Same Old Bolton

Bolton should have had 3

September 11th 2010

Arsenal: 4 Bolton Wanderers: 1

Koscielny 24th

Elmander 42nd

Chamakh 58th

Song 78th

Vela 83rd




It used to be that the idea of playing Bolton would send any self respecting Arsenal fan into fits of rage. Rage at their tactics, their rugby style of play, the dirtiness, Kevin Davies etc. Grudgingly I must admit that Bolton today are much less of a team than when they were under Sam Allardyce. While the compliment may be oblique in manner, the recent run of results tells a far clearer tale. We have won every single one of last 9 cup and league fixtures against the Trotters.

The game started with Arsenal with putting a decent amount of pressure on Bolton without really creating any clear cut chances. The first incident of note was Kevin Davies somehow escaping a sending off for two quite ugly fouls, simply due to the ball not going out of play. The first was a 12th minute foul on Rosicky in the center circle. Davies challenged for the ball upended the Czech only for the ball to fall to an Arsenal player. Stuart Atwell played advantage, Cesc spread the ball to Gibbs on the flank but nothing came to fruition. Arsenal managed to keep the ball in play for the majority of 5 minutes until Davies challenged late and high on Wilshere. Luckily we gained no advantage from the assault and Atwell was forced to blow for the foul. I find it curious that he should escape a red card considering that had Atwell blown for both foul separately he would have produced a caution in each case. It was the beginning of a long afternoon for the Warwickshire referee.

The breakthrough came courtesy of an excellent Wilshere pass. Wilshere who sidestepped his marker and hooked a delightful ball to the back post where Cesc nudged it on to Koscielny to bundle home. Considering the amount of pressure it was a deserved goal but unfortunately we failed to build on that in the first half. it was of course excellent to see Koscielny get off the mark and again shows signs of him settling well. We should have at least doubled our lead before the break as we let two gilt edged chances go begging. The first was a majestic turn from Fabregas in the center circle who then played a perfectly weighted slide rule pass 20 yards behind the Bolton defense. Arshavin timed his run perfectly but put his shot into the side netting. It was the closest he got all day. The second chance came courtesy of excellent work from Gibbs on the left who's cross eventually found Rosicky twelve yards out in a crowded box. Rosicky went for placement under the keeper giving the Hungarian debutant Bogdan enough time to collect the shot.

That is as good as it got for Arsenal in the first half as Bolton found the equalizer from nothing. Bogdan sent a goal kick 70 yards into the Arsenal half only for it to find Koscielny's head. The Frenchman attempted to head the ball back to Almunia but only could flick it onto the path of the Bolton midfielder Chung-Yung Lee. Almunia left his line to close down the shot forcing Lee wide to the byline. Lee found the time to chip to the back post where Elmander was open to convert. Certainly it's a goal that we shouldn't be conceding and had it happened away from home I'd be a bit more critical. In any event it highlights the problems short central defenders can have, Koscielny certainly needs to take note.

Overall the first half was a bit of both ends for Arsenal. The whole team played and passed well and the attacking ability of Gibbs was in full display. Cesc I felt was a bit subdued in the opening 20 minutes but grew into the game and eventually was back to his best. His range of passing and skill in possession are without parallel in the league. The equalizer is of school boy quality but slightly more forgivable as long as it's not made into a habit.

The beginning of the second half offered little in evidence of the direction the match was heading, Arshavin continued to make runs but failed to beat the offsides trap. Bolton's resistance lasted 12 minutes. Cesc split the Trotter's defense in the 57th minute with another glorious through ball to Chamakh, the Moroccan's well placed shot was pushed around the post by the highly impressive Bogdan. The resultant corner provided the lead, Cesc once again supplied a perfect ball into the 6 yard box the Chamakh headed down and in despite the keeper getting a touch. On the entire balance of play in the first half one could have little argument about the lead.

As exciting as the first half dominance and the second half lead were, the next ten minutes changed the entire direction and tenor of the game. It all began when Kevin Davies clattered head first into Koscielny, the pair stuck heads and both were out of it for a few minutes. How the referee failed to see that as a foul and a caution is ridiculous. Simply because the ball in in the vicinity doesn't mean you can ram your opponent's head. Davies in my eyes escaped the referee's back pocket twice in this match. This set off a series of events which should and could have reduced Bolton to 8 men. Shortly after both Davies and Koscielny managed to stop seeing stars Arsenal began pushing the ball up the pitch in search of the killer third goal. The ball was passed to Chamakh who flicked it back to Arshavin, Gary Cahill sensing the danger went right through the back of Chamakh. He left the ground with both feet, studs up simply took out the Arsenal forward, Chamakh ending up off the pitch. In the only sensible moment of the entire match Stuart Atwell quickly sent Cahill off. Three minutes later Bolton were at it again, the recently subbed on Diaby was on the end of a ridiculous Paul Robinson challenge. The "tackle" was a studs up, mid calf variety. The exact same kind that has broken the legs of Eduardo, Ramsey and coincidentally Diaby. Luckily he didn't break it but was forced to withdraw from the game a couple minutes later. Wenger said afterward it was "quite bad" and that Diaby couldn't move his leg. Both the referee and the assistant failed to spot it and play went on despite the assault. The only plus side of the spell was that one Bolton player saw red and we didn't see anyone stretchered off.

The best goal of the game game courtesy of Alex Song who had been growing as the game went on. He timed a run perfectly into the box with Arshavin in possession. The Russian slipped the Cameroonian the ball, who then nutmegged Zat Knight and chipped Bodan from 6 yards out. A simply splendid goal that highlights the midfielders' rise in 18 short months. Song is just as critical to the team as Cesc is, I'm eating my hat as I type.

The third goal took Bolton down and out for the count. With only ten men a comeback was out of the question and the final whistle couldn't come quick enough. Arsenal still had enough time to rub it in, a 24 pass move ended with Fabregas playing a ball over the top for Carlos Vela. The Mexican side footed the ball home in the 83rd to cap another tough match.

Overall I thought the game went essentially to plan, we dominated the play and got four goals. The nervy moments were on the larger scale fairly minute and we never went behind. It was a game that was an absolute must win and we did it in the end with a fair amount of aplomb. The only concern being the mounting injury list, with Diaby now out we are going to have to rotate the squad which may leave us wanting in a few games. Its a good thing that our Champions League group has been kind, it will give us some time perhaps to mend before the hard winter.

I'm not going to say much about the quality of the refereeing on the day as much has been said already. I will just note that something needs to be done about the tackles made in the English league, certainly a reasonable line can be drawn. One that doesn't include tackles 8 inches off the floor. I am also in favor, as others have mentioned, of increasing the punishment for "serious foul play", breaking someones leg is certainly worth a 6-10 match ban if its done in a intentional or reckless manner. Perhaps the referee could classify it as "violent conduct", which would give the FA to adjust the punishment accordingly.

Bring on Sporting Braga!