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Full-Time: ARSENAL 1-0 BOLTON. Arsenal keep themselves within three points of Aston Villa in the race for fourth place thanks to Bendtner's late winner that broke Bolton hearts.
Ramsey collects a booking.
The Gunners are making a final change now as Aaron Ramsey replaces Emmanuel Adebayor.
Another chance for Bolton as Taylor evades the challenges of Clichy and Nasri too deliver a superb cross and Obadeyi meets it but can't keep the header down.
Bolton are forced out of their defensive setup and Davies has a great chance to equalise but he tries to be too delicate and places the ball straight into the arms of Almunia. A big let-off!
ARSENAL 1-0 BOLTON. Relief all around the Emirates as BENDTNER steers Van Persie's drilled cross back past Jaaskelaien.
More frustration for Arsenal as Bendtner wriggles into the box but his shot is blocked by a combination of defenders and Bolton boot it away.
Johan Djourou collects a yellow card for a foul on substitute Obadeyi.
The Trotters are making another change and Riga, who came on in the first half, is replaced by Temitope Obadeyi.
Bolton are going to need all their spirit and strength in the final 15 minutes if they are going to hold onto their point today as Arsenal have suddenly found another gear.
Immediately a chance for Bendtner as he rises highest to meet Nasri's free-kick but its straight at Jaaskelainen.
Second change for Arsenal as Nicklas Bendtner replaces Emmanuel Eboue.
Gavin McCann is the second Bolton man to enter the referee's notebook.
The pressure is beginning to build! Perhaps Bolton are tiring but suddenly Arsenal are laying siege to their goal as Toure blasts one from range that forces a good stop from Jaaskelainen.
Van Persie strikes the post! The Dutchman evades two in the box and beats Jaaskelainen with a curling effort that bounces clear and Bolton survive their biggest scare.
Bolton are unable to get out of their own half at the moment but Jussi Jaaskelainen has barely been called into action at all.
Best chance of the match! Riga lets Adebayor out of his sight on the edge of the box but the Togo striker takes an age to shift it out of his feet and O'Brien is able to get across to block the shot when it eventually comes in.
In fact, the Gunners are making a change as their exciting little Mexican striker Carlos Vela replaces the ineffective Abou Diaby.
Gary Megson meanwhile might have to make do with what he has on the field already as his subs bench is under-filled and inexperienced.
Arsene Wenger must be considering changes as we pass the hour mark here but he can only turn to youth.
Further frustration for the Gunners now as they begin to look even more unlike opening Bolton up but they really are missing the creativity of Fabregas.
Having burst into the game a moment ago Riga now bursts into a tackle and collects a booking.
Half a chance for Bolton! Riga uses his pace to advance down the right and swings a long ball across towards Taylor who tries to loop a header over Almunia but the keeper is alive to claim.
Arsenal fans are up in arms as they want a penalty for handball by Samuel, it would have been harsh but you have seen them given. Remarkably none of the home players appealed though.
The second period has started in a very similar pattern to the first with Arsenal passing around but lacking any real penetration.
The second half kicks off with Arsenal in desperate need of a goal but Bolton have looked defensively sound so far.
Half-Time: ARSENAL 0-0 BOLTON. The Gunners have enjoyed plenty of the ball in the first half but without really looking like unlocking the door as Bolton look defensively solid.
With half-time fast approaching it looks like Bolton will reach the break on level terms with the Gunners left frustrated by a lack of real openings.
Trouble for Bolton now as Johan Elmander has to limp off to be replaced by Mustapha Riga.
Emmanuel Adebayor has been anonymous today but Robin Van Persie has been lively and he twists in the box to pull the trigger but Andy O'Brien gets a vital block in.
There could be a problem here at the Emirates now as roughly half the floodlights have gone out. For now it looks okay but soon it could be too dark without the rest of them.
Bolton have, in the words of Mourinho, parked the bus in front of their own goal today with all ten outfield players trying to keep themselves goalside and they are managing to frustrate the Gunners.
What a waste! Van Persie finds space in the box again but he leans back on his shot when unmarked and it goes harmlessly over the bar.
Bolton on the break and Elmander is in behind but this time he has gone a split-second too early and the linesman raises his flag, correctly.
Samir Nasri wins a free-kick and dusts himself down to take it himself from just outside the box but its a poor effort and Jaaskelainen can watch it over comfortably.
After that little burst the game has drifted back into a midfield battle where Bolton are able to limit Arsenal's creativity with good pressure on the man in possession.
This is better! Arsenal are beginning to take control in all thirds of the pitch and Nasri is the latest to try his luck but his effort curls wide.
Suddenly its come alive at the Emirates as Nasri and Clichy play a one-two and the latter bends a cross in for Van Persie once more but his volley is miscued and easy for Jaaskelainen.
Big escape! Jaaskelainen launches it forward and Almunia needlessly flies out of his area, only to crash into Kolo Toure and is lucky to see the ball roll out of play before Elmander can capitalise.
Nasri shows the first real bit of creativity as he beats Basham and fires into Van Persie's feet and the Dutchman brings down mesmerically with his left foot and flashes his effort just over the bar.
No chances at either end as yet with both sides struggling to get into the final third. Arsenal are dominating possession but too little effect.
You get the feeling that if Bolton are going to force a result here today they might have to take a more physical approach and in Kevin Davies they have the perfect man for the job - in his usual style the big striker commits an early aerial foul.
The hosts have made a useful start as they have already begun to dictate the pace of play with their trademark passing style.
The Emirates is at its raucous best in the opening stages as the home fans look to spur their team on - but will it last if the Gunners continue to frustrate?
Chris Foy is the man in charge this afternoon in North London and he gets us underway.
Bolton meanwhile are in the strange situation of having just four substitutes on the bench as a string of injuries take their toll on Gary Megson's squad.
With Willaim Gallas and Mikael Silvestre added to the treatment room this week, Kolo Toure is back in the fray despite speculation linking him with a move to Man City.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Basham, Shittu, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Taylor, Muamba, McCann, Gardner, Elmander, Davies.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Eboue, Diaby, Denilson, Nasri, Adebayor, Van Persie.
Bolton are in a wretched run of form of late as they have slipped to defeat in four of their last five league games and could slip as low as 16th if results go against them this weekend.
The Gunners need a positive result today after Aston Villa's win in the West Midlands derby earlier on if they are to avoid falling further back in the race for a Champions League place.
Welcome to the Emirates Stadium where under-pressure Arsenal entertain Bolton Wanderers.
Arsenal are likely to make a number of changes to the team that beat Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup third round when they entertain Bolton this Saturday. The Gunners, who have beaten the Trotters in all of the last four league games between the clubs, used the FA Cup to blood a number of young players who should be relegated to the bench this weekend. Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Ramsey and Nicklas Bendtner could all find themselves back out of the first team at the Emirates Stadium despite a good team performance in the 3-1 win over Argyle. Goalkeeper Fabianski and Bendtner replaced the rested Manuel Almunia and Emmanuel Adebayor, both of whom should come straight back into the starting eleven. Ramsey and Johan Djourou, who impressed last weekend, have a better chance of keeping their places but both are reliant upon injuries keeping Kolo Toure, Denilson and Alexandre Song - just back from suspension - on the sidelines. The final place of contention in Arsene Wenger's side is at left-back, where Mikael Silvestre and Gael Clichy could both be out injured - although the latter is close to a return. "I have to look at it but at the moment with the injuries we are a little bit short everywhere." "On the left-hand side we are a bit short, but Gael Clichy should be back for next week," Wenger conceded earlier this week. Wenger is likely to be optimistic regardless of the strength of his starting eleven - the Gunners have won their last two matches after drawing with title rivals Aston Villa and Liverpool. He can also look at Bolton's record with glee as the Trotters are on a three-game losing streak, including last weekend's 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Sunderland. Their manager, Gary Megson, would prefer to look at their performances and he hailed their first half showing against the Black Cats. "I thought we set off fine first half. We closed the ball down well, we had opportunities but we didn't take one," Megson said after the match. He is likely to play an almost identical starting eleven, the only likely change being the return of Gavin McCann, suspended last week, for captain Kevin Nolan, suspended for the next two games.
A late strike from Nicklas Bendtner was enough give Arsenal a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers and to keep Arsene Wenger's men in touch at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal were looking to extend their unbeaten run as well as their winning streak as they looked to close in on the leaders. With Aston Villa already having secured three points against West Brom earlier in the day, it was another must-win for Wenger's side. For his part Gary Megson set up for a draw. Pulling Kevin Davies back to line up with five across the middle when the Gunners were in possession, and that was for most of the early part of the match. Johan Elmander was left up front on his own which gave the Gunners plenty of time and space to build from the back. The first real opportunity fell to the Gunners on 13 minutes when Robin van Persie intercepted a shot from Samir Nasri controlling the ball with a delightful touch before shooting just over with his left. The Dutchman was on target with his next effort, a header from inside the area but it was comfortably claimed by Jussi Jaaskelainen. The Gunners were keeping the pressure on and we camped in Bolton's half for much of the first, a congested part of the pitch where every player but for Manuel Almunia played most of the game. Megson was forced to call on his depleted substitutes' bench on 38 minutes when his lone attacker limped off and he had to bring on one of his three outfield replacements early. Davies moved into attack as Mustapha Riga slipped in to do the job vacated by Davies. For all their endeavour, Arsenal kept running into dead ends as Bolton stood resolute in front of them, using every trick available to wind down the clock. Bolton came out after the interval with a more positive approach and mounted their first real attack as former Gunner Fabrice Muamba got a cross in from the right flank that Kolo Toure put out for a throw-in. From there the ball worked its way into the box for Matthew Taylor to force Almunia into a save to claim the Bolton captain's looping header. Carlos Vela replaced Abou Diaby on 64 minutes and within seconds the Gunners should have broken the deadlock. The Mexican striker threaded a delightful ball beyond the Bolton defence to Adebayor, but the Togolese striker took too long to shoot allowing Andrew O'Brien to block the eventual shot. Van Persie struck the base of the right post in the 70th minute after he latched on to a clever ball from Adebayor. A minute later Jaaskelainen kept his side in the game with a fine save from Toure and the Gunners had Bolton on the rack, but could not breach the visitors reinforced defence. Arsene Wenger threw on another striker in Bendtner with 15 minutes to go and the Dane almost scored with his first touch as he met Nasri's free-kick from the left but Jaaskelainen saved well. The Dane did eventually break the deadlock on 84 minutes when under pressure from JLloyd Samuel he slid in on the right side of the box to power home van Persie's cross from the left. Bolton immediately went on the attack and Almunia had to save well from a Davies shot, who had been put in by Chris Basham. The game suddenly became stretched and Vela was denied by a fine Jaaskelainen save as the Gunners mounted a counter-attack, but the game ended shortly after to loud applause and the clear relief of the home fans.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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