Bolton Impress As Arsenal Gift Customary Opener

Well Arsenal let the opposition score the opening goal at the Emirates YET AGAIN as we came back against a well organised Bolton side who probably could have nicked the win.

Sunday was an example of how much Alexander Hleb keeps the team moving and how important he is to the team with his runs and short passes. We severely missed him against Bolton and they found it pretty easy to defend against us – I’m don’t think their keeper had that many saves to make!

So Theo Walcott started and before the game you could see why as the kid needed an injection of confidence a start would give him, but he couldn’t really get into the game. The other winger Rosicky did okay, and made some smart runs but at the vital times over hit his passes or mis-placed them.

It was a performance where Arsenal were not at their fluent best, and a game where all their good work against Liverpool could have gone to waste – if it wasn’t for Kolo Toure’s header 10 minutes from time.

As usual, Bolton played long diagonal balls to Davies on the right which Clichy couldn’t handle and Anelka always offered a threat on the break and they actually had the majority of possession in the first half!

Which is amazing since Arsenal were at home!

But that just showed what we miss in Gilberto’s absence. And without Hleb linking the midfield to the attack Adebayor and Henry had very little service.

I haven’t been a fan of Aliadiere but he should have started on the right side instead of Walcott, and Baptista looked good in the centre next to Fabregas when he came on. He has been scoring goals for fun recently, is strong in midfield and offers a threat in the air so I was surprised he didn’t start the match.

And now we have to visit the Reebok Stadium in an already congested fixture list.

But on the bright side we’re still in the draw and if we get through we wll be at home to another Premiership side – this time Blackburn Rovers.

And I also noticed that Chelsea have either Norwich or Blackpool in the next round. The difference between Chelsea and Arsenal’s run in the FA Cup could not be further apart! IF we can beat Bolton and Blackburn I wouldn’t be surprised if our next opponents were Manchester United!

 

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