Arsenal striker Gervinho admits it is vital skipper Robin van Persie stays at the club.

Van Persie underlined his importance to the Gunners yet again when he climbed off the bench to score twice in Sunday's 3-1 win over Stoke at the Emirates.

The 28-year-old has now hit a phenomenal 30 goals in 36 matches in 2011, but his current contract runs out in less than two years and he has not begun discussions about a new one.

Gervinho showed he too can be a big part in Arsenal's future by opening the scoring and, after Peter Crouch equalised for Stoke, setting up both Van Persie's goals.

And while manager Arsene Wenger insists the Gunners are no one-man team, Gervinho knows they cannot afford to be without their Dutch talisman.

"We always need our best players so a player like Robin, frankly, we need him to stay at the club,'' said the Ivory Coast striker.

"It would give me pleasure if he stayed. I have just arrived and I would like him to stay so I can play with him a while longer.

"This is a personal thing between Robin, the coach and the directors. Each of us takes care of his own career and the most important thing in the dressing room is to talk about the team.

"Psychologically, Robin is good for us. He is among the most experienced players on the pitch and when he comes on, he puts the opposition's defence under pressure and that helps our game.

"Against Stoke, he came on and scored two goals. He is an excellent player and the team need him.
"You always have to have leaders in the group and he is a player who drags the team forward. He is the captain, his role is to galvanise the group and he assumes the responsibility.''

Van Persie was rested to the bench after a hectic recent schedule, and both he and Gervinho will be able to put their feet up when Wenger turns his attention to the Carling Cup meeting with Bolton.

One striker who will get a chance to impress is South Korea captain Park Chu-young, after Wenger confirmed the 26-year-old will make his second appearance since joining from Monaco.

"He will get his chance. He is fantastic,'' said Wenger.

"People forget he only arrived two months ago. Some big players have waited much longer than two months before they have played.''

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Yossi Benayoun are also expected to be involved against Wanderers.

Meanwhile, Bolton boss Owen Coyle says he would be really concerned about his team's start to the season if they were playing well and still losing games.

The Trotters were beaten 2-0 at home by Sunderland on Saturday, their seventh defeat in nine Barclays Premier League fixtures so far this term.

Coyle readily acknowledges that overall, the performances have not been good enough, but the Scot feels the fact there is such room for improvement is reason to be optimistic about Wanderers' prospects of turning their form around.

"I sat, and when I thought about it - it's not a team or group of players that are playing out of their skin and not getting results,'' Coyle said.

"There is so much more to come from them, so in my mind, that tells us that when we pick it up and bring it all together, we will pick those points up and go on.

"This is not a team that is at its' maximum and still not winning games.''

One of Bolton's league defeats was a 3-0 reverse at the Emirates Stadium last month, although it is expected that it will be a much-changed Arsenal side.

Coyle has confirmed that he will also make plenty of adjustments to his team, with the likes of Adam Bogdan, Zat Knight, Gretar Steinsson, Fabrice Muamba, Mark Davies, Ricardo Gardner, Gael Kakuta, Ivan Klasnic and Tuncay Sanli all set to come into the first XI and youngster Joe Riley to feature in the squad.

"We will have eight or nine changes, guaranteed,'' Coyle said. "We have players who need to play and show what they are capable of.

"It is a difficult tie, but that is the nature of the cup - whatever the draw brings, you have to deal with it.''

On-loan defender Dedryck Boyata, who came off with an ankle problem in the Sunderland match, is ineligible for this game but Coyle hopes the Belgian will be available for the trip to Swansea at the weekend.

Match

This game isn't going to be easy. Bolton is having a bad run and Owen Coyle will be looking to get his charges back on track. I expect The Ox, Coquelin, and Park to impress. It will be nice to have the Verminator back in action. I say 4-1 to the Arsenal.

I would line up the team this way- Flappy Yennaris Sqiul Verminator Miquel Frimmers le Coq Benayoun Ox Chamakh Park

this match ll be a test of character for arsenal
they better watch there back.any way i predict[i] 2:1[/i]

Let the good form continue tonight

im skeptic abt this game. . . .

i think it might be settled on penalties!

sleekcm:

I would line up the team this way- Flappy Yennaris Sqiul Verminator Miquel Frimmers le Coq Benayoun Ox Chamakh Park

I don't like it when we refer to this guy(Fabiansky) as Flappy. Please give him a break as he has done nothing wrong of late. As for the match, we are winning this one. Arsenal 2 Bolton 0.

@bona4u, i didn't say a bad word about him. Anyways,that's the name he is known by in the Arsenalblogosphere. Even if he turns world-class tommorow, Arsenal fans would still call him Flappy.

Game On!

any link please

game on

Why is the match banned from live transmission?

OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH Shirt Nepa Don take light.

Muki any links?

arsenal 0 bolton 1 Muamba

Arsenal 1 Bolton 1 Arshavin

Roland17:

Muki any links?

none oh my bro

another former arsenal scores oh well.

game on!

arshohohohohohohoh!!!!!

Arsenal 2 Bolton1 Park

how come

my chinko scores!!!!

aw should be playing him jor

r231:

how come

ask morgan heritage

Is anyone actually watching the game?

I wonder, mayB the pub would be the best place to watch it

ritchboy:

Is anyone actually watching the game?

yes at livescores and bbc live update

It will be on Arsenal player by 10 am.
What I've heard so far is that Muamba's goal was due to a mistake by Frimpong and that both Coquelin and Ox were below par in the first half
but that is a very strong Bolton team out there though.

ritchboy:

Is anyone actually watching the game?

. Honestly e no go better for dstv for the next 5 generations. They better pray i dont become a politicial and rule this country

YEAHHHH !!!

GAME OVER

ritchboy:

Is anyone actually watching the game?

The closest I came was audio  commentary, on arsenal player.

dunno  if they switched off all cameras 2 d emirates ,  the game (just like the shrewsbury one) didn't show on any one of my numerous online channels. I crawled the web for most part of the first half searching.

not shown live. will be on by 10

audio commentary is hypertensive !!!

Arshavin played 10, behind Park and was outstanding according to commentaries I heard.

up arsenal, where the fans at?