Source: Team_Talk
Wenger expects goals to flow
Arsene Wenger is in no doubt there will be plenty more goals to come from his Arsenal team, which now boasts a more "stable" defensive footing.[LNB] The Gunners chalked up their 1,000th Premier League goal under Wenger during Saturday's 4-1 win over Bolton, who had defender Gary Cahill sent off just after the hour at the Emirates Stadium.[LNB]Defender Laurent Koscielny opened the scoring - and his Arsenal account - with a bundled close-range effort, before a tame back-header led to Bolton's equaliser just before the break.[LNB]That, though, was just about the only notable mistake from the French centre-back pairing, with fellow new arrival Sebastien Squillaci making his debut following a £6million switch from Sevilla because of a minor Achilles injury to Thomas Vermaelen.[LNB]It was inconsistencies in defence which proved Arsenal's undoing last season, when they shipped 41 goals - some nine more than champions Chelsea, while Manchester United only let in 28.[LNB]However, Wenger believes signs are positive that unwanted trait is set to be reversed.[LNB]"We know we can score goals and as a team we improve from season to season. We are more mature, and of course our challenge will be to be sound at the back," Wenger told BBC Sport.[LNB]"We have now played two difficult teams, at Blackburn and against Bolton, when defensively we were quite strong.[LNB]"Everybody can score goals in our team, but I feel we are more stable defensively and are slowly getting there."[LNB]Wenger believes his young side passed another character test, having been good value for their lead after creating a string of chances - and on another day Andrey Arshavin could have had a hat-trick before the break.[LNB]Marouane Chamakh headed the hosts back in front following Johan Elmander's 44th-minute equaliser, before Cahill was shown a straight red card for going through the back of the Moroccan striker right in front of the dugouts.[LNB]Alex Song brought up Arsenal's milestone with a well-taken goal after 78 minutes, his first at Emirates Stadium, before substitute Carlos Vela stroked in number four.[LNB]On a sour note, it remains to be seen just how much damage was suffered by midfielder Abou Diaby, who went off less than 15 minutes after coming on, following what looked a poor challenge from Paul Robinson.[LNB]Bolton boss Owen Coyle, though, took exception to what he felt was a key decision by referee Stuart Attwell - who famously allowed a "ghost goal" during a match between Watford and Reading two years ago - just before Cahill's sending off, and remonstrated with the 27-year-old official after the final whistle.[LNB]"It is there for everyone to see," Coyle declared.[LNB]"The pictures will clearly show Lee Chung-young is fouled right on the edge of the box. I don't think it is a penalty, but it is certainly a free-kick.[LNB]"Then within a few seconds they have played the ball on the counter-attack and we are down to 10 men when Cahill gets sent off.[LNB]"I am not going to get myself into trouble by saying too much, but I am sure anyone who knows anything about football will know that was clearly a free-kick.[LNB]"Ultimately we have paid a heavy price for that big decision."[LNB]The match highlights will also show, however, Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan making sure the score was not more harsh on the visitors with a string of impressive saves.[LNB]The Hungarian was making his first Premier League start in place of the suspended Jussi Jaaskelainen, and left an impression on his manager.[LNB]"When he was called on, he made some big saves," said Coyle.[LNB]"We have got high hopes for Adam and I felt for him because he certainly did not deserve to concede four goals."
