“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.
The clubs meet again at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup but a long way from being equals. Since the days of Sam Allardyce Bolton have slipped from being Premier League mainstays to the brink of oblivion. They are back on firm ground in League One and, once again, are plotting an upset.
