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Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers 20th October 2007 - Premier League - Emirates Stadium It doesn't feel like a match day today. The Rugby World Cup Final is the main sporting event of the weekend, and this, quite rightly, over shadows everything else. There's also the finale of the F1 season too which could see an English champion for the first time since Damon Hill, well over a decade ago. While I will be watching the rugby tonight, and supporting England, I couldn't give too hoots about the motor racing. I felt the same way about the England football team in mid week too. They had a poor defeat away to Russia which makes it unlikely now that they will qualify for the European Championships next summer. It's a shame really if don't make it because I like the buzz about the place during tournaments, the flag waving and the general good vibes. The players and management have let their country down by failing in a group that they should have won. At least the poor quality international matches are nearly over now and the excitement of the Premier League returns once again. Today's match against Bolton is a tricky one. I hate Bolton, they have been a thorn in our side in recent seasons with there over physical approach and long balls causing many lost points. Fat Sam has gone to Newcastle and with Little Sammy Lee in charge Bolton have been struggling and are at the bottom of the table. I have been looking forward to this match thinking that we will get our first comprehensive win over them for many years, but on Wednesday they sacked Sammy Lee and are now Managerless and as a result they will be an unknown quantity. How will they react? Have they got anything to prove? I'd rather of played them a week ago. The bookies have Bolton at 12\1 to win. I think that's a little bit disrespectful to Bolton, but I hope they are right and it will be that easy, can’t see it though. My journey to the ground was unusually good and uneventful and I arrive at the Emirates with time for a quick pint before kick off. The match starts and it’s typical Bolton, not interested in playing football. Their tactics today are to stop arsenal from playing by any means, legal or not. This doesn't make for an entertaining game. I can see why the Bolton fans didn’t bother turning up. It's a disgrace really. Their team is struggling at the moment and are at the wrong end of the table and their fans have deserted them. The true fans are the ones who support their team home and away regardless of winning or losing. The match is bad tackle after bad tackle which means the game is stop start. It doesn't help that the referee today, Mike Riley (don’t get me started on that feckin’ muppet) manages to miss every red card challenge but is quick to blow his whistle for any minor offence. All he is doing is frustrating the crowd and it’s not long before this frustration creeps onto the pitch. Because Riley can’t control the game it means that every foul is followed by pushing and shoving, which suits Bolton’s negative tactics as more time is wasted and it breaks up the game. There are so many stoppages in the first half that 6 minutes is added. Everyone is pissed off at half time after such a crap first half. At least it’s easy to get served at the bar- not!! The second half starts exactly the same as the first. More fouls, more stoppages and more bad refereeing decisions. Funny enough, the first goal comes after a Bolton foul. The free kick is about 10 yards outside of the box. Cesc taps the ball into the path of Kolo Toure who whacks the ball hard and low into the bottom left corner. With about 30 mins to go we make some substitutions. The disappointing Eboue is replaced by Thomas Rosicky and Eduardo is replaced by Theo. They immediately make a difference with some good forward play and it is in fact these two players that make the second goal too. A good run by Theo down the right is followed by an exceptional cross across the face of the goal which is met by Rosicky who cheekily flicks the ball into the net. Arsenal keep pressing for the third as Bolton give up and the ref puts them out of their misery as he blows the whistle after two minutes of time added on. It was an awful match because of Bolton's negative tactics and Riley’s usual poor refereeing. Arsenal deserved the 3 points because they just continued to try and play football regardless. It’s another example of how the team has grown up this season. They were not out muscled or didn’t lose discipline and as a result got their 11th straight victory. I still hate Bolton. |
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