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Arsenal 1 Bolton 0: Match Report & Player Ratings
Saturday, 10 January 09, 02:28 PM · Comments(17)
Of Arsenal's eleven, only Denlison and Van Persie refrained from wearing their mittens. Bless.
On 6, a fine lofted ball by the latest Arsenal captain, Kolo Toure, is hit over the Bolton defence, but Van Persie is offside. Moronic Bolton midfielder Kevin Davies is then censured for sticking his arm in Clichy's face. It was nice of Davies not to disappoint us.
The first 10 minutes are dull. A good low cross from Eboue enters the Bolton area only to find two Arsenal players in the vicinity. Just two players in the box, at home - must win game - it speaks volumes for Wenger's tactics.
On 12, Nasri tries a long ranger that lands between Van Persie's legs. Van Persie adjusts but spoons over.
On 6, a fine lofted ball by the latest Arsenal captain, Kolo Toure, is hit over the Bolton defence, but Van Persie is offside. Moronic Bolton midfielder Kevin Davies is then censured for sticking his arm in Clichy's face. It was nice of Davies not to disappoint us.
The first 10 minutes are dull. A good low cross from Eboue enters the Bolton area only to find two Arsenal players in the vicinity. Just two players in the box, at home - must win game - it speaks volumes for Wenger's tactics.
On 12, Nasri tries a long ranger that lands between Van Persie's legs. Van Persie adjusts but spoons over.
A minute later and Bolton punt a long ball from defence that bounces over Toure's head - mistake no 1., Almunia then comes miles out of goal and collides with Toure,
doubling the defensive error. Arsenal escape.
Van Persie and Nasri look threatening, but they're overplaying.
Davies takes out Denilson on 23, deliberately treading on his foot
On 24, Almunia makes another bad judgement. With Djourou 10 yards from Almunia's left-hand post, the keeper rushes out to sweep up a ball that Djourou is fully in control
of.
No communication. More clueless goalkeeping.
27, and Davies pushes Denilson in the back, free-kick but still the referee refuses to act by booking the antagonist.
Arsenal have most of the possession, but their play is mechanical, predictable.
On 30, Clichy jumps all over Davies in an act of retribution. Meanwhile, the cameras spot that the floodlights have fallen asleep - a bit like the rest of us.
33, Clichy needlessly clatters Davies again giving away a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Clichy should know better, but he has a peanut for a brain. Bolton's most likely
source of a goal is from a set-piece and Arsenal can't deal with set pieces, so why give petulant free-kicks away 30 yards from goal?
At last some entertainment on 38, when Diaby smashes a cross into Ricardo Gardner's face, poleaxing him. Then, just before half time, in an act of pure desperation, Van Persie flings himself to the ground in the box and subsequently pretends he's injured in the hope it might add credence to his behaviour.
At last some entertainment on 38, when Diaby smashes a cross into Ricardo Gardner's face, poleaxing him. Then, just before half time, in an act of pure desperation, Van Persie flings himself to the ground in the box and subsequently pretends he's injured in the hope it might add credence to his behaviour.
The first half comes to a diabolical close. Bolton keeper Jussi Jasskelainen not tested once. The team booed off.
Three minutes into the second half and the Bolton defenders are laughing, having fun. Arsenal are so easy to defend against. Rarely do more than two Gunners enter the box
at the same time and any crosses that do come in are hit and hope.
On 51, Mustapha Riga crosses and Matthew Taylor predictably outjumps Toure and headers towards the Arsenal goal. Almunia dives to his left to save.
60. Nasri swaps places with Diaby the diabolical.
61. Davies flashes a ball across Arsenal's box, which comes to nothing.
62. Clichy cross find Adebayor, who turns and virtually passes the ball into Jasskelainen's arms.
62. Clichy cross find Adebayor, who turns and virtually passes the ball into Jasskelainen's arms.
Vela comes on for Diaby.
On 64, a super Nasri ball carves open the Bolton's defence and finds Adebayor, but he takes three touches before shooting allowing Andy O'Brien to block the strike. Should have scored.
On 64, a super Nasri ball carves open the Bolton's defence and finds Adebayor, but he takes three touches before shooting allowing Andy O'Brien to block the strike. Should have scored.
Vela's movement alone has stretched the Bolton defence, however, and on 69 Adebayor links up well with Van Persie who turns exquisitely in the box and pokes the ball
goalwards. Unfortunately, it strikes the post and bounces wide.
On 70, a 40-yard screamer from Toure takes a deflection that stretches Jasskelainen fully.
The Emirates crowd start to get behind Arsenal, which spurs them on, Nasri crosses for Adebayor cleared by Danny Shittu, who has won about 20 headers.
74, Bendtner comes on for Eboue. A Nasri free-kick is headed goalwards by Bendtner within five seconds of appearing, but there's not enough power to trouble the keeper.
Bendtner lacks confidence, evident in a five minute spell of particularly bad passing from the Dane.
On 82, Toure marauds into the box, cuts back for Bendtner - but he fluffs his shot. Groans are audible, but soon turn to cheers as one minute later Van Persie sends a fine cross in from the wide left position, Bendtner comes in unmarked and fires past Jasskelainen. 1-0 Arsenal!!!
On 82, Toure marauds into the box, cuts back for Bendtner - but he fluffs his shot. Groans are audible, but soon turn to cheers as one minute later Van Persie sends a fine cross in from the wide left position, Bendtner comes in unmarked and fires past Jasskelainen. 1-0 Arsenal!!!
Three minutes later and Bolton are almost level as Davies finds space in the Arsenal box but skews it from 9 yards.
Adebayor is then replaced by Ramsey for the final few minutes, but the Welsh boy almost immediately gives away a silly free-kick 30 yards out, Almunia punches the resulting cross. Then Ramsey tries to dribble past three players in injury time when Vela is available in 30 yards of space. He promptly loses the ball and gets booked trying to win it back.
It was a brainless, needless substitution by Wenger which could have easily backfired.
Arsenal emerge victorious, but it was a depressingly familiar performance - highlighted by Arsenal's quite dreadful midfield. Only Nasri looked remotely talented. Still, with Aston Villa beating West Brom 2-1, Arsenal badly needed the three points and just about deserved them against a talentless, unambitious Bolton side with so many injuries and suspensions they couldn't even name a full bench.
Almunia (5)
Hardly tested, but that didn't stop him creating problems for himself.
Sagna (7)
Good performance.
Toure (6)
Had a couple of nervy moments but brought the ball out from the back well.
Djourou (6)
Did what little he had to do without too much fuss.
Clichy (6)
Defended well, but his crossing was mostly abysmal.
Eboue (5)
Offered next-to-nothing as an attacking midfielder.
Denilson (5)
Well below par. Played in Fabregas' position but delivered nothing but square passes.
Diaby (5)
Put quite a few tackles in, most of them mistimed, otherwise poor.
Nasri (6)
Looked bright enough in the first half, but dropped a level in the second.
Sagna (7)
Good performance.
Toure (6)
Had a couple of nervy moments but brought the ball out from the back well.
Djourou (6)
Did what little he had to do without too much fuss.
Clichy (6)
Defended well, but his crossing was mostly abysmal.
Eboue (5)
Offered next-to-nothing as an attacking midfielder.
Denilson (5)
Well below par. Played in Fabregas' position but delivered nothing but square passes.
Diaby (5)
Put quite a few tackles in, most of them mistimed, otherwise poor.
Nasri (6)
Looked bright enough in the first half, but dropped a level in the second.
Adebayor (4)
Almost non-existant. When he did turn up made a mess of two efforts.
Van Persie (7) STAR MAN
The only Arsenal player worthy of plaudits. But even then Van Persie tended to overplay and his finishing was erratic
SUBS
Bendtner (6)
Put a good chance away otherwise looked out of sorts as usual.
Vela (6)
His work off the ball and attacking instincts helped open the game up in the last 30 minutes.
Ramsey (3)
Nearly dropped Arsenal in it by continually giving away needless fouls in the last five minutes. A silly substitution.
Almost non-existant. When he did turn up made a mess of two efforts.
Van Persie (7) STAR MAN
The only Arsenal player worthy of plaudits. But even then Van Persie tended to overplay and his finishing was erratic
SUBS
Bendtner (6)
Put a good chance away otherwise looked out of sorts as usual.
Vela (6)
His work off the ball and attacking instincts helped open the game up in the last 30 minutes.
Ramsey (3)
Nearly dropped Arsenal in it by continually giving away needless fouls in the last five minutes. A silly substitution.
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