The first half at the Reebok summed up our last few weeks, somehow we contrived to be 2-0 down in a game that we shaded, to put it mildly. Bolton rarely threatened, but managed to open the scoring against the run of play with a well taken headed goal and then fluked a second with a rather fortunate deflected effort.At the other end we had missed chance after chance, Van Persie shooting straight at the keeper when it would been easier to score, Flamini blazing over towards the end of the half and numerous other decent half chances. In between the penatly box profligacy Diaby was sent off for a bad tackle that merited its punishment, it's just a shame that so many equivalent tackles by Bolton under Allardyce's regime were not punished like this. Meanwhile Gavin McCann was allowed to foul with relative impunity for the whole ninety, good old English football I suppose.
The second half was contrasting to say the least, Bolton missing a couple of half chances before we finally made some of our chances count after Walcott and Adebayor had come on for Senderos and Bendtner. First Gallas snuck in at the back post to slot home, then RVP dispatched a penalty after Hleb had been taken down crudely in the box. We then had a few chances to win it, before Fabregas fluked in a effort that took more than one deflection on its way into the Bolton net.
We bloody well deserved a bit of luck at long last, and a lot of credit must go to the players who had the belief and character to come back with only ten men. There are still some glaring deficiencies in our side that must be remedied in the close season, the lack of goals from wide midfield and the lack of width have been there for all to see of late. Not to dwell on the negative, it is especially satisfying to turn over Bolton in such a manner, given their negative style of play and rather pathetic hatred of all things Arsenal that had been drummed into them by the fat walrus Sam Allardyce. This one was for you big Sam, I don't know if us gooners could live with ourselves if we end up helping send Bolton down a division.
