2006’s 3-1 win over Arsenal is the final game in our retrospective
No look back over 20 years at the Reebok would be complete without at least one look at a win over Arsenal. In the mid-2000s, we started to make it a bit of a habit, to the point in fact where Arsene Wenger`s men may have thought they were beaten before they were even off the M61 up to the ground.
Having won the home fixture in both the 2004-05 and the 2005-06 seasons, we went into November 2006`s clash looking for a hat-trick. In terms of results, it would probably prove to be the best of the lot.
Abdoulaye Faye`s near post header put Wanderers ahead within 10 minutes on an autumnal Saturday evening, before Nicolas Anelka, who had joined that summer, unleashed a 25-yard thunderbolt against his former club to double our lead. It was probably the best goal he scored for us, leaving Jens Lehmann stranded.
Within moments of Bolton being 2-0 up, Arsenal cut the deficit, with Gilberto Silva heading in to give the Gunners a bit of hope going into the break.
There would be chances for both sides in the second half, but it would be Anelka once again to strike the decisive blow. Ivan Campo would play a perfect through-ball, Anelka was on the right channel and finished sublimely past Lehmann to put us 3-1 up.
Kevin Davies also showed Emmanuel Eboue who was boss, pushing him after he moaned about a challenge. In all seriousness, it probably wasn`t the best tackle, but Davies pushed him below shoulder height, so Mike Dean incredibly did the right thing just booking him.
Bolton would beat Arsenal one more time, with a 2-1 win in 2011, Tamir Cohen heading home the winner.