Arsenal 4 - 1 Thugs (Bolton)

So three wins out of four so far this season, and we are looking in good shape. We started the game with a high tempo and created numerous chances early on. One particular chance came from a fine through ball from Thomas "outside of the foot" Rosicky which put Arshavin through one on one. Unfortunately Arshavin fluffed the chance, as well as another couple of chances laid on by Fabregas. However it seemed just a matter of time for the goal to arrive as Bolton were playing a high line which was getting cut open repeatedly by Fabregas and Rosicky. In the end it was Wilshere who delivered a deep left footed cross which Fabregas got on the end of to square it across for Koscielny to bundle over the line for his first Arsenal goal.

However soon after Bolton got the equaliser from a long hoof which was headed on and Koscileny inexplicably headed into the path of Lee, who showed cood composure to chip to the back post for Elmander to head in. It was poor defending and frustrating to go in level after dominating the first half.



Second half we came out well and Chamakh got on the scoresheet after heading in a cross from Fabregas. Then came the moment of controversy when Song fouled Lee on the edge of the Arsenal box but the ref. waved played on leading to a breakaway down the left. The ball came to Chamakh who flicked it back to put Arshavin away only for Cahill to clatter him off the pitch with a lunge from behind. The referee brought play back and sent off Cahill for what was probably more of a yellow card tackle. It was game over from that point really. We were dominating the midfield at that point and the 3rd goal came when Song made a forward run into the box and took a great first touch past the defender and somehow squeezed the ball in at the near post over the keeper from a tight angle. Vela came off the bench and did his usual rounding off the scoring after a long chain of passes ended with Fabregas chipping another ball over the Bolton defence and Vela finishing smartly.

Overall a good solid display and we showed good strength in spite of some blatant thuggery from Owen Coyle's supposedly changed Bolton side. I'm surprised Bolton can have any complaints over the referee sending off Cahill considering the referee let two much worse tackles go unpunished. Kevin Davies, already on a yellow for a studs up tackle on Wilshere, launched into Koscileny as he headed clear with no intention of getting the ball. It was a stright red challenge in my opinion but the ref gave nothing. Then after the Cahill red card, Paul Robinson jumped in at Diaby clearly over the ball and smashed into his leg, forcing Diaby to leave the pitch having just come on. There really is no place for these type of tackles and it's shocking that they can go by unpunished. I wouldn't be surprised if Diaby is out for a long time after that one and you could see he was incensed by the tackle immediately after. Even more shocking is that these two tackles got no discussion after the game, there weren't even shown on match of the day, and I gave up on seeing any proper debate of the game on sky sports goals on Sunday when I saw who their special guest was - of course Owen Coyle. Instead all the talk will be on poor Bolton who got Cahill sent off unjustly, while Diaby is possibly facing the propect of spending months in recovery.

One good thing is that we didn't fold under Bolton's blatant spoiling tackles, and I think the defence held up well overall. Squillaci looks quite solid at first impression, he reminds me of a younger Carvalho almost. I think Koscielny could do with a few quiet games now to settle in, as in his first three games he has now scored a goal, been at fault for two goals, got a red card, been stretchered off and nearly knocked out! A word too for Fabregas too who was looking back to his best providing great through balls all game.

We now have Bolton and Blackburn out of the way, so hopefully we can look forward to some good games with opponents whose sole aim is not to foul/upset/inure anything in a red shirt. Its Braga in the champions league up next in mid week,

See you then,

Mr F