Arsenal return to action in the EFL Cup when Bolton Wanderers head south on Wednesday.
Quick Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers betting tips
Arsenal to win to nil – 4/7 with SBK
Arsenal -2.5 Asian handicap – 4/5 with SBK
Gabriel Jesus to score any time – Evens with SBK
Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers top offer
Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers odds
Find the latest match odds for Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers. All odds are provided by our best-reviewed football bookmakers. Odds are subject to change.
Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers predictions
And breathe. Sunday was a physically and mentally taxing day for Arsenal, who were involved in a blockbuster clash with Manchester City in the Premier League.
Arsenal fell behind to an early goal from Erling Haaland, but efforts from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes gave them the lead before half-time.
There was still time for more drama in the opening period, though, with Leandro Trossard sent off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time.
That set up a second half of attack versus defence at the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal nearly held out as City struggled to penetrate their low block, but John Stones broke the visitors’ hearts with a late equaliser.
Mikel Arteta was rightly proud of his team’s efforts. Although they did not emerge victorious, Arsenal’s performance showed that they are ready to go toe to toe with City once again this term.
The Gunners drew 0-0 at the Etihad last term, but this was a more impressive display. In the first half Arsenal showed they can mix it with City as they wrestled back control of the game. In the second they defended with discipline and intelligence, a strategy which almost brought them all three points.
Attention now turns to the EFL Cup, a tournament which probably ranks bottom of Arteta’s priorities for the season. Still, the Arsenal manager could do with another trophy having failed to lift one since the FA Cup in 2020.
That was a very different Arsenal team too. If we are talking about the current group, they could do with claiming a piece of silverware soon. This Arsenal side does not yet have anything tangible to show for their all-round excellence.
A home game against Bolton Wanderers represents a reasonably kind draw for Arsenal, who are overwhelming favourites to come out on top.
A victory here would send the north Londoners through to the fourth round as they seek to win the EFL Cup for the first time since 1992/93. It is a remarkably long drought for a club of Arsenal’s size.
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Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers betting tips
Arsenal are strong favourites to get the better of Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup this week.
Arsenal to win to nil
Arsenal are the best defensive team in the Premier League right now. They conceded the fewest goals in the division last season and are second only to Liverpool in that particular ranking in 2024/25.
Arteta will no doubt make changes to his team for the visit of Bolton, with at least one of William Saliba or Gabriel likely to be held back.
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Notwithstanding the quality of that partnership, Arsenal’s excellent defensive record has plenty to do with the structure of the team as a whole.
On top of that, Arsenal will dominate possession on Wednesday and most of the match will take place far away from their goal.
Even if Arteta names a second-string side in this one, another clean sheet beckons for his team.
Back Arsenal to win to nil at 4/7 with SBK
Arsenal -2.5 Asian handicap
There was once a time when Bolton semi-regularly gave Arsenal a bloody nose. In the Sam Allarcye era the Trotters once won three out of four Premier League meetings, drawing the other.
These days Bolton are in the third tier of the English game. They thrashed Reading 5-2 at the weekend but remain in the bottom half of League One after three consecutive defeats beforehand.
There is a gulf in class between these two teams and that will be in evidence even if Arteta shuffles his pack as expected.
Indeed, it is not exactly as if players like Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior are sub-par. And because Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney and Oleks Zinchenko are injured, some first-team regulars will be involved anyway.
Bolton will be up against it throughout this match. In truth, it is hard to see anything other than a routine home win at the Emirates.
Select Arsenal with a -2.5 Asian handicap at 4/5 with SBK
Gabriel Jesus to score any time
On an individual level, this has been a frustrating season so far for Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazil international has had to take a back seat with Kai Havertz now established as Arteta’s first-choice line-leader.
Jesus is still waiting for his first start of the campaign, but he will surely be included in the starting XI here.
The former Manchester City man will be keen to make a statement against Bolton as he seeks to force himself back into the Premier League side.
These odds are very attractive given Jesus will be up against a League One backline that has conceded 11 goals in six games at that level.
Tip Gabriel Jesus to score any time at evens with SBK
How to watch Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers
Location: Emirates Stadium, London, England.
Date and time: Wednesday 25th September, 7.45pm.
How to watch: Sky Sports+.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
Premier League winner predictions
Premier League top 4 finish odds
Premier League relegation odds
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About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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