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Arsenal-mad Chris Forino can remember how Sam Allardyce’s Wanderers used to break his heart as a kid – but now he’s planning another capital raid in the Carabao Cup.
One of half a dozen lifelong Gunners fans in the Bolton camp, the centre-back has been looking forward to stepping out on the hallowed turf of the Emirates for the first time as a player, having watched so many games from the stands.
Back in Wanderers’ Premier League pomp, Big Sam’s unfancied Whites used to regularly put Arsene Wenger’s nose out of joint. Victories were confined to home games – and Bolton haven’t actually won in North London since Bruce Rioch side knocked the reigning league champions out of the FA Cup 30 years ago at Highbury.
But Forino can recall some of the bloodied noses given to the stylish Gunners back in the day and is now looking to do the same in a Bolton shirt.
“I remember coming home from training one day and watching Bolton play Arsenal, and I think it was Ivan Campo who was going around smashing everyone,” he said. “He should have been sent off and we were losing 2-1.
“My dad was telling me that they always used to struggle against Bolton back in the day, so we’ll be hoping history repeats itself.
“They are world class players and I don’t think we need to talk about their quality. It speaks for itself. But crazy things happen and we just need to go there and be the best possible versions of ourselves, see where it goes.”
Forino’s love affair with Arsenal started with a game against Portsmouth in 2008 and continues to this day. He watched the dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester City at home with team-mate and childhood pal, Jay Matete, and has been counting down the days to the cup tie.
“I got goosebumps the minute I heard about the draw,” he said. “I’ve loved Arsenal from the moment I can remember. My whole family does.
“I lived 10 minutes from the stadium, went to school round the corner from there. They gave out tickets to games like this and did initiatives in the area. And my dad probably wouldn’t have let me choose anyone else, anyway!
“I can’t wait for the game and I know a lot of the lads feel the same. For a lot of younger Bolton fans it might be the first chance they have had to go to the Emirates and we hope we can make it a good night for them.”
Although there are rumours of Arsenal blooding untested youngsters with one eye on their game against Leicester a few days later, Forino expects that Bolton will have to defend with the same sort of resolve – and perhaps skulduggery – as Arteta’s side did against City.
“I think we’re going to have to,” he said. “I’m well-equipped from my time at Wycombe.
“I don’t think I’ve seen anything like Sunday, or at least anything to that extreme. I was watching it at home with Tets (Jay Matete) and cheering the boys on in that second half. We were unfortunate to lose the goal.
“But William Saliba and Gabriel have absolutely transformed the club. It’s attacks that win you games, but defences win you the league and hopefully that’s the case this season.
“The Premier League is a different style to League One but I don’t see why I can’t take notes from them. I remember Saliba’s breakthrough season a few years ago and thinking ‘he’s two or three years younger than me!’ But he is the pinnacle of what defenders want to be these days.”
Wanderers also have one eye on Saturday’s lunchtime’s game at Crawley but travel to the capital for an extended stay feeling more confident after the 5-2 win against Reading.
Forino hopes that what had been a rocky start to the season, with pressure building rapidly on manager Ian Evatt, may now be smoothing itself out.
“I think it started to feel better from Tuesday last week, as crazy as that sounds,” he said. “We got thumped and embarrassed at home against Huddersfield, no-one was happy with that. We parked the emotions after a lengthy discussion in the changing room but there was a mood going into the Reading game, no disrespect to them, but we were going to win that game.
“The boys are in good stead now. We’d struggled to score goals this season but got five in one game. We do need to tighten up a bit at the back but the games coming up give us some opportunities for more wins and, of course, a big day out on Wednesday.
“I sat here before the Wrexham game and said when things click, it is going to be good for us.
“We needed that win. Everyone had to be patient but now that it has happened it is down to us to make it count.”
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