Bolton v. Arsenal 0-2 17/Jan/09

The starlet seems to be on his way to sign a new contract.
[Photo: Jon Super/AP via Guardian]


DOUBLE BOLTON FEATURE: PART ONE


After a week of speculation in the latest transfer window, the Gunners assured a two-goal win away against a hapless Bolton side, who looked more aggressive than brilliant. With the entrance of Owen Coyle an apparent calm was looming in the Trotters as they saw a chance to improve their effort to leave relegation. One of the biggest news and a promise to look forward in the match was the inclusion of Sol Campbell -- rather than the re-inclusion of Fábregas after his injury at Villa.
Another one of his stunning displays will secure the Spaniard a solid place in the next World Cup and could sparkle that revolution which every Gooner intends to watch. Whether his arrival can or cannot change the face of this team is yet difficult to assure but if one thing is certain is that the other player, the English centre-back will give an enormous boost of leadership and experience, which sometimes seems to be lost in the mist of Arsenal's locker room.
Even when the danger of the threat that Bolton could impose, the engagement is not yet finished, when the Gunners face the Trotters in a double feature, common to this site at several stages over the last three seasons. The outcome of these pair of encounters should be more than interesting.



The Spaniard, with the lead.
[Photo: via Ian Hodgson via Daily Mirror]


The hectic pace in which the Gunners were involved by the home team lasted at least twenty minutes. In that time-span, Bolton's Finnish goalkeeper denied Cesc in two chances. Even with the powerful display of the Londoners, there were several leaks in the defence such as the enormous gap that Armand Traore gave away. Again the inconsistency of Almunia proved wrong believers right since a some scrappy defending nearly gave the Wanderers the lead.
Nevertheless Arsenal found their victorious way when an on-fire Fábregas grabbed another -- the goal came as he shot to defeat Jaaskelainen. Even with the respite of the Londoners, the inclusion of the young Craig Eastmond proved to be handy to replace Song, rather than Denilson. The aggressive and ridiculous harsh tackles by some of Coyle's players came back as an old déjà vu; particularly annoying were the efforts from Taylor, who could have been sent off as well as Rosicky.



Owen Coyle's homecoming was not really pleasant.
[Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images via Soccernet]


With no further ado, the visitors again started the second half -- as many of their visiting games -- with distress and a lack of focus, particularly in midfield. Advances by Bolton's midfield proved to be difficult to punch back. The London defence conceded a priceless opportunity to Taylor, who put the ball into the lowest orbit around the earth. With the early substitution of Eastmond the question of the holding midfielder remained, as Diaby covered the young Englishman's position.
After a couple of substitutions, and with the game waning in time, the Londoners were able to repel and counter; in the 78th minute, Cesc again made a marvelous in-control run down left midfield which landed in the feet of Mérida, who without hesitation, shot past Jaaskelainen. The final minutes seemed a mere watch, with the tie already in the grasp of the visitors.