Wednesday February 1, 2012 Day 23 Finished Reebok Stadium

  1. Wasteful Arsenal held by Bolton

    Wasteful Arsenal held by Bolton

    Arsenal's aspirations of securing a top-four Premier League finish suffered further damage when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Bolton. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Bolton Wanderers
    • Arsenal
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Thursday morning (UK only).
    • - Arsenal fans, want to let me know what you thought of that game? Bolton fans, did you think it was a penalty? Let me know on Twitter: @tomEurosport Get in contact on Twitter
    • 90+3' FULL TIME. Arsenal suffer another blow to their hopes of a top-four finish when being held. Van Persie hit the woodowork twice while Bolton could have won it at the end.
    • 90+2' Unless Arsenal conjure something up here they are heading to seventh place as Newcastle are winning. However, Bolton have looked the most likely in the closing stages.
    • 90+1' We will have three added minutes.
    • 90' Another chance for Bolton! Arsenal fail to clear and Davies jinks inside before lashing a low effort wide of the post!
    • 89' Darren Pratley is on for Reo-Coker.
    • 88' What a chance!! What a chance!! Mark Davies slaloms his way through the Arsenal defence and stays on his feet despite pressure from Mertesacker. Szczesny then gets plenty of the player when rushing out to clear and little of the ball. It should have been a penalty.
    • 86' Chance for Bolton! Kevin Davies charges forward but can't slip his pass out to a team-mate.
    • 84' Henry whips a low cross into the box but Knight clears under pressure.
    • 83' Ricketts has a shot blocked as Bolton sense a chance for themselves to score. We could have a dramatic end to proceedings here.
    • 81' Bolton also make a change as Tuncay replaces Petrov.
    • 81' Tomas Rosicky replaces Ramsey for Arsenal.
    • 80' Van Persie hits the bar! Oh that would have been some goal indeed. The Dutchman dinked a quite brilliant chip over the head of Bogdan, only to see it smack off the woodwork. Walcott hammered a shot wide on the rebound.
    • 79' Kevin Davies pulls the ball down and tries to lift a pass through for Steinsson, only to be brought down by Mertesacker in the process. No foul though.
    • 77' Arsenal attempt an intricate passing move but Van Persie loses possession on the edge of the box.
    • 76' Davies always gives Arsenal a once over and he will be keen to impress having been the subject of interest from Sunderland on transfer deadline day, only to remain at Bolton.
    • 75' Change for Bolton as Kevin Davies replaces Ngog as the lone striker.
    • 74' Van Persie tries to slip a pass in for Henry but it is too close to Bogdan.
    • 72' Now it is Reo-Coker's chance to fail to get the necessary connection on a dangerous cross, this time from Petrov, before Steinsson volleys over!
    • 71' Chance for Bolton! A Petrov free kick is deflected back out and when Bolton do swing in a cross from the right, Steinsson is just underneath the ball and cannot get his head to it.
    • 70' Arsenal remove Oxlade-Chamberlain and on comes living legend and all-time top scorer Thierry Henry.
    • 69' Ramsey twists and turns in the box and gets a shot away despite losing his footing. It flies wide.
    • 69' Ramsey collects the ball 20 yards from goal in a central area but produces a bemusing pass to no one. Must try harder.
    • 68' Owen Coyle - a hard man to anger - looks absolutely furious about something on the touchline.
    • 67' Sagna comes across to clean up as Song struggles to deal with Nigel Reo-Coker, but the Frenchman concedes a corner with his sliding tackle.
    • 66' Stat from Infostrada: "Bolton started last season by picking up 35 points from their first 17 home matches (10 wins, 5 draws and 2 defeats), a run that was concluded with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal. That was when their home rut started. Since then, they have taken seven points from the next 11 home matches (2 wins, 1 draw, 8 defeats)."
    • 64' At the other end, Ngog tries to race into the box but falls to ground after Vermaelen gets in between him and the ball. It was too weak to be a penalty.
    • 63' Oxlade-Chamberlain rasps one over the bar from 25 yards as he lets fly, before Mertesacker heads wide. Chances flowing thick and fast for Arsenal now.
    • 62' Arsenal hit the post! Sagna supplies a brilliant cross from the right and Van Persie eludes his marker to turn the ball against the woodwork with his instep. So unlucky.
    • 61' Koscielny threads a fine pass through for Ramsey and he subsequently slips a pass out wide to Walcott, who comes inside and sees his effort blocked.
    • 60' Lovely stuff from Arsenal as Vermaelen and Ramsey combine for a one-two but the Belgian is offside as he runs onto the return pass.
    • 59' Van Persie comes deep to link up with Arteta and pings a ball over the top for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has materialised on the right. However, he can't pull the ball down and control.
    • 57' Szczesny plays with fire and so nearly gets burned as he tries to twist and turn away from Ngog instead of hoofing the ball clear. He only just gets away with it.
    • 56' Eagles delivers a corner from the right and while Petrov gets his head to the ball he only succeeds in directing the ball back across goal and wide.
    • 54' Brilliant, determined work from Sagna as he holds off Petrov for 10 seconds or so but the upshot is that it is Bolton who win the throw-in when Ramsey comes across to help.
    • 53' Walcott threatens to spring through on goal but is ruled offside.
    • 52' Song cushions a nice first-time pass through to Walcott but Bogdan races off his line quickly to smother at the feet of the Arsenal forward.
    • 51' Arsenal are enjoying stroking the ball around at present and are patiently looking for a way through. Oxlade-Chamberlain looks their most likely avenue.
    • 49' Davies puts in a nasty challenge on Arteta as he goes in high on the Spaniard but is not punished with a card.
    • 47' Early panic in the Bolton defence as a cross from Oxlade-Chamberlain is turned behind for a corner. Bolton fail to properly clear and Koscielny, of all people, jinks his away across the box to fire in another cross that soars over.
    • 46' KICK OFF!
    • - Got anything to say on that first half, or about football in general? Why not follow me on Twitter. Go on, give it a go. Follow @tomEurosport
    • 45+1' HALF TIME. A frantic encounter is somehow goalless at the break, with both sides wasting excellent chances but particularly Arsenal.
    • 45' We will have one added minute.
    • 44' Ramsey frees Walcott with a ball down the line and his cross floats into the path of Vermaelen, who slips when attempting to execute an acrobatic volley.
    • 43' Petrov's free kick is just too long though as Bolton waste a good chance to put Arsenal under pressure from a set piece.
    • 41' The linesman is brought to ground when Arteta knocks into Eagles and pushes the Bolton winger into the match official. Nice work from the lino as he starts flagging as he falls to ground.
    • 40' Arteta with the free-kick and he floats it to the back post, but Knight arches his neck to flick the ball away with his head. Good defending.
    • 39' Now it is Steinsson's turn to get a booking as he is forced into a clumsy challenge to bring Oxlade-Chamberlain to ground as he embarks on a dazzling run.
    • 38' Vermaelen goes into the book for tripping Davies but it looked a dive on first look. Replays support that belief. Shameless stuff from the Bolton midfielder.
    • 37' Eagles almost squeezes a pass through to Ngog but Mertesacker does enough to prevent the striker from picking it up on the edge of the box.
    • 36' Now Koscielny tries to ping a pass out wide to Oxlade-Chamberlain but again the teenager has no chance of getting on the end of it. Both teams have been so ragged tonight.
    • 34' Song drives forward in midfield but his attempted through-ball for Oxlade-Chamberlain has far too much on it. Song does have a tendency to lose possession in key positions like that.
    • 33' Gretar Steinsson gives a sliding Oxlade-Chamberlain the slip with a neat turn but his low cross is cleared by the Arsenal defence.
    • 32' This really has been a fantastic game, with plenty of terrible defending and even worse finishing. Great action.
    • 31' Stat from Opta: "Owen Coyle’s side have gone 11 games without a clean sheet in the Premier League."
    • 30' Song wraps his arm round Mark Davies's and gives away a blatant free-kick in the centre of the pitch. Eagles swings in the free-kick but Arsenal head clear.
    • 29' Arteta shapes to shoot on the edge of the box but instead fires in a neat reverse pass to Ramsey. The Welshman can't get the ball under control though.
    • 27' From the corner Mertesacker sees an effort blocked and the German then fails to bring a pass down properly when Oxlade-Chamblerlain spots him in space in the box. What a game this has been.
    • 26' What a chance! Oxlade-Chamberlain plays in Walcott with a wonderful pass and the forwward finds himself one-on-one in the centre of the penalty area. However, his finish is poor as his shot goes straight at Bogdan and deflects behind for a corner.
    • 25' In a frantic encounter, Walcott takes possession in the box but as he spins his pass rolls into the path of a Bolton player.
    • 24' Eagles finds himself in acres of space on the right and delivers a teasing cross that flashes across the face of goal. It was crying out for a finish.
    • 23' What a chance for Bolton! Wheater plays in Ngog with a quite brilliant flick and the Frenchman chests the ball down under pressure before poking his shot just wide of the post from 10 yards! He had to score.
    • 22' Stat from Opta: "Arsenal have picked up fewer points after 22 matches (36) than in any Premier League season since 1995-96."
    • 21' David Ngog gets away from Koscielny all too easily in the box and from a tight angle produces a firm low effort that Wojciech Szczesny does well to keep out with a strong arm. Arsenal race up the other end and Oxlade-Chamberlain fires over the bar.
    • 20' Stat from Opta: "Bolton have conceded the most goals in the Premier League on home soil (25). Arsenal have conceded the most goals away from home in the Premier League (25)." Weird.
    • 19' Van Persie swings in the corner and picks out Oxlade-Chamberlain. However, the young man can't direct a header on target under pressure.
    • 18' Knight turns a cross from Sagna over the bar and it will be a corner for Arsenal...
    • 18' Stat from Opta: "Robin van Persie has scored 20 goals in his last 20 Premier League away appearances."
    • 17' Another chance for Arsenal. This time defender Laurent Koscielny embarks on an unlikely run forward and slips a pass to Van Persie, who cuts inside and blasts over the bar from the edge of the box. It looks only a matter of time before Arsenal go ahead.
    • 16' Stat from Opta: "Arsenal have won nine of the last 10 Premier League games against Bolton (W9 L1)."
    • 15' Bolton have been under considerable pressure so it would be just like Arsenal to concede a goal now.
    • 13' Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is spotted in the stands. He will have been impressed by the team in red so far tonight.
    • 12' Another chance for Arsenal as Van Persie, who has been so influential, plays a pass into Oxlade-Chamberlain and the youngster sees his effort fly just wide of the far post.
    • 11' Nice work from Walcott as he holds onto the ball under pressure down the right but when he cuts the ball back to Van Persie the Dutchman sees his effort blocked.
    • 10' Van Persie now turns provider with a glorious pass through for Ramsey, who gets his toe to the ball at full stretch but can't direct it away from the body of Bogdan, who saves with ease.
    • 9' This time Vermaelen does manage to swing in a cross from the left and Van Persie jumps high to meet it, with his downwards header eluding goalkeeper Adam Bogdan. However, David Wheater is on hand to clear off the line.
    • 7' Thomas Vermaelen, stationed at left-back once again, tries to break free in the final third but Chris Eagles tracks him well and prevents the Belgian from getting a cross in.
    • 6' Arsenal are enjoying the lion's share of possession, as you would expect. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain picks up the ball in a central area and tries to thread a pass through to Walcott but sees it cut out.
    • 5' Van Persie takes the set-piece but Zat Knight rises high to head clear for Bolton.
    • 4' Robin van Persie spreads a pass wide to Theo Walcott and he darts into the box before winning a corner off Sam Ricketts.
    • 3' Bolton try to probe down the Arsenal right, which until tonight was clearly the Gunners' weak spot. However, the return of Sagna makes them much more robust in that respect.
    • 2' Arsenal start in a composed fashion as Aaron Ramsey looks to open up the Bolton defence from his advanced role in midfield.
    • 1' KICK OFF!
    • 19:55 We are not too far from kick-off at the Reebok now. You can get in touch with Tom Adams, who is providing commentary in this match via Twitter @tomEurosport. Get in touch!
    • 19:50 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants to see more of the spirit shown in the FA Cup comeback win at the weekend: "Our target is to show the response we showed against Aston Villa now in the Premier League. We want to continue to chase up, to get up the league and fight for the top four. We know from previous games that we have that strength and that the desire in the team is great. Overall the ingredients are there."
    • 19:45 Full-back Bacary Sagna returned from four months out with a broken ankle with a late substitute appearance in the 3-2 FA Cup win over Aston Villa, but is rested, as is Johan Djourou. Mikel Arteta starts after recovering from a calf injury, while Thierry Henry is on the bench having suffered with a similar problem. Full-back Kieran Gibbs (groin) has returned to normal training, but Carl Jenkinson (back), Andre Santos (ankle) and midfielder Abou Diaby (hamstring) are still out. Arsenal team page
    • 19:40 New Bolton centre-back Tim Ream is not in tonight's squad. His transfer from the New York Red Bulls was confirmed last week, but the US international has been back in his homeland sorting out passport issues related to the. Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is still out with a thigh problem. Bolton team page
    • 19:35 Bolton: Bogdan, Steinsson, Knight, Wheater, Ricketts, Eagles, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov, Mark Davies, Ngog. Subs: Jaaskelainen, Sanli, Kevin Davies, Klasnic, Pratley, Boyata, Riley /// Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Ramsey, Song, Walcott, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, van Persie. Subs: Fabianski, Rosicky, Park, Henry, Arshavin, Benayoun, Coquelin.
    • 19:30 These two clubs have been in contact already this week as Bolton took Arsenal midfielder Ryo Miyaichi on loan on deadline day. The 19-year-old Japanese is ineligible to play against his parent club under Premier League rules. More here
    • 19:25 Head-to-head: These two clubs have met twice this season, with Arsenal winning both at home. They won 2-1 in the Carling Cup in October and 3-0 in the Premier League in September. Arsenal have won three of their last four league games at the Reebok Stadium but lost their most recent match at the stadium – 2-1 last season.
    • 19:20 Bolton can pull themselves as much as four points clear of the relegation zone with a win over Arsenal this evening. The Gunners will go back above Liverpool into fifth place with victory at the Reebok. Premier League table
    • 19:15 Welcome to Eurosport's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Bolton Wanderers and Arsenal at the Reebok Stadium!

  • Summary

    • 90' Another chance for Bolton! Arsenal fail to clear and Davies jinks inside before lashing a low effort wide of the post!
    • 88' What a chance!! What a chance!! Mark Davies slaloms his way through the Arsenal defence and stays on his feet despite pressure from Mertesacker. Szczesny then gets plenty of the player when rushing out to clear and little of the ball. It should have been a penalty.
    • 80' Van Persie hits the bar! Oh that would have been some goal indeed. The Dutchman dinked a quite brilliant chip over the head of Bogdan, only to see it smack off the woodwork. Walcott hammered a shot wide on the rebound.
    • 72' Now it is Reo-Coker's chance to fail to get the necessary connection on a dangerous cross, this time from Petrov, before Steinsson volleys over!
    • 71' Chance for Bolton! A Petrov free kick is deflected back out and when Bolton do swing in a cross from the right, Steinsson is just underneath the ball and cannot get his head to it.
    • 62' Arsenal hit the post! Sagna supplies a brilliant cross from the right and Van Persie eludes his marker to turn the ball against the woodwork with his instep. So unlucky.
    • 61' Koscielny threads a fine pass through for Ramsey and he subsequently slips a pass out wide to Walcott, who comes inside and sees his effort blocked.
    • 57' Szczesny plays with fire and so nearly gets burned as he tries to twist and turn away from Ngog instead of hoofing the ball clear. He only just gets away with it.
    • 26' What a chance! Oxlade-Chamberlain plays in Walcott with a wonderful pass and the forwward finds himself one-on-one in the centre of the penalty area. However, his finish is poor as his shot goes straight at Bogdan and deflects behind for a corner.
    • 23' What a chance for Bolton! Wheater plays in Ngog with a quite brilliant flick and the Frenchman chests the ball down under pressure before poking his shot just wide of the post from 10 yards! He had to score.
    • 21' David Ngog gets away from Koscielny all too easily in the box and from a tight angle produces a firm low effort that Wojciech Szczesny does well to keep out with a strong arm. Arsenal race up the other end and Oxlade-Chamberlain fires over the bar.
    • 17' Another chance for Arsenal. This time defender Laurent Koscielny embarks on an unlikely run forward and slips a pass to Van Persie, who cuts inside and blasts over the bar from the edge of the box. It looks only a matter of time before Arsenal go ahead.
    • 12' Another chance for Arsenal as Van Persie, who has been so influential, plays a pass into Oxlade-Chamberlain and the youngster sees his effort fly just wide of the far post.
    • 11' Nice work from Walcott as he holds onto the ball under pressure down the right but when he cuts the ball back to Van Persie the Dutchman sees his effort blocked.
    • 10' Van Persie now turns provider with a glorious pass through for Ramsey, who gets his toe to the ball at full stretch but can't direct it away from the body of Bogdan, who saves with ease.
    • 9' This time Vermaelen does manage to swing in a cross from the left and Van Persie jumps high to meet it, with his downwards header eluding goalkeeper Adam Bogdan. However, David Wheater is on hand to clear off the line.
    • 19:35 Bolton: Bogdan, Steinsson, Knight, Wheater, Ricketts, Eagles, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov, Mark Davies, Ngog. Subs: Jaaskelainen, Sanli, Kevin Davies, Klasnic, Pratley, Boyata, Riley /// Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Ramsey, Song, Walcott, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, van Persie. Subs: Fabianski, Rosicky, Park, Henry, Arshavin, Benayoun, Coquelin.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.7 7
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 4.6 6
      4.5 7
      4.7 7
      4.7 6
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out89′ 5.1 6
      5 8
      4.8 6
      Strikers
      4.8 6
      Substitution Out81′ 5 7
      Substitution Out75′ 4.8 5
      Subs
      Substitution In75′ 5.4 6
      Substitution In89′ 5.9 6
      Substitution In81′ 5.3 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.2 6
      Defenders
      6.8 8
      6.3 6
      6.8 7
      Yellow Card 7.2 6
      Midfielders
      6.8 6
      6.8 6
      Substitution Out80′ 6.7 6
      Strikers
      5.3 5
      Substitution Out69′ 6.9 7
      7.5 6
      Subs
      Substitution In69′ 5.8 5
      Substitution In80′ 5.9 6

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account