ARSENAL THRASH BOLTON 4-1

ARSENAL maintain their fine form after four matches with a convincing 4-1 win against Bolton at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.

The Gunners missing a host of chances to put the game beyond Owen Coyle's side reach paid a heavy a price when they notch a late equaliser in the first half through Johan Elmander in the 44th minute.

But Arsenal turn the tide in their favour after the break once Maroune Chamakh header went in to give Arsene Wenger side a 2-1 lead in the 57th minute. Before Alexander Song (77th) and substitute Carlos Vela (82nd) complete the rout.

Arsene Wenger made six changes from the side that beat Blackburn but it was the visitor who made a good start early in the match with Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander causing some anxious moment at the back. Former Sevilla defender, Sebastien Squillachi made his home debut taking over Thomas Vermaelen who is sufferring from an ankle injury and Kieran Gibbs also start in place of Gael Clichy.

Early in the 5th minute, Andre Arshavin should have given Arsenal the lead when Tomas Rosicky laid a sublime through pass but saw the Russian effort was well blocked by young Hungarian goalkeeper, Adam Bodgan deputising on Jussi Jassklainen who received a one-match banned.  

It took the home side 23 minutes to find the vital breakthrough. Jack Wilshire float in a cross at the far post which saw captain Cesc Fabregas rushing in from the blind side to connect the ball for Kocielny with the simplest task guiding the ball into the net for his first goal since joining the Gunners from French Ligue side, Lorient.

Arsenal could have certainly double the lead twice in two quick succession but Rosicky and Arshavin both squandered the opportunity with Bodgan perform superbly between the post.

Then came in the Bolton equaliser, Kocielny back header came to short for Almunia, Korean's international Lee-Chung-Hyong quick to pounce and cut in a cross for Elmander to nod  into the gaping goalmouth.

In the second-half, Arsenal step into gear with Fabregas began to dictate play in the midfield showing back his old form. In the 56th minute the midfielder found Chamakh, the striker struck viciously but Bodgan was equal to the task to deny the Morrocan international for a corner.

A minute later, Fabregas work his way past the Bolton defence on the left and float in cross for Chamakh to plant in with a thumping header at the far post, his second in the league to give Arsenal the much needed break. (pix above)

In the 63rd minute Bolton's suffered a huge blow when they were down to 10 men after Gary Cahill's was given the marching order by referee Stuart Attwell for his tackle from behind on Chamakh.


Alexander Song put Arsenal ahead in the 77th minute to record Arsene Wenger 1,000 goal with the club when he cleverly chip over Bodgan in the box. Then Carlos Vela completed one of the Arsenal typical move which saw at least more than 20 passes in the build up before Fabregas see off the final pass for the Mexican perfectly place his shot past the goalkeeper in the 82nd minute.