‘Big Sam liked to spoil the party’: how Bolton made life a misery for Arsenal

Tonight’s match will be the teams’ first meeting in 12 years, bringing with it an avalanche of nostalgia for fans.

RIGHT MAN TO CALL: Sam Allardyce used to upset Arsenal during his time as Bolton manager.

"Big Sam liked to spoil the party,” Stelios Giannakopoulos says as his mind wanders back to Bolton taking on Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal in the Premier League.

It was a clash of styles, the quick passing and attacking flair of Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry et al against the direct approach of Allardyce with Kevin Davies as its figurehead.