Bolton 1 – 3 Arsenal – Match Report
Arsenal went to the top of the Premiership table this evening, sealing a 3-1 victory away at Bolton.
Going into the late kick-off match at the Reebok, Arsenal will have known that a victory would lead them to 1st position, after Liverpool were held to a draw at home to Stoke City, with Chelsea and Man Utd facing off tomorrow.
Here’s how Arsenal lined up:
Almunia,
Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy (Djourou 46)
Eboue (Ramsey 85), Fabregas, Song, Denilson
Adebayor, Bendtner (Walcott 73)
It wasn’t plain sailing for Arsenal, as Bolton used their physical and height advantage to take the lead early on, when Davies headed in from a corner.
Arsenal responded to the goal quickly, heaping pressure on Bolton, showing some of their excellent recent form and creating plenty of space in midfield.
Bolton were looking very stretched when Adebayor got through one on one with the keeper, but his shot hit the post.
Arsenal hit the opposite post soon after, Song this time getting up for the header from a corner.
The pressure was to pay off for Arsenal as Eboue scored the equaliser after an excellent move, Fabregas giving Bendtner the ball on the edge of the box, Bendtner then slotting the ball in towards Adebayor in the box. Eboue charged onto it ahead of Adebayor though, and smashed the ball in at the near post. It was apparent, however, that when Bendtner played the ball through, Eboue was offside. Still the linesman kept his flag down and the referee allowed the goal. After the penalty for Kiev in midweek, we’ll say win some, lose some…
Arsenal kept the pressure on Bolton and scored again almost immediately after the first goal, Bendtner sliding to get a toe on to Denilson’s cross at the end of another great passing attack from Arsenal.
Arsenal went in at half time 2-1 ahead but without Gael Clichy, who had been taken out of the game when Kevin Davies lunged in with his studs on Clichy’s shins. It was a pretty horrible challenge, Davies definitely lucky to only get a yellow card.
Djourou came on to replace Clichy at half time. For the majority of the second half Arsenal were not looking so confident, and Bolton were able to get a lot more of the ball and create a few chances.
They weren’t able to come up with a goal though and Arsenal started to show some great passing and movement again.
Walcott came on for Bendtner 15 minutes before the end and immediately made an impact with his pace. Walcott broke out after a Bolton attack, bringing the ball speedily down the middle of the pitch and with Bolton stuggingly to keep up, slid an excellent pass to Adebayor on the right wing who crossed in a lovely ball to Denilson’s feet at the back post, Denilson solidly thumping the ball into the net.
3 goals and 3 points then as Arsenal came from behind to win after a tough game in Kiev on Wednesday. 
Tags: arsenal, Bendtner, bolton, davies, denilson, eboue, walcott
