In the week leading up to this game, Bolton sacked their coach, and replaced him with Archie Knox, who used to be Alex Ferguson's assistant at Aberdeen and Manchester United. Never a good time to play a team, when they have a new coach, and particularly one whose first aim will be to tighten Bolton up defensively. The Bolton that we all know and hate, were sure to make an appearance. The day was deceptively warm and sunny, despite there being leaves on the ground, a hint of a cold bite in the air, and some menacing looking black clouds around - but in the sunshine, it really was a very nice (and unseasonably warm) day. The first half of the game was utterly unremarkable. Not much in the way of chances, shots, corners, or much decent football to write home about. Bolton had 10 men behind the ball whenever Arsenal were in posession, and were getting stuck in with some robust tackles. Mike Riley was predictably being weak when it came to punishing the fouls that came Arsenal's way, and midway through the first half, seemed to be losing control of the game somewhat. He was bottling the important decisons about booking Bolton players, and instead made the stupid decision to book Cesc Fabregas for his reaction to one particularly nasty foul. OK, players shouldn't get involved with dissent and afters, but it really does make you wonder why referees seem to punish dangerous tackles in exactly the same was as the (understandable) angry reaction to them.
Anyway, the talk at half time was about how generally dire the game was - certainly not a classic, and Arsenal looked slightly jaded, like they had forgotten to play together during their fortnight away for internationals. Luckily, the second half was better. Bolton's defending stayed as resolute as ever, but fortunately, Arsenal were up to the task of getting through them. The first 20 minutes of the second half looked like a slow building of pressure - Bolton players were running around a lot, and it looked like they had a couple of players more than us at some points. But, a fantastic double substitution on the hour mark, changed the game. Arsenal had been busy tiring the Bolton players out, and when Rosicky and Walcott were introduced, it was clear that the extra injection of class was something that their tired legs couldn't cope with.
The first goal was one that was long overdue, both in the match, and for Kolo Toure. On many occasions over the last few years, we have had a free kick around 30 or 35 yards out from goal, and knocked it square for Toure to fire a thunderbolt towards the goal. Usually, they either hit the wall, or practically go into orbit. This time, the shot arrowed into the bottom corner. We'd all been waiting for one of them to go in, so the reaction was pandemonium, and Kolo himself was jumping around like a madman in celebration.
Once Arsenal had scored, it was all downhill from there. I don't remember Almunia having anything all that difficult to do all game, and even once we were a goal up, Bolton still didn't threaten much. Adebayor had a comedy miss, where he was one-on-one with the keeper, and contrived to take the ball wide, then fall over in the most amusing fashion imaginable, on the corner of the six yard box. Then, one of many surging and exciting runs from Theo Walcott, ended with a brilliant ball in across the back of the defence, and a great finish from Rosicky for a well-deserved goal. Game over, and Arsenal's momentum restored.
With the next 2 league games against Liverpool (away), and Manchester United (at home), this was a game where a win, of any kind, was needed - and it was great that we managed to get it. Four points from the next 2 games would be a decent return, 2 or 3 points wouldn't be too shabby either, but beating Bolton was needed in the run up to an important couple of weeks.
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