Arsenal kept their faint title dreams alive with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bolton at Emirates Stadium.
Gunners overcome plucky Trotters
Arsenal kept their faint title dreams alive with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bolton at Emirates Stadium.
Nicklas Bendtner proved to be the hero of the day, stepping off the bench to grab an 84th minute winner.
The Gunners would have expected to face stubborn resistance from a notoriously difficult to break down Trotters outfit, and were not disappointed.
The hosts did dominate possession throughout the opening period, but were unable to carve open any clear sights of goal.
A flashing volley from Robin van Persie, which flew inches over, was as close as either side came during a dire first half.
The action improved slightly after the break, with Bolton providing more in terms of an attacking threat.
It was, however, the Gunners who continued to control proceedings and they came agonisingly close to forcing a breakthrough when Van Persie struck a post with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Just as it was looking as though their efforts would be in vain, Van Persie lobbed a delicate cross towards the back post and Bendtner was on hand to slide home a crucial winner.
Bright
Arsenal made a bright start as a light fog descended on the Emirates.
On 12 minutes, Samir Nasri picked out Van Persie on the penalty spot - who flicked the ball up and sent a first-time snapshot just over.
A mix-up between Kolo Toure - returning to captain the side following injury and rumours of a training-ground bust-up which led to a transfer request - and keeper Manuel Almunia on the edge of the Arsenal area almost let in Johan Elmander, but Johan Djourou was alert enough to clear the loose ball.
The home side were soon back on the offensive, with Andrew O'Brien heading out a cross from Van Persie as Emmanuel Adebayor loitered with intent in the six-yard box.
Bolton - who named only three outfield players on the bench - continued to offer little in the way of an attacking threat, with only Elmander deployed in the Arsenal half in a very deep 4-5-1 and failed to deal with a left-wing free-kick after Denilson had been fouled by Kevin Davies.
The ball dropped for Van Persie at the edge of the box, and his volley flew just over.
On 38 minutes, Bolton were forced into a change when Elmander limped off and, eventually, Mustapha Riga came on and Davies moved into attack.
Arsenal continued to press, but were unable to unlock the wall of white shirts which surrounded the visitors' penalty area.
At the start of the second half, Van Persie weaved his way to the goalline on the right, and forced an early corner. However, the delivery to the near post was poor and Bolton cleared.
Arsenal had claims for a penalty waved away when Jlloyd Samuel controlled the ball with what looked like a combination of shoulder and chest.
Flair
Gunners keeper Almunia was finally called into action on 53 minutes when Matthew Taylor looped a header goalwards after a deep ball into the box from the right.
The home side continued to camp out in the Bolton half, but lacked the flair to open up the back four.
Gael Clichy's run and cross from the left fell to Adebayor but, although the big African turned his marker, the shot lacked power and was easily gathered by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
A golden chance then fell to Adebayor as he was picked out in the right side of the penalty area by a superb slide-rule pass from Nasri.
However, the Togo forward took too long setting up the shot, and O'Brien made a magnificent block.
It seemed as though it was just not Arsenal's day as, on 70 minutes, Van Persie weaved his way into the area and stabbed the ball past the keeper - only for it to rebound off the post.
Toure's long-range effort was saved at full stretch by Jaaskelainen as Arsenal continued to press before Gavin McCann was booked for persistent fouling and Emmanuel Eboue was replaced by Arsenal striker Bendtner, whose first touch almost produced a goal from a downward header.
Bolton sent on Temitope Obadeyi for substitute Riga - who stormed off down the tunnel - in a bizarre tactical switch by manager Gary Megson.
Then, the visitors' resistance was finally broken with six minutes left when Van Persie floated the ball over from the left and Bendtner arrived at the far post to volley under Jaaskelainen.
| Arsenal |
Team Statistics |
Bolton Wanderers |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
0 |
| 7 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 5 |
Corners |
0 |
| 16 |
Fouls |
16 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 87.9 |
Passing Success |
61.1 |
| 16 |
Tackles |
24 |
| 50 |
Tackles Success |
83.3 |
| 76.5 |
Possession |
23.5 |
| 69.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
30.1 |
|
