The shape of the side was very interesting with Van Persie playing behind the front man in a free role while Cesc Fabregas partnered Jack Wilshere in the middle two. Van Persie was finding space in attacking areas, allowing him to play passes that a former Dutch number 10 used to play

So the final nail was well and truly thumped into the coffin yesterday afternoon as Cohen emotionally grabbed a last minute winner to end Arsenal’s slim slim hopes of a title.

Only an Arsenal victory would have done at the Reebok and even that meant that we would be praying for Manchester United to slip up in the next few games.

At the full time whistle I was not as angry as many Gooners seemed to be. I had already gone through the pain in our recent draws to Sunderland, Blackburn, West Brom and then Tottenham. Our form has sapped away my confidence that we would be lifting the trophy this season.

I think the media have been doing their jobs rather well as the ‘bottlers’ line has been flying around but I didn’t see it that way. The players fought from beginning to end but when it came down to it the players just did not have the quality at both ends of the pitch on the day.

As usual refereeing decisions helped us along down the wrong path. Theo Walcott had started the game explosively. He fired in a shot from the right that Jaaskelainen parried.

A minute later Taylor had brought down Theo Walcott in the penalty box without touching the ball and nothing was given. Emmanuel Eboue was castigated for being run into and yet a clear penalty is waved away. It was the usual second half of season decision against us.

Cesc and Wilshere were driving on to support our attack and it was the former who was denied by Jaaskelainen. Even with Arsenal dominating and testing their keeper it was Bolton who had the best chance of the half. Sturridge who played well for the home side played a good through ball to Lee who should have headed towards goal and shot towards the far post but instead tried to flick the ball to Taylor and the pass was intercepted. Perhaps he was auditioning for a summer move to Arsenal by passing up an opportunity to score.

Our Vermaelen’s heal was back on show again when Bolton opened the scoring from a set piece. Sturridge heading in from close range after Gary Cahill’s header was stopped on the line from Samir Nasri.

Questions have to be asked about the organisation at set pieces. Just as we saw at West Brom in recent weeks, who decides which players are being picked up? Why is Gael Clichy marking Gary Cahill from a set piece? If ever there was a mismatch then that was it. If Cahill loses that header then that goal is prevented.

Fabregas struck the base of the post before half time and that pretty much summed up the last few weeks.

Seconds just started to tick down in the second half before Bolton were awarded the softest of penalties. Djourou and Sturridge tussled for the ball and the Chelsea man went down very easily. The referee ridiculously pointed to the spot. Blackpool non penalty aside, I cannot remember the last time when a big refereeing decision went our way.

Justice was done when Szczesny saved a poor attempt by Kevin Davies. I don’t know what was said pre match in the Sky studios but the theme of the day was obviously to portray Davies as some kind of English Lionel Messi. Everything he did was supposedly wonderful and workman like. He was allowed to go around late in tackles time and time again yet Alan Parry would rather put words into Van Persie’s mouth about him wanting to get his hero booked. Apparently getting annoyed by a late challenge on a team mate means that he is asking the referee to produce a yellow card. A crime in the English game it seems but late and over the top tackling is something to lust after. Pathetic commentating yet again but I should be used to it by now.

Szczesny’s save looked like being the turning point, especially when moments later Arsenal and Van Persie scored a wonderful equaliser. It reminded me very much of a Messi type of goal for Barcelona.

Van Persie started on the right side of the penalty box cut inside one and played the ball into Cesc who was in the center forward position. Van Persie continued to run towards the pass after it was played and Cesc just laid it back to him taking out the defender. Robin found the bottom corner of the net making it 17 goals in 17 games.

He has been the one player who has been consistent throughout the whole of this second half of the season. No other attacking players can say that about their game and that has been the biggest problem for me.

The momentum was with us and we penned Bolton back into their half. Arsene made a fantastically positive change by removing Alex Song and replacing him with forward Chamakh. Moving to a 4-4-1-1.

The shape of the side was very interesting with Van Persie playing behind the front man in a free role while Cesc Fabregas partnered Jack Wilshere in the middle two. Van Persie was finding space in attacking areas, allowing him to play passes that a former Dutch number 10 used to play. One left footed scooped pass found Samir Nasri darting in from the left, Nasri was clean through but instead of having the composure to slide the ball past Jaaskelainen he smashed the ball into the keepers legs.

Nasri got the rebound but the ball was too far wide and his second attempt was blocked.

A criticism of our attacking players would be that they lack calmness when faced with the goalkeeper. How many times have we seen Arshavin, Rosicky, Chamakh, Cesc and Nasri hit the goalkeeper instead of placing the ball into the corner.

The only player consistently showing calm in front of goal has been Theo Walcott. If Theo was racing onto that Van Persie pass then I have no doubt that we would have been 2-1 up.

Van Persie clipped another wonderfully weighted pass moments later and Chamakh passed up the opportunity to take it on his own by heading back to Cesc but the weight of the header was too heavy.

Then as the time ticked down Szczesny saved a Bolton shot which went away for a corner and Johan Djourou who had an awful game lost his header by not staying goal side of Cohen and the substitute powered his header into the Arsenal net.

If a Bolton player was to break our hearts then I am glad it was Cohen who looked visibly upset while paying tribute to his father who passed away in December due to a motorbike accident.

Conclusion

Arsene Wenger has deflected the pressure off his players by shouldering the blame for our failure to win silverware. He looks like a crushed man and I have never seen him so defeated in the post match press conference.

It is very frustrating that we have followed our terrible habit of past seasons by falling away dramatically at the end. Clearly changes will be made to the squad this summer. Some of the squad members have been marginalised in recent months and that alone gives us the greatest indication of which players have a very good chance of playing elsewhere next season but I do not think squad personnel is the whole problem.

Look across the team that played yesterday and at Tottenham. They are all very good players and 95% of those players will improve due to their age but there is a collective problem, a mental problem that is difficult to pin point.

I do not agree with so many who think we are awful and need to sack the manager, the squad, kit man to save us from relegation but clearly changes need to be made both in personnel terms and in our approach to games.

I am not sure I agree with the experience calls. Experience does not make you a good player. Mikel Silvestre is a case in point. An experienced center back who has won things at a club who ‘show mental strength’ yet he was pretty much as far from the answer as you are likely to find.

What is needed is the correct attitude. 19 year old Jack Wilshere has more commitment and passion than many of his senior team mates and that for me should be the type of player we should acquire in the summer. Where this/these players would start when our squad is fit is another matter all together.

The league race/hope is over this year but the season is far from finished. Our recent slump has meant that we could slip down to fourth if we are not careful as Manchester City have two games in hand and are eight points behind us.

I am hoping now that the pressure is off the players that we will see the best of them again. They are lacking form, sharpness and confidence and it is this that has lead to our fall from title contenders to champions league hopefuls.

Szczesny (7)
Sagna (7)
Djourou (4)
Koscielny (6)
Clichy (6)
Song (6)
Wilshere (7)
Cesc (7)
Walcott (7)
Van Persie (7)
Nasri (6)

Please note that ratings are only my interpretations of the game and that others will have differing opinions