It got a little nervous when Anelka burned us (again) early but Arsenal mostly dominated and unofficially wrapped up 4th place securing that coveted Champions League spot. Bolton and Ivan Campo’s sorry ass will have to settle for the UEFA cup. As usual we saw some nice misses from Arsenal, something that I’m quite used to at this point. But when shit like that doesn’t come back to haunt us, it’s easier to stomach. Hleb had a miserable game and Rosicky a great one – he simply willed in the goal he scored making Nicky Hunt look like a fool for not marking him.

Fabregas scored in the league for the first time in eons, must’ve been quite a relief to not go scoreless for the season. He’s missed so many sitters this year that I was shocked to see him score a fairly tough goal. He had a great game and made some passes which reminded us just how good he is, Ljunberg should’ve finished off one of his chances in the second half and would’ve if he was an inch taller. Not really related but check out this old Fabregas dribble, it’s sick.

Aside from the awful defending on the Anelka goal (Eboue was fast asleep) we were solid on defense and even Gallas (who has been shaky of late) had a decent game. I’m not so sure he’s a shoe-in to come back next season, early on he played well but recently he’s been making some pretty childish plays in the back like passing behind his midfielders and opting to pass rather than clear. Both my readers probably know that I hate Baptista with a passion but that doesn’t mean I don’t root for the guy, him and Diaby managed to screw up a chance literally I could finish. With only Jaaskelainen to beat they both decided to fight for the ball and ended up blowing the chance. Luckily for us it didn’t come back to haunt us as very soon after Eboue was given a reprieve after a clear handball which should’ve been a penalty.

With Arsenal out of all competitions, I’d like to see Man Utd win the league, Chelsea win the FA Cup and AC Milan take the Champions League. Not great but the best an Arsenal fan can hope for. Liverpool lost and we’re two points back but it doesn’t really matter.

Good day for Arsenal, here are the goals and highlights, enjoy:

Nicolas Anelka 0-1

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Tomas Rosicky 1-1

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Cesc Fabregas 2-1

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Full Highlights – 9 minutes, 11 seconds thanks to fred54

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Arsenal came in resting Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Jens Lehmann and added Alexander Hleb and Freddie Ljunberg to the travelling squad to Bolton. The Gunners looked smooth and efficient from the beginning and managed to string together series of meaningful passes to create chances, the best one early on being Rosicky’s bullet shot which went a couple feet wide of the left post. Arsenal playing with a lot of width with Bolton having very little early possession and Bolton’s physical play being tactfully avoided by the Arsenal midfield tandem of Rosicky and Denilson.

The breakthrough came from Adebayor after Denilson and Rosicky had exchanged passes to setup the lanky striker who was helped by a deflection to beat Jaaskelainen who the delusional Allardyce thinks is the best goalie in the league. BTW, the ArseBlogger has a great pic of the walrus in his entry, check it out.

Emmanual Adeabyor 1-0

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Arsenal continued putting pressure and Baptista should’ve scored after finding himself relatively open near the right post but his finished to put it bluntly, simply sucked. There was more of that to come. Late in the half, Bolton hit the post after massive confusion in the area which saw Bolton attempt a couple shots, one which was bravely blocked by Gilberto. On the counter-attack, Adebayor again setup Baptista who really isn’t doing any justice to his nickname by keeling over and falling down. It wasn’t mentioned two of the at least five instances where Baptista should’ve done much better than he did.

Early in the second half and Bolton had a great chance to score but Anleka made a piss-poor pass instead of just shooting. On the other end, Baptista, not to be out-done in piss-poor passing made one of his own after being setup beautifully on the break. He had two choices: to pass early or to shoot. He passed late.

Alexander Hleb had a very good game. He played under control and was able to turn his defender at will. His nifty series of moves almost paid off just outside the box but he was broght down by a struggling Ben Haim. Baptista hit the ensuing free-kick straight to the goalie. Baptista made amends after he was brought clearly by Ben Haim but the Brazilian shanked the kick about a mile high. A missed penalty hurts worse than a kick in the crotch.

Ben Haim Foul and Gilberto Missed Penalty

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Campo had a free volley on the right post but he shot that wide and complained that Almunia got a piece of it. That wasn’t true and soon after the same scum got carded for diving which preserved some justice. Arsenal were counter-attacking throughout the second half and the best chance had Adebayor all alone with just Jaaskelainen to beat which he did by evading him to his right but drilled the shot into the left post.

After wasting all these chances, Arsenal, vulnerable to set pieces, gave away a corner in injury time which Mete nudged home after it was kicked headed down by Campo. All these missed chances by Adebayor and Baptista means extra time.

Meite 1-1

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Bolton had a few chances in extra time, one hitting the post but it was Baptista that missed a chance to put Arsenal ahead. Late in the first period of ET, Baptista had a chance to put Arsenal ahead from a relatively obtuse angle but drilled it wide of the right post across the face of goal. Another missed chance.

Early in the second ET, an awesome run by Aliadiere which split open the Bolton defense and he touched it off to Freddie Ljunberg who supplied a deserving finish to Aliadiere’s great run. Arsenal deserved to win this game, if anything they should’ve scored at least 6 times. Bolton missed their share of chances too but it was Arsenal that was the better team at the end of the day.

Freddie Ljunberg 2-1

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I’m not sure why the hell Chelsea were interested in Ben Haim, the guy is clumsy and unsure defensively. He was shown his second yellow after a foul on Baptista which reduced Bolton to ten men late in the second ET. Anelka was a non-factor and should’ve equalized for Bolton after he chested down a volley just inside the box, but shot it too high.

Our man Baptista confirmed that he can’t hit the broad side of the barn by shanking a penalty after Adebayor was brought down late in second ET. Luckily for him he saved some face by passing off to Adebayor for Arsenal’s third goal which came after Bolton committed too many men downfield.  It was great seeing that scum Ivan Campo getting carded for diving, that guy just looks like a weasel.

Baptista missed penalty

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Adebayor 3-1

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To check out highlights for Arsenal vs. Blackburn at the Emirates, click here. Blackburn is next.

Note: If you’re looking for the Arsenal vs. Bolton Highlights from the replay at the Reebok stadium, go here.

Since YouTube has suspended my account, the goals and highlights will now be posted on DailyMotion until they suspend my account.

For a while there I thought Bolton was going to end our run in the FA Cup. The replay is on Valentine’s Day at the Reebok Stadium. Walcott should’ve done much, much better on his volley in the second half, he needs to score his first Gunner goal in the worst possible way just so he can prove to himself that he can score. There was a Jeremie Aliadiere sighting as he along with Baptista were brought in late by Arsene Wenger in hopes of putting the Gunners through. Aliadiere tried to be a hero in injury time but released a shot that only his mother could be proud of. Arsenal tried to win the game late by throwing long balls to Thierry Henry but the Bolton defense did a good job of denying Henry space. The Gunners dominated the last fifteen minutes of play by applying constant pressure on Bolton, but the Wanderers were pretty set on earning the replay.

Henry and Adebayor did not have good games. Both were waiting for the perfect ball to come to them instead of helping to create attacks. It’s evident why Robin van Persie is preferred to Adebayor; this season the Dutchman always seems to be at the right place at the right time and his presence will be sorely missed. Julio Baptisa was brought into the game when Wenger’s hand was pushed but he needs a lot of the work to be done for him before he finds the back of the net. The replay is winnable but Henry, Adebayor must be far more influential than today.

Kevin Nolan 1-0

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Kolo Toure 1-1

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