Eboue!!!!
"They (Arsenal) did the double over them (Bolton) last season, some bogey! I suppose going two goals down, and playing with 10 men before winning 3-2 is struggling, but it hardly induces terror does it?" So I can't say I was that bothered when Bolton went 1-0 up, annoyed yes, but not bothered.
When Davies scored on 14 minutes, it was a reprise of the usual slack defending that Arsenal demonstrates in dead ball situations again and again, but it only served to make the Gunners angry. They responded by tearing into Bolton playing some of the most glorious football you could wish to see. Unless of course you are a cretinous Setanta commentator then you probably wish to see some thuggish tackles.
Give Ade the ball and Eboue will score
The ball was threaded through the Bolton penalty area at speed, and the first few chances hit the post, but thoughts that it wouldn't be our day was immediately erased by an Eboue goal on 26 minutes. He even pushed Adebayor out of the way to plant it firmly into the net. Arsenal fans had hardly finished celebrating when another sweeping move by the Gunners saw Bendtner cross for Denilson to score (correction that should read the other way around. Thanks AJ).
In reality the match was won, and perhaps Arsenal should have tied it up by half time, but good keeping by Jussi Jaaskelainen, and some good defending kept the score to 2-1 at half time.
Thuggery ok by MOTD
Of course no match against Bolton would be complete without some thuggery by Davies. Firstly he got away with elbowing Kolo, and then he got a yellow for a dangerous tackle on Clichy. He was lucky to still be on, he should have a yellow for the first offence. Clichy was lucky to escape a broken leg, but that was not enough for Shearer and Lawro, they couldn't praise robust tackling enough, and argued no card should have been awarded.
No doubt Shearer was looking back to the good old days when you could kick a player in the head, get off scot free and still play for England the next week. It is very important these English values are upheld.
Djourou replaced Sagna at right back, and Sagna replaced Clichy. The reorganisation cut a little bit of pace off the Arsenal attack, but the team remained solid enough. However a one goal lead can be a bit fragile at the Reebok, and it was always a worry that the Trotters would equalise.
Indeed Bolton were throwing more and more men forward, at this stage (73 minutes) Wenger threw on the super sub, Walcott. It was now Bolton's turn to worry, as little Theo tore them apart. With four minutes to go Walcott slalomed down the middle, Adebayor crossed from the right and Denilson lashed the ball into the top of the net from close range.
Still top of the league
What a wonderful finish to a marathon of three away games in a week. Arsenal were the only one of the top four clubs to get six points over CL week, inspite of having the hardest fixtures. Indeed Arsenal would be two points clear if Rooney wasn't a cretin. There is no doubt, in my mind that indiscipline cost Man U victory at Chelsea.
This was Arsenal's fifth victory in a row, in all competitions, over Bolton. Bolton are a spent force, I really hope this is their last season in the Premier, even their own support is drifting away. They cannot fill the stadium to see the finest footballing team in England.
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