Craig Eastmond was the surprise starter in the center of midfield, I say surprise but with Nasri withdrawing from the squad with a hamstring strain, Wenger’s options were very limited. He started his role well, picking out passes

Match Review – Bolton 0 Arsenal 2 – Premier League

I find myself in a rather strange situation whilst writing this match review. I was sat in the comfort of my own home watching the game. After a rather tense and nervy start I watched the team improve as the game went on. We had another clear cut penalty turned down from the referee, which may as well be added to the rule book if you are associated with Arsenal in anyway.

We opened the scoring with a wonderfully worked goal between Diaby, some good fortune and then a wonderful exchange between Eduardo and Cesc, captain fantastic done the fantastic part and drove the ball into the corner of the net. A fine goal which helped me relax for what I assumed was the rest of the game.

It should have been the rest of the game but minutes after my celebration my television turned off along with the rest of the power in the house. It turned out that many of the houses in my area were experiencing the same power failure. In the middle of the bloody Arsenal game.

My first thought was to find a stream online, I flipped open my laptop, frantically hoping to find the game until I realised that my wireless router was not being powered by love but by electricity. I had to spend the rest of the match reading text messages from friends in darkness.

Later that evening, when my power came back on I did manage to watch some late highlights which will have to do until I can watch the rerun on Arsenal TV online.

Cesc’s goal was taken so early from the one-two that the keeper would have had very little time to set himself. Wenger has said that Cesc is no longer snatching at chances but is now showing calmness in front of goal and it sure is working a treat. Cesc is now the top goal scorer in the team that has scored the most amount of goals in the league this season.

From what I saw of the game, Cesc Fabregas looked a little rusty in the early stages of the game, he wasn’t quite on the same wavelength as everyone else but when you haven’t played in the first team for a few weeks then this can happen, he soon readjusted his calculations and found his rhythm again.

Craig Eastmond was the surprise starter in the center of midfield, I say surprise but with Nasri withdrawing from the squad with a hamstring strain, Wenger’s options were very limited. He started his role well, picking out passes and breaking up play.

Later on in the game I received a text from a Gooner friend of mine saying that Traore and Eastmond were struggling and needed to be replaced. I like what I have seen of Eastmond, he looked very bright and confident against Liverpool in the Carling Cup and showed that he would not be overawed on the big stage. He certainly looks very composed and aware of players around him for a converted full back.

Eastmond could have grabbed his first and our second when he struck a shot through a crowded penalty box from a Cesc corner kick but it was scrambled away to Bolton safety.

Arsenal should have been awarded the second penalty of the game when Zat Knight missed the ball and connected with Cesc’s leg in the box. Matthew Taylor then decided to act like an imbecile by pinning Fabregas’ head to the floor with his shin, then he had the cheek to attempt to pick him up by his hair.

I tell you what, Cesc is a bigger man than I am, he managed to control his emotions where I probably would have seen red, quite literally. Our captain is maturing very well. It is not the first time that we have seen him not react to provocation in the heat of the moment. Az Alkmaar at the Emirates springs to mind.

Bolton had some great chances to get the equaliser, on another day they have done and that would have presented us with a different game.

Danger man Ivan Klasnic created a chance for himself after some great skill. The Croat got on the end of a Kevin Davies header, he flicked it over the head of William Gallas but his attempted stab towards goal was well met by Manuel Almunia.

Our good friend Karma came back to slap Taylor in the face when he spurned two fantastic chances to get his side level. The first was lashed high over the bar, whilst the second was rushed and miss hit when found in acres of space.

I loved the second goal, Cesc was heavily involved as per usual. Early in the move he was breaking into their half following a defensive clearance. With a Bolton player snapping away at his feet he turned the player and without looking played a perfect pass to Merida who was racing to join him. How did he see Fran Merida? He had a fraction of a second when he was falling to the ground, somehow he executed the pass under pressure which set Merida on his way.

This is what separates good players to world class talents. The amount Cesc can see on the pitch is remarkable. Not many players would have been able to see Merida with such limited time. Visibly he lifts the team when he plays and to think that he is only 22 years old is quite frightening.

A few passes later Cesc was back in possession and once again showed off his new found power with a drive into the box, Eduardo’s cross may have been intended for Arshavin but Knight’s glance steered the ball perfectly into the path of Merida who had replaced Eastmond earlier in the second half.

Merida controlled with his left and drove with his weaker right foot into the corner of the net, a fine goal from the Spaniard who must be desperate to be a part of the first team and show that he can make it on this stage. He would have been disappointed with his performance at Upton Park in the FA Cup so this will do his confidence a world of good. We are unsure if he will stay with us or leave for pastures new but he is a player with great qualities. Like many in our squad, he will blossom with games under his belt along with added years of match experience.

The victories continue to come even with the injury list keeping pace. It was great to see Gael Clichy make a come back to the side after replacing Rosicky in the second half. Clichy may get a start when the teams meet again on Wednesday. If Arsenal can match or better the 2-0 score line then we will be sitting pretty at the top of the league.

Roll on Wednesday.