I find it quite amazing how the Bolton players and manager are all up in arms about a good old honest challenge. Oh the irony or it all is just spectacular. I can remember a Kevin Davies late lunge into Gael Clichy

Match Review – Arsenal 4 Bolton 2 – Premier League

The after effects of alcohol and then meetings (not at the same time of course) are reasons as to why I am writing this a little later than usual. Well firstly I must say, what an amazing evening at the Emirates last night. I would go as far as to say it slots straight into my top five evening games at our lovely crafted home of football.

I had planned to find a stream of some sort (shhh, don’t tell anyone) to watch the match, never the best option but when Sky have two also-ran’s instead then needs must. Well it would have been a case of needs must until I received a phone call from an old friend of mine with a spare south club level ticket, free of cost no less.

After work I painfully hobbled down to ground from Old Street, my leg severely hurting me since playing football on Tuesday night. I got to the ground with about an hour to spare, just enough time to tuck into some buffet food served by the Gunners staff. To make sure the food went into the correct place I washed it down with some shared white wine. Enough white wine to make me start increasing my voice at the dinner table and swap my nerves for bullishness.

We were sat pretty much directly behind the Bolton goal, a great place to see us race into a 3-0 lead after only 25 minutes or so, well that is how I hoped the game would go.

The Gunners started moving the ball around and often hitting their heads against a Bolton wall that was parked in front of Jääskeläinen goal, it looked a little predictable and narrow in the early exchanges. I cannot believe that the Bolton first goal came after only six minutes it felt more like twenty minutes from where I was. It was only until I got home did I realise that they scored so soon. Awful defending from the Arsenal defence, balls not being dealt with by Diaby or Clichy resulted in Gary Cahill swiping the ball into the bottom corner.

Well that wasn’t really supposed to happen was it? Clearly Owen Coyle had been spending too much time listening to the Sky Sports hype instead of reading the script. It was to be corrected though, it would only wake the players up and an equaliser would not take long. The atmosphere was pretty good for the most part, my section wasn’t so great so much so that I could feel the glares from those around me burning into my head as I stood and applauded the players for the moves that were not quite coming off.

My eyes are not great and even from the opposite end of the pitch I knew Denilson had brought down the Bolton man and a penalty would indeed be the penalty. Manuel, was close but no cigar. To add insult to injury the scorer was none other than the foot holding, foot kicking, hand pushing, hair pulling little girl Matthew Taylor.

I had my head in my hands for a moment, trying to take in what had just happened. 2-0 down at home to Bolton, a picture of smirking media pundits whizzed through my mind, the repeated cliches about Bolton being too physical for the weak Gunners would be just unbearable. At that moment I automatically leapt out of my seat and shouted something like ‘Come on you Gunners, get back into the game’ I actually felt a little strange as it almost felt like I was not in control of myself, like someone just pressed a button and made me do it.

Steve, My Gooner mate, next to me had been delaying going to the toilet and was busting, every time he got ready to leave he waited until the next attack died down. Eventually he went and we arranged where to meet for half time. Moments after he left, Cesc had flicked the ball wide to Rosicky who drove into the box and unleashed a shot into the corner of the net. Goal out of the blue, I didn’t see that one coming but it was the goal that started the victory. I had worries at 2-0 down I must say, I was worried about a third being scored which could have killed the game but as soon as Rosicky wheeled away I knew the comeback was on.

That one goal made such a huge difference to how I was feeling, we were going to come out of the traps flying in the second half but we were at the opposite end of the pitch, I didn’t want to miss what was likely to be an important moment in the season so I found Steve and we grabbed a pint and made our way round to club level north where we could see a row of empty seats from the first half.

I almost felt like a naughty school kid pinching food from the store room when I walked past the stewards. The seats were a little higher up and the view not quite as good as our original seats but we were very central and were able to watch the assault on Jääskeläinen goal.

Their was definitely a determination amongst the players, a desire to turn around the game in our favour. It was a hunger that hadn’t been there during some spells last season.

Then the major talking point. The William Gallas challenge.

I didn’t have a view of what happened, it was too far away to see exactly what took place. My initial thoughts were that Gallas had won a 50:50 against one of the Bolton players and that he had stayed down to win a foul. Cesc’s drive into the box and strike into the corner of the net was what we have come to expect from our Spanish wizard. Bolton were aggrieved that Arsenal had not kicked the ball out of play forgetting that fact that it is down to the referee to make that decision. as we found only recently against Everton.

Seeing the challenge again on the television, it was an unfortunate coming together, Davies clearly would have felt pain but assuming that it was intentional is just nonsense in my opinion. The ball was there for both players to win, Davies nudged the ball away from Gallas within a split second of their feet connecting.

I find it quite amazing how the Bolton players and manager are all up in arms about a good old honest challenge. Oh the irony or it all is just spectacular. I can remember a Kevin Davies late lunge into Gael Clichy that could have broken his leg and nothing was mentioned about it. They love dishing it out but clearly do not expect the same in return.

The atmosphere in my new second half home was much, much better. It almost felt like the good ol days, standing in the clock at Highbury.

Tommy V, turned the game around when he half volleyed a shot off the post for his first goal since October last year.

I was probably more upset watching Abou Diaby limping off the pitch than I was when Cahill opened the scoring. We are going to need Abou and his little afro for the big games coming up. Craig Eastmond came on and once again looked very assured. He certainly has a bright future that boy.

Arshavin had struck five minutes before time to put us top of the league and gave me the chance to express that with many of the Gooners in my section.

Theo had replaced Eduardo late on and still had time to vent his fury at Andrey Arshavin who refused to give him a scoring opportunity instead taking the chance himself. I have never seen Walcott like that, he actually followed Arshavin around screaming at him. Lets hope they can kiss and make up, Theo can vent his frustration against Stoke on Sunday.

So we take our place at the top of the table and I finally got to sing my song. Get through our next 6 or so fixtures unscathed and quite possibly I will get a chance to sing another favourite of mine.

‘We’re gonna win the league.. We’re gonna win the league.. and now your gonna believe us.. and now your gonna believe us.. and now your gonna believe us!!! We’re gonna win the league’

Back to one game at a time.