Arsenal vs Bolton EFL Cup prediction and stats: Will Gunners avoid upset?
Arsenal will be hoping to improve on their poor recent record in the EFL Cup when they start their campaign against Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday.
The Gunners haven’t won the EFL Cup since 1992/93 and have been beaten finalists three times since. Bolton are the team hoping to cause the upset at the Emirates.
Three Arsenal vs Bolton predictions
Arsenal 2-0 Bolton (6/1 with BetMGM)
Arsenal haven’t lost to lower-league opposition in the EFL Cup since 2015, when they were beaten 3-0 in the fourth round by Sheffield Wednesday.
Gabriel Martinelli to score anytime (13/10 with Bet365)
Gabriel Martinelli has scored four goals in 11 games in the EFL Cup for Arsenal. However, those did all come in his first two appearances in the competition.
Highest scoring half: 2nd (11/10 with BetGoodwin)
Six of the 11 goals scored in Arsenal’s games across all competitions have come in the second halves of their matches.
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How to watch Arsenal vs Bolton live
Arsenal vs Bolton is scheduled for 7:45pm on Wednesday 25th September and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+.
How both teams go into Arsenal vs Bolton
Arsenal have finished second in the Premier League in each of the past two seasons, but they’ve struggled in the cups. The Gunners reached the semi-finals of the EFL Cup in 2021/22, but have won just two of their six cup games in the past two seasons.
In 2022/23, Arsenal reached the fourth round of the FA Cup but lost at the first opportunity in the EFL Cup. Last season it was the reverse, with a third-round exit in the FA Cup and fourth round in the EFL Cup. West Ham were the team to knock Arsenal out of the EFL Cup last season, after the Gunners beat Brentford in the third round.
Bolton are already on their past run in the EFL Cup since 2017/18. The reached the third round then, but have either fallen at the first or second hurdle in each of the past six seasons since. They haven’t reached the fourth round since 2011/12.
The Trotters are still in League One after losing the play-off final in May, beaten by Oxford United at Wembley. While they are struggling in the league, Bolton have so far beaten Mansfield Town and Shrewsbury Town in the EFL Cup. They do also come into this game off the back of a 5-2 win over Reading, ending a four-match winless streak in the league.
Arsenal host Bolton at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday 25th September at 7:45pm.
Arsenal team news
Leandro Trossard was sent off against Manchester City at the weekend and will serve his suspension in this game, in what is a boost for Arsenal. Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, Ben White and David Raya all suffered knocks and may not be risked.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Kieran Tierney are all out until after the international break.
Bolton team news
Bolton do also have some injury issues. Klaidi Lolos, Gethin Jones, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Will Forrester and Jordi Osei-Tutu are all out.
Arsenal vs Bolton head-to-head
This is the first meeting between Arsenal and Bolton for over 12 years. The Gunners have won 11 of the last 13 games, after a run of five without victory between 2005 and 2007.
| Arsenal vs Bolton H2H | |||||||
| Date | Score | Ground | |||||
| 01/12/12 | Bolton 0-0 Arsenal | Reebok Stadium, Bolton | |||||
| 25/10/11 | Arsenal 2-1 Bolton | Emirates Stadium, London | |||||
| 24/09/11 | Arsenal 3-0 Bolton | Emirates Stadium, London | |||||
| 24/04/11 | Bolton 2-1 Arsenal | Reebok Stadium, Bolton | |||||
| 11/09/10 | Arsenal 4-1 Bolton | Emirates Stadium, London | |||||
| 20/01/10 | Arsenal 4-2 Bolton | Emirates Stadium, London | |||||
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