Wenger: Old guard can inspire young guns for Bolton battle

ARSENE WENGER hopes the influence of former Gunners Martin Keown and Steve Bould will rub off on his young squad as they prepare for the battles ahead.

Wenger will be forced - through a combination of injury worries and international duty - to take something of an understrength and inexperienced side to Bolton for their FA Cup tie.

And Wenger believes younger squad members can learn from Keown, aged 39, and Bould, aged 43, renowned for their no-nonsense approach and both now working on coaching badges.

“Martin is with me now for three or four months and I also have Steve Bould with the youngsters,” Wenger revealed.

“I have a very young squad and I felt at some stage that the balance of the team needed a little bit more experience in the dressing room, not to be uncertain or insecure because we lose a game or two.

“Martin has the experience and can help the young players. That is why I brought him in. He and Steve are people who know the culture of the club and have been winners.

“We want them to get that culture into the young players and push them through.”

Wenger had accused his team of “naive” defending after conceding a decisive late goal to Wigan in their Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday, which was almost identical to the one in the costly 1-0 defeat at Everton last weekend.

The Gunners have already been out-muscled by Bolton, during their 2-0 Premiership defeat at the Reebok in December.

And Wenger feels his players must give as good as they get or risk losing their grip on the FA Cup.

“Bolton is a tough game, but a game I want because we can show we have good strength,” the Frenchman added. “I feel the whole team is up for it.

“We have to win the challenges and not forget that when we win the ball, to put it down and play our game and not play like they play.

“We would be wrong to expect our opponents to change the way they play. It is down to us to cope with that.”

Wenger insists he has no issues with the way Bolton are likely to approach the game. “There is no good or bad way to play football. It is just a way to be efficient,” said the Arsenal manager.

“We have a different view from other teams, but I do not see anything wrong with that.”

Thierry Henry will not play against Bolton as he is one of several first-team regulars who are fitness worries.