Alex Song’s performance was very interesting. Last week Alex Song strode forward, made an assist for Gervinho and created many more chances for others. He was at it again on Saturday afternoon. Mikel Arteta has played as a defensive midfielder for Everton in the past which gave the midfield a lovely fluid

Well that was certainly more like it. The 3-0 home score line is the type of score line that we have grown accustomed to over the years but until our first half at Blackburn our attacking game had been tangled up in a muddle of change and lack of belief.

This Arsenal team seems to be one of the most emotional teams that I have ever witnessed. Our tentative first half was probably down to our ending at Ewood park a week earlier. If we had performed in the second half of that game, the way we did in the first then I doubt whether Bolton could have kept us at bay in the first 45 minutes.

Our confidence game is our greatest strength yet is what defeats us more often than any other opposition. Our combination play needs to be quick, creative and free of fear and often this season and indeed towards the end of last season this hasn’t been the case. Our results more often than not have reflected that.

Gervinho was dangerous for the most part but his end product deserted him. Once in particular when he over hit the ball when pretty much clean through with van Persie free to his right. I think we will get that a lot from him, either inspirational spurts of skill as he demonstrated in Udinese or frustration in the final third. Plus a mixture of the two. Regardless of the hot or cold nature of Gervinho, it is certainly a bonus to have his strengths in the first team and I suspect that his decision making and execution will improve as the team improves and when he finds his feet in the Premier League.

Wojciech Szczesny made a good early save from Pratley’s flick in the very early minutes of the game. Another big outstretched hand to turn the ball around the post. I see journalists have been using that chance to beat the Arsenal cannot defend drum. The truth is, that was as good as it got for Bolton. Mertesacker and Koscielny were superb in central defence and it was probably the German’s most accomplished performance in an Arsenal shirt to date.

Kevin Davies had to be introduced early as new signing David N’Gog suffered a first half knock to the head with Laurent Koscielny and the brutish England forward was outfoxed all afternoon.

Aaron Ramsey started the game slowly, keeping things simple without really trying to impose himself, he improved late on as did the rest of the team. Mikel Arteta has a lovely range of passes and he kept the ball moving very well.

Robin van Persie was finding his range early on with a touched off free kick curled wide of the far post. I am hoping that the arrival of Mikel Arteta will force an improvement from the captain in that area. For his quality, he should be scoring more often from the dead ball.

Bolton had done well to keep us at bay in the first 45 minutes but their resistance only lasted minutes after the restart, Ramsey played a pass into van Persie’s feet, a dummy later and then a slammed low shot past the keeper put us 1-0 up. 99 goals for Arsenal and you really have to wonder what will happen to us if Robin sits out for a considerable time with injury.

Our attacking threat improved and Theo along with van Persie started to pose big problems to the Bolton back line. van Persie seems to have been freed off his center forward role much more than at the start of the season. He is dropping into pockets of space and getting on the ball much more. Walcott was taking up those central positions in his absence and it was Walcott’s burst into a central position that forced David Wheater to tug him back whilst clean through on goal. It may have only been a mild tug but it was enough to prevent a certain goal scoring opportunity and Wheater had to go.

Referee Mark Clattenburg actually had a very good game which is not something I have said of him in the past but all credit to him. He made the right calls for the big decisions and was pretty consistent throughout the 90 minutes.

van Persie reached his century of Arsenal goals thanks to his current regular supplier Theo Walcott. Ramsey slid in the wide forward and his cut back was cheekily flicked in by van Persie. A finish of the highest quality.

It is amazing that a player who has fought so often against injury has managed to reach 100 goals. Imagine what would have been but hopefully we can enjoy what will be, should he commit his future to the club. Only time will tell but you can be sure that plenty of clubs will be keeping a close eye on his contract situation.

Walcott had a few really good chances to get his name on the score sheet. Especially when he was played in by Alex Song and Walcott took his shot very early and very tamely at Jussi Jääskeläinen.

Alex Song’s performance was very interesting. Last week Alex Song strode forward, made an assist for Gervinho and created many more chances for others. He was at it again on Saturday afternoon. Mikel Arteta has played as a defensive midfielder for Everton in the past which gave the midfield a lovely fluid balance.

Alex Song and Mikel Arteta switched positions seamlessly during attacks. Some of Alex Song’s passes in tight situations were similar to that of a top creative playmaker. Song has shown every side to his game so far this season. Defensively massive in Udine and in Dortmund while he was our most creative player last week against Blackburn and possibly the same against Bolton.

Alex Song put the icing on the cake when he turned a player and curled the ball into the top corner in stoppage time to cap a fine individual and team display.

Theo Walcott limped off in stoppage time but it now seems as if it is only a minor problem. A nice rounded performance from the whole team, let us hope we can build on this without set back. Three goals, a clean sheet and a van Persie century. Pretty good days work I’d say.

Man of the match: Robin van Persie