Bolton still the Bogey Team

It was a great match, full of thrills, twists, turns and some brilliant football. The game had everything but a final penalty shoot-out. For the neutral it was a midweek treat, served up to remind the punters why cup football is still unmatched for its intensity. Both teams wanted the win and both teams went for it.

For, maybe, the first 40 minutes, Arsenal were excellent. They’re football was imaginative and flowing, leaving the Wanderers players chasing shadows. The build up was superb, the execution lucky. Good work from Hleb and Denilson on the right resulted in a cross along the deck whoch Campo intercepted. The ball, fortunmately, for Arsenal, broke to Adebayor. He was even more fortunate that his shot deflected cruelly off Stelios and wrong-footed Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal.

Now, Manchester United would have built on that and gone on to blast Bolton from the park. Arsenal didn’t. They were pretty, they were composed but they lacked any sort of killer instinct. The only other clear chance they made in the first half was a ball which Baptista blasted wide on the far post.

Just before half time, Stelios somehow managed to get his tiny fram in the way of a shot from Andranik and then managed to get his shot to rebound off the crossbar. It could so easily have been 1-1 at half time.

Now, Arsenal had dominated the first 40 minutes. What many people looking back at the game have failed to realise is that Bolton then went on to dominate virtually the rest of normal time. They pushed Arsenal back and stopped their flowing game.

Chris Foy had an excellent game, overall, as referee, but the one criticism that could be levelled at him was an inclination to give Arsenal the 50:50 decisions.

Foy got the penalty decision just about right but Gilberto’s shooting was poor and Bolton got away with it.

As Bolton pressed towards the end of the half, with Diouf and Anelka playing pivotal roles, they were always open to the counter attack. Campo failed to deal with a long ball punted forward by the Gunners and Adebayor did all the hard work before hitting the post.

Again, Manchester United or Chelsea would have punished Bolton. Arsenal didn’t.

Bolton found the equaliser in injury time. A Diouf corner found 3 Bolton players unmarked at the back post. Campo headed the ball down and Meite prodded the ball into the back of the net.

Game on.

Bolton should have scored in the first half of extra time when Gilberto got in the way of a cross and deflected the ball onto the post. Bolton did all the pressing during that period and Arsenal had lost all fluency.

The introduction of Aliadiere and Ljunberg changed all that. Aliadiere ran through the tiring Bolton defence and fed the ball to Ljunberg who’s shot gave Jussi no chance.

That was it for Bolton. Although they tried to raise their game, the best chances fell to Arsenal. Ben Haim was sent off for a second yellow card (note – there were covering defenders behind him. If he had not been yellow cared for a previous innocuous tackle, he would have stayed on the park). Adebayor broke through in the final minutes and was felled in the box by Anelka who had tracked him back all the way (note – Nicolas Anelka tracking back – has he done this for any other club?). Baptisita had obviously been comparing penalty taking notes with Gilberto and cleared the bar with some ease.

As Bolton tried to get the goal, Arsenal again broke and Adebayor got his second goal of the game.

So what’s all this about Arsenal beating the Bolton Bogey?

1. Arsenal’s last two wins against Bolton were both cup games.

2. If this had been a league game, it would have been a draw.

3. This wasn’t some sort of second-string Arsenal team. Henry was missing but he’s never played well against Bolton. Lehmann is always likely to get sent off against us. Fabregas and Van Persie were probably the only two players missing of any importance. Senderos is a clown.

4. Bolton had key players missing – Davies, Hunt, Fortune and Faye were all out of the team. Faye and Davies have always given Arsenal nightmares.

5. A top-class side would have been 3-0 up at half time. Arsenal continue to lack a killer instinct.

6. The real test of the Bolton Bogey being put to bed will come at the League game at the Emirates Stadium. If Arsenal win that, they can begin to claim that the bogey has finally been overcome.

It was a great match, spoilt only by the pettiness of some of the Arsenal fans after the game. But we really shouldn’t expect any better of them, should we.