Report: Bolton 0-2 Arsenal
Spanish heoics from Cesc Fabregas and Fran Merida in either half earned Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Bolton to continue their hot pursuit of leaders Chelsea.
Wenger’s men did not enjoy as much comfort as the final score told at the Reebok stadium. On new boss Owen Coyle’s debut as manager, the trotters were keen to give Arsenal a real run for their money.
And indeed, it was only some mixture of class and fortune from the Gunners – through two well-worked goals and some woeful misess by Bolton – which saw them prevail today.
Those were all signs of progress by Wenger’s men who showed enough grit to come out with maximum points and a cleansheet in a tension away fixture despite not being at full gear on the day.
All serious title contenders do that.
Fabregas made a timely return into the Arsenal side but there were untimely absences of Nasri and Ramsey. That meant last week’s savior Rosicky was slotted in while reserves’ youngster Craig Eastmond was given his first Premier League start in the defensive midfield role.
The home side came racing out of the blocks with Ivan Klasnic having an early goal ruled out for offside. Arsenal looked rattled by Bolton’s energetic start but soon found their feet as they had a penalty shout turned down by referee Phil Dowd when Fabregas nipped past Jussi Jaaskelainen after been teed up free by Eduardo.
The in-form Spaniard then had a better chance to break the deadlock and he took it well. Eduardo somehow managed to hand Arsenal’s skipper a cheeky backheel pass in a very crowded penalty area and Fabregas stroke home with aplomb to put the Gunners ahead after 28 minutes.
Bolton continued to display their physical presence to thwart Arsenal as the visitors looked to take full control. And the match looked in danger of spilling over with Paul Robinson and Tomas Rosicky booked in quick succession for late challenges.
Coyle’s side had their best chance of the first half when Kevin Davies nodded on to Klasnic who delightfully flicked over William Gallas but could not get the ball out of his feet to beat Manuel Almunia.
Bolton came out from the break with a spring in their step and were soon in the ascendancy but Taylor could only shoot over after being played in on his preferred left foot by Klasnic. That same man Taylor went on to miss a couple more sitters as Arsenal continued to slack in defence.
The Gunners then responded and made the hosts pay dearly as Fabregas and Eduardo combined well to help Merida strike home with just 12 minutes to go.
Bolton did press for an unlikely dramatic finale but Arsenal withstood the pressure to keep their title ambitions on course with an advantageous game in hand against this same opposition coming up on Wednesday.
Good win boys! That’s how you win it! Away against a very physical team. Traore, made too many mistakes, and Almunia was sharp today! Now, let’s win the whole damn thing!
Go Gunners!
Another,3 Points in the bag, roll on Wednesday when I fully expect more of the same. We’ve a really tough fixture schedule coming up after that, which depending on the outcome may just decide our season. If Arsene brings in reinforcements, I can see us competing on all fronts until the season ends. C’mon you Gunners!
Welldone boys but don’t 4get let’s sign cos tougher teams ar ahead so as to rotate against fatigue.
I dont see us wining any title unless the boss stop shying to go to the T-market. We need some reinforcements whether its striker or midfield what about if Arshavin, Nasri and our captain get injured who on the bench to replace them. But if he buys a good striker then we are going to win the an expected.
Eastmond played well stepping into Song’s vacated position
Traore on the other hand was the weak point in our defense. He looked lost all game. Clichy’s return is a welcome sight
Time 18:55 – Just looking at the comments times it appears as though they were made brfore the match took place. Anyway, I am sure there is an explanation.
CONTRATULATIONS GUYS FOR A FIGHTING PERFORMANCE
Is it me or didn’t anyone else see the manhandling of Fab by the Bolton bully boys? They got away with a lot!
So what is Arshavin’s best position?
Well done Eastmond,played the DM role better than Diaby.
Traore should be a left-winger,positioning isn’t the best at the back.
Well done arsenal!
It was clearly a gritty performance from the team today that certainly gives us hope for the future.However,we should not break out the champagne just yet,because there is still a long way to go and the road is slippery.Caution is the word.I know AW is in the marketplace for reinforcement,but it will not be easy to find the right type of players.Let’s hope we can keep the injuries to a minimum.Now three more points on Wednesday to cement our position before the tough fixtures ahead.
How did Eastmond play? Is he a solid replacement for song during this time?
Good goal from Cesc and a great 1-2 with Dudu. I don’t see Arsene buying any major players during this window. Maybe a striker that can help with the cover but I don’t see it happening.
Arsene knows what he has and I trust him to make or not make any add ons. For everyone who says we need to buy we need to buy, take a look at our reserves and tell me that you are going to replace any of them. Arsen is loyal and I love him for that. So far we have done great without RVP and Nicky. Hell even without Cesc we have managed to win.
You scabs go support another team.
Traore and Arshavin were terrible! maybe Traore needs another loan move
Two Spanish “matano” the Bolton
Two gols have been enough “Catalan” to be right for the Bolton and the victories of Saturday gotten by the Chelsea (7 -2) and from the Manchester United (3 -0).
He has opened the “captain”, after a fantastic action to the limit of the area, he has closed the games the nineteen year-old Catalan Fran Merida, taken over in the resumption to give fluidity to a center of the field commanded more discreetly for a hour by the other “Wenger’s baby”, Craig Eastmond.
Victoria of fundamental importance for the Gunners, arrived after a game played with the correct concentration and the usual absences that are accompanying the walk of the gang of Arséne.
Well, but not very well, the defensive phase, and only a good day of Manuel Almunia has allowed the “red” of London to go out with the three points and the door inviolata of the Reebok Stadium.
With pleasure Gael Clichy is seen again; a fourth solo of now for the defending of Tolosa, a quarter of now that has allowed later to judge more positive the reentry.
In classification the distances from the “Blue’s” they are unchanged, 3 points, while from the “Red Devils” the separation remains of solos 2 points but with a competition to be recovered.
February is near by now, and the Gunners find again him in the warm zone of the classification with everything to gamble away.
In Birmingham (Aston Villa) will confirm or it will deny the ambitions of title of the men of Wenger, later it will begin the true championship of the Gunnerses:
30 January – Emirates Stadium – Arsenal-Manchester Utd
06 February – Stanford Bridge – Chelsea-Arsenal
09 February – Emirates Stadium – Arsenal-Liverpool
Il all before the going of the eighth ones of Champions League, scheduled 17/02, to Oporto against the lusitanis of the Porto.
Fans, impassioned or simply sick of Arsenal the beautiful one is about to start, and all of us will be there, ready to launch the heart over the obstacle.
gunners getting played off their own pitch for their game in hannd against bolton. denilson with a STUPID foul. 2-0 to bolton on 30 mins. this looks BAD.
and bolton is still running right at us.
gunners looks flat. this could be 4-0 before the half at this rate.