Bolton Wanderers 3 – 1 Arsenal
Ground: The Reebok Stadium | Attendance: 24,409 | Referee: Mike Dean
- [9] Faye – Bolton
- [45+2] Anelka – Bolton
- [45+4] Silva – Arsenal
- [76] Anelka – Bolton
An early headed goal by Abdoulaye Faye took The Wanderers ahead, boosting team confidence. It was a much needed boost as Bolton had only gain 1 point from 9 so far this month and had not won a match since their visit to Ewood Park on October 22nd.
Bolton pressured The Gunners who were forced to defend deep in their own half. The Arsenal defence often seemed panicked and clearances from the box tended to fall to well positioned Bolton players who we ready to launch the ball back dangerously into the Arsenal penalty box.
Nicolas Anelka finally got his first Premiership goal for The Wanderers with an impressive shot from 25 yards after receiving a procise pass from Kevin Davies.
Bolton’s second came in the 47 minute of the first half that never seemed to be coming to an end. Indeed there was enough time for Gilberto Silva to pull one back in the 4th minute of injury time, The Wanderers seemed to have fallen asleep as the tall Brazillian headed in Fabregas cross.
In the second half Arsenal looked more determined and managed to muster more shots, three of which were saved by the woodwork. Other shots were either saved by Bolton’s ‘keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen or deblt with by confident defenders.
Anelka’s second goal was created with a long pass by a very observant Ivan Campo who directed the ball diagonally across the pitch the former Arsenal striker who hit another great shot past a bewildered Jens Lehmann.
Overall, Bolton played some wonderful flowing football and managed to keep Arsenal in defensive mode for much of the 90 minutes. The second half saw the visits show a little more gusto and they battled for an equaliser which escaped them because of confident defending and goalkeeping, and the woodwork of course.
A very entertaining game if you’re a Wanderer but a long trip home to north London for the Gooners who ventured north, who will doubtless agree with manager, Arsene Wenger, “it is a big blow to lose.”
Wenger also admitted that, “this team can improve a lot defensively I think.”
Meanwhile a happy Allardyce commented:
“Nicolas scored two goals and it would have been a shame to waste the first one. It has to be contender for goal of the season, never mind of the month.
“Unfortunately we got caught up in the emotion and allowed Arsenal to get back in the game. But then Nicolas popped up again when we needed it the most and finished Arsenal off.
“Players do tend to give a bit extra when they face their former clubs. He wanted to show what a good striker he is and he certainly did that today.”
Bolton can now look forward to Chelsea coming up north midweek as the battle to get back into Europe continues.
