Bolton 2-3 Arsenal: Just In Time For Recovery

Match Report by KevlineFm

A string of draws added to the defeat at Chelsea last week delighted press and critics around the world. Of course Arsenal fans are infuriated by such “delight” as Fabregas openly admitted that “everyone hates Arsenal”. Just like Fabregas, we at Gunners Live do not understand such a scenario which is very ironic and depressing. Bolton next for Arsenal, as Arsenal try their best to salvage something since the crucial and untimely turning point at Birmingham.

First Half:

The Reebok Stadium hasn’t been Arsenal’s favourite hunting ground since ages ago, especially in season 2002/03 when we officially threw our title away by drawing there 2-2. This time around Arsenal return to this stadium with possibly one finger on the title only and after a string of below par results, a win is desperately needed.

Almunia
Toure - Gallas - Senderos - Clichy
Hleb - Fabregas - Flamini - Diaby
 RvP - Bendtner

Arsenal started the game with the above formation as we told you that Sagna is out so a reshuffle at the back was done by placing Senderos and Gallas in the middle while Toure was pushed to right back. Arsenal performed brightly in the early minutes of the game. Robin van Persie and Bendtner combined well to threaten Bolton’s goal mouth a few times but without any end product.

The pouring seems to add more challenge to the game, making things even more difficult when Taylor of Bolton scored the first goal via a cross from the right. 1-0 to Bolton, against the run of play. If that didn’t hurt the Gunners fans much, Diaby did something to ignite the wound as he was sent off after a bad challenge on Steinsson. Later on in the first half, the 2nd goal came for Bolton and it more or less meant that Arsenal were officially out of the title race.

Second Half:

Taylor’s double smashed Arsenal’s confidence and that could be seen in the early minutes of 2nd half when Bolton nearly put the 3rd and totally killed Arsenal off. A few attempts by Bolton luckily went unsuccessful. Seeing the danger of losing the game, Wenger immediately initiated his substitutions, with Adebayor replacing Bendtner. In between the first goal and Bendtner’s substitution also saw Walcott replacing Senderos and thus signalling a change of tactical formation to the following one.

Almunia
Toure - Gallas - Clichy
Fabregas - Flamini
Walcott - Hleb - RvP
 Adebayor

Inclusion of Walcott (our new Player of the Week) and Adebayor added some momentum into Arsenal’s game and soon, came the first goal for Arsenal as Gallas tucked the ball into the net from a Fabregas corner which was missed by Campo. The second also came quickly. Prior to the goal, a superb play involved Adebayor, who ran into the box, back-heeled to Flamini whose shot was then blocked. Hleb went for the rebound but was instead fouled in the penalty box. RvP took the penalty kick chance and scored the 2nd with his sweet left foot.

Since then, Arsenal had been threatening Bolton to get a winner. RvP had a few chances but he did not bury them. In a desperate attempt to get back into the title race, the final nail in the coffin for Bolton arrived just in time before the full time whistle. Clichy picked out Hleb who was running into the box. Hleb then cut back into the middle where both Fabregas and RvP were at. Fabregas got the touch of the ball, which then took 2 deflections and rolled across the goal line. The greatest comeback this season was completed with the full time whistle blown.

Indeed, it took Arsenal a lot of effort, spirit and energy to win such a game. Arsenal fans at the Reebok were ecstatic and super delighted as their team has somehow recovered before the crucial Champions League tie against Liverpool.