Bolton’s dismal form at the emirates continued at Saturday with another sending off costing us dearly. The game could of been completely different from the first few minutes had the Arsenal keeper not kept out a header from Darren Pratley. It turned out to be the norm for Bolton though as they ultimately came up short again conceding another 3 goals in the process and losing David Wheater for the next 3 games.
Bolton started the better team with Wojciech Szczesny pulling off an impressive one handed save to deny Bolton the 1-0 lead. Arsenal didn’t really do anything of note in the first half with a possible chance for Gervinho to score but a poor heavy touch let him down after a good through ball from Arteta. Nothing else of real note happened in the first half. I thought Bolton played quite well and could take some positives into the second half.
This didn’t happen and after a few minutes Owen Coyle’s half time team talk clearly left most of the Bolton players heads as Steinsson lunged in, misjudged the ball and left a big gap at the back where Van Persie picked up the ball attacked Muamba (who had to fill in for Steinsson) and rifled the ball into the near post of Jaaskelainen’s goal. The day got better for the trotters as Walcott latched onto the ball and got a little tug from Wheater to send him crashing down resulting in a straight red for the Bolton stopper. You always felt the game was beyond Bolton after this a good chance for Eagles did come however after a break away Petrov found Eagles bursting through the middle but a lack of pace, composure and strength meant a weak effort easily saved by the Arsenal keeper.
Arsenal started to pour forward at this point created a number of fine chances that Jaaskelainen was equal to keeping the score at 1-0 but Van Persie was not to be denied it record as Walcott beat Robinson down the wing and fired the ball into the Dutch striker to score. Game over. Arsenal added a third at the end with some good work by Sagna down the same wing, found Alex Song who curled the ball into the net.
| Stat | Season 2011/2012 | Season 2010/2011 | ||
| Arsenal | Bolton | Arsenal | Bolton | |
| Possession | 62.90% | 37.10% | 65.10% | 34.90% |
| Shots on target | 10 | 2 | 11 | 4 |
| Shots off target | 9 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Total Passes in open play | 603 | 343 | 571 | 299 |
| Total accurate passes | 520 | 253 | 496 | 197 |
| Tackles won | 9 | 14 | 14 | 29 |
| Possession duels won | 39 | 41 | 51 | 69 |
| Possession duels lost | 41 | 39 | 69 | 51 |
| Aerial duels won | 7 | 9 | 12 | 18 |
| Aerial duels lost | 9 | 7 | 18 | 12 |
| Interceptions | 11 | 20 | 22 | 23 |
| Stat | Season 2009/2010 | Season 2008/2009 | ||
| Arsenal | Bolton | Arsenal | Bolton | |
| Possession | 63.50% | 36.50% | 76.50% | 23.50% |
| Shots on target | 13 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| Shots off target | 6 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| Total Passes in open play | 510 | 293 | 688 | 211 |
| Total accurate passes | 422 | 169 | 605 | 128 |
| Tackles won | 9 | 20 | 8 | 20 |
| Possession duels won | 59 | 69 | 58 | 59 |
| Possession duels lost | 69 | 59 | 59 | 58 |
| Aerial duels won | 18 | 22 | 14 | 9 |
| Aerial duels lost | 22 | 18 | 9 | 14 |
| Interceptions | 27 | 22 | 15 | 16 |
The stats are pretty much as you were with Arsenal out passing and out attacking Bolton with the Wanderers having a lot more defending to do have the better of the defending stats.
Next game is Chelsea at home. Another easy three points for the whites then! plus we have the good news that Stu Holden is out for 6 month’s. Coyle has come in for a lot of flak this last week lets not start getting on the back of the manager and putting more pressure on the team and people asking for the sack need a reality check, would you want Megson back?
