Arsenal vs. Bolton: Arsene Wenger Was Right to Start Thomas Vermaelen on Tuesday

The furor from Arsenal's 2-1 victory Tuesday night over the Bolton Wanderers in the Carling Cup's fourth round was tempered somewhat by the image of Thomas Vermaelen, just returned from injury, limping off the pitch in 84th minute.

The Belgian international, who had missed all of September and most of October due to an ankle injury, had apparently strained a calf muscle on the night, the Daily Mail reported.

While the central defender, who has now missed significant portions in each of the past two seasons, was adamant that Tuesday's knock amounted to nothing more than tightness in his thigh, Arsenal fans will have reason to worry.

A brunch-time Saturday showdown against third-place Chelsea looms large through the front windowsill, and with Vermaelen now looking sure to miss that encounter, the Arsenal defense—already subject to such intense scrutiny in 2011-12—looks sure to be put under pressure by the Blues' attack.

Some will ask if Vermaelen's injury is proof he was pushed into first-team action too soon, and if Wenger might have been better served to have waited until Vermaelen was fully ready to go 90 minutes.

Wenger did admit he had not envisioned such a tightly wound and fast-paced fixture against Bolton, ESPN Soccernet reported. The Frenchman acknowledged his worry for his prized defender's health, however.

"I didn't expect a game of that intensity because it was a really tough game for a centre-back tonight as [Bolton] put us under pressure in the second half," Wenger said. "I don't think it is a calf strain, I think it is just a tight calf because he has not played 90 minutes for three months."

Rushing back into first-team football can prove murderous for ligaments grown unaccustomed to the rigors of top-tiered football during months in convalescence and light training.

There was always a chance that Vermaelen might pick up a calf, groin or hamstring knock whenever he came back. Chance had it that it came against Bolton on Tuesday. Yet the Carling Cup was the perfect arena for Vermaelen to reintegrate the Arsenal lineup. It's just too bad events transpired the way they did.

Wenger certainly had one eye fixed upon that Chelsea match, and in giving Vermaelen a run out in a lesser competition (say what you will about Arsenal's team selection—Wenger made 11 changes from Sunday—but Bolton's Owen Coyle made nine of his own), the Belgian could have rediscovered some semblance of fitness that could have served him well at Stamford Bridge where his stolid presence at the back would have been a welcome sight indeed for traveling Arsenal supporters.

You want your best players to play in the biggest matches, and Vermaelen will always be the first-choice selection at left-center back so long as he is with the club.

The gamble failed, and now it looks likely that Vermaelen will miss some more time as he rests his calf.

But from a tactical standpoint, Wenger's ploy was one worth taking.

Now, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker will likely be the center back tandem on Saturday. The two have played together for the better part of a month now, and while their set-piece defending still looks painfully inept at times (to be fair, that applies to the whole team), they are looking a more cohesive tandem by the week.

Koscielny has hailed Mertesacker's continued improvement and feels the two are becoming a good partnership, the Evening Standard reported.

Let's just hope they can maintain the run of form that's seen Arsenal grab what is now seven wins from their last eight matches, all competitions combined. The Gunners have allowed seven goals during that span.

Chelsea are missing key players (Didier Drogba, Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole to suspension) but will still be dangerous when on the attack.

Fernando Torres may never justify that £50 million price tag slapped upon him last January, but he has managed to grab four goals in his last four appearances for the club.

Arsenal have also been susceptible to wily attacking midfielders' exploits this season, with Borussia Dortmund maestro Mario Goetze's ease in operating in the Gunners' attacking third a sore memory. Juan Mata may be even better than Goetze at this point—something that will surely be on Wenger's mind as he plots for Saturday.

It would have been better to have Vermaelen, and Wenger tried to bring him back to face the London rivals.

Arsenal will have to cope without their staunch defender. Like they say in life, things don't always pan out the way you'd hoped. You just have to make do, something Arsenal are better aware of than most this season.