Despite starting the game with a number of young players, Arsenal battled their way past Bolton on Tuesday and will now wait for the Round 5 draw of the Carling Cup.

Speaking after the game, manager Arsene Wenger answered questions on two key players of his side as he started by saying that midfielder Andrey Arshavin is a player who is not shy to gamble when on the ball, reason why he loses the ball often, but on the night he was still able to score one and set-up the second for Chu Young Park.

On defender Thomas Vermaelen, the manager added that he did well and had to be substituted after suffering a calf injury with the Frenchman saying that the Belgian will probably not recover in time to face Chelsea, on Saturday.

Wenger concluded by saying that the centre-back will be assessed this morning as he admitted that he didn’t expect the centre-backs to be tested so much by Owen Coyle’s men, reason why the 25-year old started the game, on Tuesday.

After the Bolton win, Wenger said:

[Andrey Arshavin] 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. He had a good performance tonight.

[Thomas Vermaelen] did very well. He had to come off for a calf problem but I hope it’s not too bad. He will be a bit short for Saturday, I don’t know yet what I will do.

We have to test him tomorrow, but it doesn’t look too bad. He has been out for a long time, he had only one training session yesterday with the team.

I didn’t really expect a game of that intensity, it was a tough one for a centre-back. They put us under pressure in the second half and the intensity of the game was very high.

We don’t think it is a calf strain, it is just tight calves. He has not played a proper game for two months. He wanted to come off.

In fairness I did not want to take him off because I thought it was too stupid now with four minutes to go to concede a goal. He was adamant he couldn’t go on so I hope it’s not too bad.