Hughes said: "I thought our performance merited a good deal of credit. We had six or seven senior players out injured or rested and the last time we came here we lost 6-2.

"We certainly didn't want that happening again and we did well to restrict a very good Arsenal side to just a few chances. Brad Friedel made some terrific saves at the end but for the most part he was not very busy.

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Arsenal 0 Blackburn 0

Brad Friedel made a stunning double save from Thierry Henry and Justin Hoyte in the last three minutes after Arsenal were denied a 77th-minute penalty at the Emirates.

Blackburn earned a replay that adds to both teams' already overcrowded fixture lists with a determined defensive display in the FA Cup fifth round tie.

Referee Martin Atkinson studiously refused to acknowledge Stephen Warnock's trip on Jeremie Aliadiere 13 minutes from time.

Then Friedel threw himself at a couple of missiles from Henry and Hoyte late on to preserve his team's second chance.

Even if they had been given the penalty, Arsenal would not have been able guarantee victory on the evidence of their midweek penalty blunders at Bolton.

At least that story had a happy ending for the Gunners but until Emmanuel Adebayor - a two-goal hero at the Reebok - and Tomas Rosicky came on as late substitutes they exhibited little penetration.

Although Blackburn rode their luck and were sometimes allowed to get away with some bad challenges by Atkinson you could not help but admire their dedication to the cause - especially following UEFA Cup exertions in Germany a few days ago.

Rovers, without injured 12-goal South Africa striker Benni McCarthy and midfield star Tugay who was rested, were clearly mindful of their 6-2 Emirates defeat back in December plus another defeat since.

They had the road-blocks on right from the start with Walcott's first two runs down the right ended by crunching tackles from Stephen Warnock and Ryan Nelsen.

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ETO'O HINTS AT ARSENAL MOVE

Samuel Eto'o has hinted he would like to join Arsenal after his future was plunged into doubt at Barcelona.

The Cameroon striker launched an astonishing attack on Barca boss Frank Rijkaard and team-mate Ronaldinho before admitting he would love to play under Arsene Wenger in the Premiership.

He said: "I love Wenger, he is one of the best coaches in the world.

"I could have played for Arsenal some years ago. I would have loved to have had Wenger as my coach."

Eto'o could be set to leave the Catalan club following a series of disputes with Rijkaard, who accused the forward of refusing to come on as a substitute against Osasuna last weekend.

According to reports in Spain, Eto'o did not attend training on Monday and he spoke to the media on Tuesday to deny Rijkaard's claims.

"Whoever came out in a press conference and said I refused to play is a bad person," he fumed.

"I've always thought about the group (first) and I've always trained with the group. If anybody has balls, they should tell it to me face-to-face."

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ALLARDYCE READY FOR GUNNERS BATTLE

Sam Allardyce is expecting Arsene Wenger's Gunners to come out firing at full force as they look to end their wretched run at the Reebok Stadium.

Arsenal have lost on their last three visits to Bolton, including in the Barclays Premiership this season, and know a fourth successive reverse will send them bouncing out of the FA Cup in a fourth-round replay.

Allardyce is convinced Wenger will be doing everything in his power to avoid such a setback, which is why he feels Bolton will be facing a full-strength Arsenal line-up.

"Arsenal have always been lovers of the FA Cup and one of the front-runners in terms of getting to the final, so I think they will want to beat us - and beat us with their best team," said Allardyce.

"We have had some mighty battles against them in recent seasons, and I hope we will come out on top - otherwise the dream of playing at the 'new' Wembley will have gone."

It is the fourth time in as many seasons Bolton have met Arsenal in the FA Cup - with the score currently standing at one win each and one drawn encounter, at the Emirates Stadium last month when Allardyce's men were the better side but found themselves eventually pegged back by Kolo Toure's goal 12 minutes from time.

In theory at least, Bolton's formidable home record against the north London giants should make them favourites to progress.

However, Allardyce is refusing to allow the past to cloud his thoughts.

"I hope Arsenal don't fancy it," he said.

"It would be nice if they felt they had a problem here. It would be a psychological point in our favour.

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Bolton v Arsenal

Justin Hoyte has reacted to the ongoing row over Arsenal's reliance on foreign players by claiming he feels no extra pressure as one of just two English regulars.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has frequently come under fire for the number of imports at the Emirates Stadium, with Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson the most recent critic.

Gibson responded to England's 1-0 defeat by Spain last week by accusing managers like Wenger of failing the national side - a claim the Frenchman has vigorously refuted.

But Hoyte, who along with Theo Walcott is the only established Englishman in the Gunners squad, has no issue with Arsenal's selection policy.

``I don't feel any pressure on my shoulders. We're all here to do the same job, and that's win football matches,'' he told Arsenal TV Online.

``Whether the players are English or foreign, everyone who puts on an Arsenal shirt wants to perform for the club.

``You only realise who is foreign when players go away for international duty. The fans are fully behind me and Theo.

``We are English boys, so the fans back us fully and give us great support - as does the manager.''

Hoyte may be English - but that has not prevented him from joining the dancing craze which has swept through the Emirates Stadium.

The 22-year-old right-back celebrated his first goal for the club - in the 4-0 triumph over Charlton last month - by performing a jig on the sidelines.

Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Adebayor have also been happy to show their dancing skills, but Hoyte insists there would only be one winner in a competition.

``It was a fantastic feeling and a magical experience to score my first goal for Arsenal,'' he said.

``I was an Arsenal kid from a young age, and all I wanted to do was to play for the club. But to score was extra special, particularly in front of my family and girlfriend.

``The way I celebrated showed how much it meant to me. Something came out of me, and once I'd calmed down I did a little dance - which I always said I'd do if I scored.

Henry and Jens Lehman will be rested for Wednesday's FA Cup fourth-round replay at Bolton, but Alexander Hleb and Freddie Ljungberg return to the squad after spells in the treatment room.

Arsenal have lost on their last three trips to the Reebok Stadium, and Hoyte admitted it has become a difficult place to visit.

``It's going to be a very touch game at Bolton. We've found it difficult against them no matter what the competition has been,'' he said.

``Bolton are a very good, tough side. But we'll work hard and, we hope, come away with a result.

``Arsenal find it difficult to get a victory at the Reebok Stadium. People say how `long ball' and physical they are - but they play good football too.''

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce, meanwhile, has seen his side's chances of booking a Saturday lunchtime local derby with Blackburn hampered by the loss of key duo Kevin Davies and Abdoulaye Faye.

While Davies was always expected to miss out with an ankle injury, Faye's absence following a minor operation to remove an abscess is a major blow, leaving Allardyce to cross his fingers that fellow central defender Abdoulaye Meite overcomes a calf problem.

``It is a bit frustrating because I would have liked to have had the opportunity to work with the team and give them a little refresher in terms of what we should be doing,'' said Allardyce.

``Unfortunately, that has not been the case. We have not been able to do any contact training because we were too worried about picking up any more injuries.''

via soccer365