Eastern promise offered by Park and Arshavin
ARSENAL 2 vs BOLTON 1
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger believes Park Chu-Young is ready to make a significant impact in the Premier League after the Korea international struck his first goal for the club in last night’s Carling Cup win over Bolton.
The Trotters stunned an impressive crowd of over 56,000 at Emirates Stadium with a goal two minutes after half-time from their former Arsenal midfielder Fabrice Muamba.
But Andrey Arshavin equalised almost immediately and Park, a £6m summer arrival from Monaco, ensured Arsenal’s place in the quarter finals soon after with a fabulous curling finish.
“For me I am very pleased with his performance,” beamed Wenger afterwards. “He had a very, very good game. He has shown intelligence in his link play with others. The quality of his movement was exceptional and his finishing is absolutely fantastic.
“He has shown tonight that he is a very, very good player. He is ready to play in league games, yes.”
Arshavin, meanwhile, has endured a difficult start to the season but the Russian demonstrated his worth last night in a more central role and capped an uplifting performance with a well taken goal.
Wenger said: “Andrey is a player who of course takes a bit gamble on nearly every ball he plays.
“Sometimes he loses balls he shouldn’t lose but when you look at the end of the game he has always had a big impact. Tonight he scored and made an assist.”
Thomas Vermaelen, making his first appearance since August, lasted 84 minutes on his comeback before being withdrawn with a tight calf as a precaution ahead of Saturday’s London derby against Chelsea.