Source: Telegraph
Arsenal 4 Bolton Wanderers 1: match report
It was said that Cesc Fabregas followed his heart by committing his future to Arsenal. In reality, his continued employment at the Emirates owed more to Arsène Wenger's growling resistance of Barcelona. The captain's consummate performance in this victory proved it may have been the best move for all concerned. [LNB]This Arsenal side is at last exhibiting maturity. Once they would have been cowed by the roughhouse tactics of Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn, but in two early matches they have emerged as easy winners. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tableTelegraph player raterArsenal v Bolton Wanderers: liveArsenal v Bolton Wanderers: match previewPremier League fixturesSport on television"It would not have been possible two years ago," Wenger admitted, as his team cemented second place in the Premier League. [LNB]The Frenchman has made a habit of not emoting about specific players, but on the subject of Fabregas, he seemed achingly earnest, arguing: "I was always convinced he loved Arsenal. To make this team win will be a bigger achievement than anything else for Fabregas." [LNB]With Fabregas as their fulcrum, Arsenal registered their 1,000th and 1,001st goals under Wenger. The untested centre-back partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Sébastien Squillaci also stood up against the bombardment, led by the one-man wrecking ball that is Kevin Davies. [LNB]The midfielder was fortunate not to be sent off for a reckless early lunge on Jack Wilshere, followed by a jarring clash of heads with Koscielny, which left Gary Cahill to pay the price for the sum of Bolton's sins. Cahill's slide on Marouane Chamakh in the 65th minute was plainly mistimed, although hardly malevolent, and in a classic case of a young referee bowing to the baying of home supporters, 27-year-old Stuart Attwell brandished the red card. [LNB]Owen Coyle, who felt that his Bolton players had sought to match Arsenal in the 'pass and move' stakes a rather head-in-the-clouds claim was incandescent. A game delicately poised at 2-1 tipped, in an instant, towards Wenger's side, who finished this impressive display with a salvo of two late goals. [LNB]"I'm frustrated, because of how harshly the players have been dealt with," the Scot said. "They were deserving of more than they got. If I was to elaborate, there's no doubt I'd be in trouble. Cahill's sending-off was a huge turning point in the game." [LNB]Wenger, used to conveying his views on Bolton's tackling with candour, was more gracious. "Bolton had full commitment," he admitted. "We had to get our passing to prevail." [LNB]Even if Andrei Arshavin endured another frustrating afternoon, Arsenal moved through the gears smoothly. Fabregas was at the centre of the attack from the outset, running on to a Wilshere chip for a neat cutback, bundled in by Koscielny. [LNB]So frequently did Arshavin strike the side-netting that Arsenal appeared content with shooting practice. Johan Elmander punished them for such wastefulness, as the Swedish striker rose to convert Lee Chung-Yong's cross with a powerful header. The riposte, however, was short-lived, with Fabregas restoring the match's natural balance by steering a fine pass on to the head of Chamakh at the far post. [LNB]Bolton's faint hopes were doused when Cahill went through the back of the Moroccan striker in front of the dugout, drawing Attwell's unduly harsh sanction. Thereafter, almost every Arsenal pass was cheered as Alex Song, then substitute Carlos Vela, applied the coup de grace. The Mexican's goal, in particular, was sublime, his assured finish owing much to the perfectly weighted through ball from that man Fabregas. [LNB]
