Arsenal 2-0 Bolton – 20/10/07 – (Premier League) 21 October, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Premiership.trackback
Again, not the prettiest of wins, but we’re grinding out results. And results are what counts. Bolton still look the same sort of physical side there were under Fat Sam but lacking the any talent they once had or the ability to create good football. They’ve been our bogey side over recent years and I would always dread to trip to the Reebok Stadium but times have changed.
Yesterday they still found enough in them to hold us back and not let us create anything. This was mostly achieved by getting all their players behind the ball and kicking us. We did kick back though; Cesc was lucky not to be sent off to two yellows in quick succession.
Nothing was really going our way in the first half, everything we tried was just going nowhere and it was frustrating to watch. It was pretty much the team I expected but Eboue started ahead of Rosicky and Hleb switched to the left. Eboue didn’t have a great game to be honest, he was making some decent runs but his passing and composure was lacking at times and I think he realised it. The best chance in the first 45 was probably right towards the end when Adebayor had a good chance for a header but he didn’t get enough on it and we went in 0-0 at the break. Hleb was decent out wide but he only really made an impact on the game when he was moved centrally at the start of the second half. This is when things started to work for us.
Wenger said he saw there wasn’t much space in the opposition half and thought that Hleb’s ball control would be better than Eduardo’s goal scoring instinct in the middle. Eddy moved out to the left wing but did cut inside when he got the chance. Right from kick off we nearly got the opener. Eboue found himself with the ball on the right; he cut into the box and lashed a shot way over the bar. The crowd’s reaction can’t have helped his confidence and he was substituted along with Eduardo just after the hour. Before that though Cesc took a long-range shot which the ‘keeper did well to save; however from my seat I could see the shot was going over anyway.
Eduardo and Eboue were replaced by Rosicky and Walcott. These changes turned the game in our favour; Tomas’ flair and control with Theo’s pace and skill was too much for the tiring Bolton defence and we were creating chances. However, we still weren’t at our best and I did worry if we would find that goal. In the end it came from a set piece. With 22 minutes left we won a free kick 25-30 yards out and you could see Toure fancied it. We’ve all seen his powerful efforts before but he has yet to score one. This time his shot was low and accurate sneaking into the bottom-left corner beating Jaaskelainen. Kolo’s celebration was almost as wild as the 60,000 relieved Gooners.
Once that goal went in it was really game over for the visitors. They hadn’t created much at all in the game up to now and it looked like we were going to take the win. They had to push forward though and we were then able to pick them apart with ease. Walcott was getting down the right well and creating chances. Adebayor had a decent chance one-on-one but fell over. And Clichy blasted a shot from the left but it wasn’t on target.
We did make sure of the points in the 81st minute when we got the valuable second goal. The two substitutions combined to score a nice, easy goal. Walcott got the ball on the right, drove forward and played a cheeky little low cross which Rosicky just managed to meet. It was a smart little finish from Tomas and that was it, 2-0, no way back for Bolton now, 3 points in the bag.
As I said, it wasn’t the greatest performance, but we came away with the win. Since West Ham I don’t really think we’ve been our normal selves; that good form we had has gone. However, we’ve still won every single game since then, and that’s the difference from last year. We’ve got Liverpool next weekend which will take a good performance but before that it’s Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Preview to come. See ya.
Theo needs to be used as an pure striker in the carling cup against a weaker team like sheffield. Its obivious dat in previous teams his pace was used to unlock undefences NOT skills as such. Wenger in many ways is probably the first to attempt to teach him ALL the required skills to be a world beater.
The high expection is unfair, because in many ways he is behind in development.
The dividends are now starting to be paid. The intellect is there, it will take time but he is really starting to hone those skills.
Helb was excellent yesterday. I cant believe dat in many cases other team supporters regard he as woeful, i have heard truly terrible opionions of him – describing him as in the worse players of the season!
Even on respectable and good podcasts such as okeydokeyfootball.
The madness of it all
gr8 win for us .. more for the psyche as we had to overcome staunch opponents who’s main tactic was to foul and bring down players as much as they can to stop the flow of the game .. nevertheless, we came out on top .. gr8 game for walcott .. would have loved to see ade and eduardo have a better game ..
complete highlights should be up in 10 mins ..
Nonesense, I was at the game and we are looking more assured with each match. Our possession and ability to win the ball back is as high as it has ever been. Sure, we have some way to go to be as efficient as we have been at time under Arsene but, with performances such as the cameo by Theo, we are well on our way!
C’mon you reds
FANTASTIC game. THAT’s all i can say!! We lifted the game in second half. GLAD that one of Toure’s rockets went in. HOpefully Eduardo will shed off some rust. Walcott will be pushing hard for first team. Good win.. great goals.. another precious three points.
if we keep playing like this we will be ustopable and not even teams like chelsea manu or barcelona in europe will beabull tu stop us.But we must remember that we havent won anything yet, there we must keep our heads focust and not get carried away to soon.Never the less i have big faith in this young and talented arsenal team and i truly think we can win all three trophies. COME ON YOU GOONERS.
let the rotatin begin. I hope diaby and diarra get a run-out for the CL
Great win. Much needed too. Just looking at our fixtures …. 6 of the 9 league games so far have been at home. Of our next 9 league games 5 are away from home. That will be a right test of our away form and will tell us a lot of how our season might pan out. If we come through those games still unbeaten and with 20 or more points then we will be in a great position to challenge for the title i feel. December will be one killer month where we will need the whole of the sqaud to be playing well whenever called upon.
Rough, but good match I thought. Was that truly confusion between Fabregas and Flamini on setting up that free kick, or were they just trying to throw off the defense? It looked to be the latter, but it was funny to watch either way. 25 yards on the ground and it still got past Jaaskelainen. Nice shot. The flick in by Tomas from Walcott was pretty sweet too. Great footwork by Theo to make that happen, and a nice feeder up from Hleb to get it to him.
If Campo wanted to, could he throw a ball clear across the pitch?
I just hope Diarra plays against Slavia tomorrow.
I have only seen him play in one carling cup match, in which he played brilliantly, I would also love to see Gilberto in the starting XI.
He is a brazilian Stevie G.
He gives protection to the team, and plays with passion and flare.
This would be my starting XI vs. Slavia:
Almunia
Sagna Touré Gallas Clichy
Hleb Diarra Gilberto Rosicky
Adebayor Eduardo
Bench – Fabianski, Cesc, Bendtner, Walcott, Diaby
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Whats Van Persie doing in the picture? I thought he was injured