Bolton 0-0 Arsenal
|Arsenal failed to find the net against a resilient Bolton side on Wednesday evening in what was a frustrating game for Arsene Wenger’s men.
Arsenal’s Starting XI v Bolton: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Ramsey, Song, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, van Persie (c).
Subs: Fabianski (GK), Coquelin, Benayoun, Arshavin, Rosicky, Park, Henry.
Top goalscorer Robin van Persie could have given the Gunners an early lead, but his header was cleared off the line by David Wheater.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should have done better soon after, but the winger could only fire wide after being put through by Van Persie.
David N’Gog was Bolton’s most lively player of the first half as he saw one effort saved by Wojciech Szczesny before another ruled out for offside.
The Gunners came to within inches of taking a second-half lead as Van Persie struck the post and then the crossbar.
Thierry Henry was introduced, but he failed to make the breakthrough for Arsene Wenger’s side.
Mark Davies could have won it for the Trotters in the final minutes, but the midfielder put his effort wide after cutting into the area.
Leave your thoughts on the match in the comments section below.
this is the perfect example of wengers poor transfer policy. instead of firts team players /we need at least 3 firt team members to compete for the top/ he brings in injury prone german kid. if RvP doesnt score, no one does these days. i would love to be positive but drawing with relegation candidate after 3 lost games just doesnt give me hope
too many spurned chances. RVP unlucky not to score. lots of misplaced passes. sagna easily best right back in PL.
Wenger should go now. Hey, Arsenal is a big club, why is it suddenly it’s not all about the results and trophies that matters?
C’mmon. Fire Wenger now. He’s ruining the club. You know what, the fans are so displeased with the performance and calling him to resign because we cared. Wenger is never bigger than the club.
awful awful game, awful attitude.awful mentality from both plyrs and manager everything was just awful and gutless!!
The lack of urgency, wasted chances, laboured approach cost us again! Nearly did on Sunday as well, needs to change.
We are not sharp enough if rvp is not on form as tonight proved
I am the only one frustrated with the tactics? This 433 is not working, it was based around Fabregas who isn’t here any more and we have no one of his calibre to step and fill his boots. Also, there seems to be no passion in this team, with the exception of TV, RVP and JW (when he plays). It won’t surprise me if RVP leaves and to be honest I wouldn’t blame him. He needs and warrants a better team and squad, not bargain buys!
Ramsey should start from the bench,how can he miss such opportunity in the box.
Its sad really, we could and should have reinforced in January… On the bright side, our one new signing had a good game at the reserves…
Another dissapointing result just after a big win. Really thought that we could build on the momentum after such a good comeback, and yet we squander it yet again. Not even sure top 6 is a definite given Newcastle and Liverpool’s recent form. Completely missing europe would be horrible, but then it would surely be a massive boot up the Arsenal and would make us much more able to compete the following season. Question is if the champions league money goes, is there really any money left to spend?
Where was the urgency and direct approach seen for 20mins in the 2nd half on Sunday?
Important to remember this time last year we had the best midfield in the EPL with Nasri, Fabregas, and Wilshere. None of them are playing for us now. We are a team with a passing philosophy, the midfield is the most important gear in the machine. So 5 pts off 4th with all but 1 in front of us still to play is not the end of the world given the reality.
The last couple of months RVP has covered up alot of Arsenal’s problems. Scoring goals wins you games. Who besides RVP is going to do that?
We started of really well, but after those missed chances in the first 20 minutes I know this could be one of those games. Shaky at the back, losing grip, less and less penetration. Arsène would call it ‘dropping a bit physically in the second half’. Also don’t understand why Ramsey stayed on so long, he was clearly tired and Rosicky has been excellent lately.
I must say that Sagna was excellent, easily the best player in an Arsenal jersey. Played as if that injury never happened. What a relief to have him back at right back, he really adds to Arsenal’s solidity.
At the end we dropped points unnecessarily again, really can’t see us grabbing 4th this season.
We found it too easy in the first half and again we failed to learn and take our chances. The mentality in the team needs to change.
On the positive side we looked much better with Sagna & Arteta, on the other side we need finishers to help RVP, Walcott should be dropped to bench don’t have quality to play for Arsenal !
I thought our work ethic was fantastic tonight. Like most games, we struggled in the final third but at one point we had torn through their entire team with just 4 passes (Ramsey chance I think). You have to give credit to Bolton, they defended excellently. It just seems that Arsenal’s history is coming back to haunt them at the moment, but I believe that the more this team sticks together, the better we’ll get. Chelsea face United next, so we’ll catch some ground on them when we smash up Blackburn. Have faith. Peace x
Does anyone out there feel like me. Wenger has robbed me of the Saturday excitement, the anxiety of every point making a difference, the thrill of the premiership – gone! Another year of nothing coming up another bunch of excuses for having the weakest squad in living memory and relying on one striker. There is a debate about would Jose fit at Arsenal… Well despite his baggage the guy is a WINNER and if a new manager that could engage the fans and inspire the players maybe, just maybe we could get back to being a feared and wonderful team. Wenger has destroyed this club. He is an accountant, yes a property developer, yes but we need a winner now. The empty seats on Sunday said it all. Wenger Allez sil vous plait
Arsenal lacks composure in the final third and we also need a good goal scoring mid-fielder. Sagna’s return is a welcome boost for the side.
Real lack of ‘world-class’ midfielder is costing us. Ramsey good talent but doesn’t dictate the play. Poor/no final ball from MF, Cesc growing a bigger miss with every game.
god wenger go but good news diaby be like a new signing and gibbs and next year when van the man leaves if i was him i be packed ready to go he be sayin jack is like a new signing and we are good boys of europe with the fair play rules only we wont be fu**ing in it will we u little french cu*t
I’m getting tired of saying this but Wenger must go! He is a dictator!
no urgency in midfield and not breaking quick enough. Our game is built around speed and moving the ball quickly and we havent got that anymore. Massive wenger supporter but his tactics and choice of players is all wrong. He was cutting edge 15 years ago and he hasnt moved since the invicibles…..I hope he changes or brings in the players that can play the way he wants the team to play… hate to say it but we will draw against blackburn and lose to sunderland!
Flat performance but with a few good chances missed. Poor at the back (Koscielny had a poor game) and we are really missing a midfielder who can play that killer pass. We miss Cesc, a lot!
@Jonny Lawrence: i wish i had yuor optimisim. we will draw at best with the venky’s lot and lose to sunderland!!!!
It was the worst display of football I’ve seen from an Arsenal team in years. The team lacked concentration and poise. It’s a sad situation when the best players on the pitch were an 18 year old and a player who just returned after months on the sidelines with a broken leg. Nothing about Arsenal’s play against Bolton today was inspiring. Those of us who had our lives on hold yesterday waiting to see who Arsenal picked up in the transfer window, and stayed put to watch the 90+ minutes of the game today, must walk away disatisfied. Players and management should give their wages for today to charity. Even I as a fan must hang my head in shame.
Arsene got his substitutions wrong again. Once the Ox and Ramsey came off we never threatened to score! & arteta was way too cautious as always.
Who could honestly blame Robin V Persie if he leaves in the summer? Sad to say so, but he deserves a trophy – he is class #COYG
I don’t blame Wenger. I feel his hands are tied. I want to see the back of Gazidis, I don’t trust a word that comes out of his mouth. Also silent Stan needs to show some leadership here and invest something into the club. We are going backwards at the moment.
any team that start ramsey get result we are having now, seriously i do not know what wenger is thinking, rosicky on bench with the way he played against villa, as long as we keep playing ramsey we going no where, sad… wenger should go
I would gladly finish outside top four if it meant Wenger looses his job
Couple of good players that are overused and more then a couple that are not used. Tired legs no wonder we fucked it up. Just wondering when Ramsey gets injured because of overplaying him. If he thinks that arshavin or park are so good then why he don’t play them instead of 34 year old Henry or midfielder Rosicky? I just hope for one that walcott will be given 100k contract so we have another overpaid twat. And he still takes off Chambo who was miles better. We are in fucking mess and for now its not a question of finishing in top four but to finish above pool and newcastle. Dear oh dear…
4 league games, 12 points to play for, 1 taken.
Nuff said. Averageness is sad but true.
in wenger we rust,d medical team should b sacked.wenga knew dt diaby,gibs wil neva play so why include dm.why buy park.substitutns are late and no quality 2 change d game.t’ham only sold carick,berba when dy where not fightin 4 sth,but now dy can’t sel 2 dir rivals.but wenga would ve sold modric 4 20 million.u sel nasri without askin 4 adam johnson,u sel toure without askin 4 given.u sel within d league.where was wenger when raul,roben,van der vart,huntla,guti,forlan went 4 cheap.what’s wrong with loanin quality.let good playas leave bcos of litle cash,go 4 quantity rada than quality.even d academy is producin nth.d playas are bin sold.
No wonder they’ drore tired as we have so many injuries (that are managed badly) and useless shit (dont need to say) and of course 50m in account because they couldnt find better ones that are currently in the club. Wondering when Ramsey gets injured because of overplaing him. I just hope someone reminds him saying “I wont let to drop point because of no left back” fucking liar. Hope he will give theo this 100k as he had another great game. As much as i hid from critcising wenger its enough. Constant lies and excusses.
With a borad that prepares for failure one can only expect just that.We don’t deserve forth place because it will reward incompetence.Ashavin out.walcott bench.ramsey bench.henry thanks for the memories,now go back to NY.I think Occupy Arsenal should now be enforced because the damn board is arrogant and cheap,loading the team with average injury prone leftovers instead of investing to win now.8 points out of possible 24 is pathetic but reflective of an under-achieving team.Fan power NOW!!
u know ur best playas are leavin yet u do nth,d remainin good midfielda is injured yet u don’t buy quality.i don’t blame d playas dy are average playas dy are givin d best dy can.maybe utd shld ve trashed arsenal 10 nil so wenga shld ve bot.
@gunner:
Arsene has 50 million to spend but that money includes wages and contract extensions. Fans wake up and pull you thumbs out of your bums and see the shit sitting in the board room. They are taking the money out of the club and don’t care if we come 10th. silent stan should have been told where to go at the GM when he said quote (I don’t know why I am here but here it goes) unquote. One fan at least should have shouted out if you don’t know why the sell up and f**k off. He is at the club for the money. he thinks this is some sort of franchise where the american are not bothered about loyalty for the club. He has spent nothing with his american franchise and is known to spend nothing. At the GM he said nothing as to where the club was going because as long as he is making money who cares. The commercial contracts are coming to a end and to get big money we need to win on the pitch and that means trophies. My plea is Arsenal fans get organised and express our frustrations together as one before it is to late. One act of rebellion can cause a million changes for the best. COME ON YOU GOONERS
Another poor performance from Ramsey. He needs to start on bench, painful to watch him make zero contribution. Well, we are in 7th place now. I can’t believe this is happening to Arsenal. It’s time for Wenger to go. Gazidis needs to go too. That guy is a joke, poor excuse for CEO.
Max: “Ashavin out.”
Yet I thought nobody will blame Arshavin for this shit, but you proved me wrong 🙂
For some fans, Arshavin is a scapegoat no matter what, even if he did not appear on the pitch at all. I could only imagine what some would say if he did.
walcott, ramsey should be dropped to the bench. for the blackburn game, i would like to see this formation
SZCHESNEY
SAGNA-KOS-VERMAELEN-COQUELIN
ARTETA-SONG
ROSICKY
OX-RVP-BENAYOUN/ARSHAVIN
use walcott and ramsey to lift the team if it isn`t going alright. arshavin need to get more games, same goes to park and benayoun. they are not in the first XI, so they will have hunger, compared to ramsey and walcott, who are useless junk, getting really comfortable. also, i have to blame wenger, i mean he knew gervinho will go and he knew that we rely too much on rvp, and yet he didn`t sigh a solid forward. if rvp goes, i am cool with that, i wont blame him, he has given everything for the club this season
while i agree with a lot of gooners that its time for change , what we need to realise is how ingrained the wenger project is at arsenal . imagine a new manager walking in on his first day , he`s confronted with at least 10 average players on 50000 grand a week on 3 , 4 , or 5 year contracts ! who and where could we ship them out to ? we probably wont be in the cl so attracting top players would be impossible .your top striker r.v.p. wants out ! on top of that the board tells you that we must be prudent in the transfer market so we can look like a club that lives within its means . bottom line is it would take at least 200 mill to rebuild this mess .