Bolton W 0 Arsenal 0:FEBRUARY IS here but Arsenal continue to await their first Premier League win of 2012. This will be the year in which Arsene Wenger's proud record of 14 consecutive seasons in the Champions League comes to an end unless the ruthlessness, luck and belief that has deserted them thus far is rediscovered soon.
Bolton Wanderers may beg to differ on how much fortune was granted Wenger’s team here, as they avoided a fourth consecutive league defeat when Mark Davies appeared to be held by Per Mertesacker and caught by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny as he darted into the area in the 88th minute. Referee Chris Foy waved away penalty appeals as Owen Coyle raged on the touchline. He had a point.
Robin van Persie did everything except overtake Dennis Bergkamp on the list of Arsenal’s all-time goalscorers and one, Eric Cantona-like chip that sailed onto the crossbar would have been a worthy way to pass his compatriot.
The visitors arrived in the icy north without winning in the league since beating Queens Park Rangers on New Year’s Day and could have corrected that fault before Bolton had mustered their first attack. Arsenal created five openings in the first 16 minutes that contained common characteristics; Van Persie was integral to each one, they were all convertible and not one found the net. The visitors found themselves in familiar territory very early.
Wenger’s team showed intent and incisiveness from the start and Van Persie was first to threaten when Thomas Vermaelen picked out his captain with a deep cross to the far post from the left. The Dutchman steered a headed chance back across the Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan but David Wheater was conveniently placed on the line to hook clear.
Seconds later Aaron Ramsey and Van Persie combined to dissect Bolton with a wonderful one-two. The Wales international sprayed a long pass out to the Dutchman and set off on a straight sprint behind Bolton’s central defenders Wheater and Zat Knight. Van Persie read the young midfielder’s intentions and returned the perfect pass but Ramsey could only prod his shot at Bogdan.
Theo Walcott teed up Arsenal’s leading scorer for a low shot from 12 yards that struck a defender and rebounded clear, Van Persie exchanged passes with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and looked on aghast as the winger sent his effort high and wide.
David Ngog held off Koscielny too easily as the pair pursued a straightforward punt towards the visiting penalty area from Chris Eagles. Having escaped his marker, Bolton’s lone striker drew Szczesny from the Arsenal goal and forced an important save from a difficult angle.
Bolton created an even better opportunity with their next attack when Wheater, suddenly forgetting he was born to be a no-nonsense centre-half, flicked the ball over Arsenal’s defence with an exquisite back-heel. Again Laurent Koscielny failed to match Ngog physically. The French forward controlled on his chest but, with only the keeper to beat, rolled a shot beyond Szczesny and inches wide of the far post.
Walcott soon matched his wastefulness, however. Bolton’s defence was pierced once more when Oxlade-Chamberlain threaded an angled pass into his fellow winger’s run and, as Bogdan advanced, Walcott shot into the legs of the goalkeeper and wide.
Bacary Sagna brought welcome balance to the Arsenal defence on his first league start since breaking his leg four months ago. It was from the right-back’s run and cross that Arsenal first threatened to open the scoring in a more even second half but Van Persie, meeting the delivery at the front post, cushioned a volley against the woodwork.
BOLTON: Bogdan, Steinsson, Knight, Wheater, Ricketts, Eagles, Reo-Coker (Pratley 89), Muamba, Petrov (Sanli 81), Mark Davies, Ngog (Kevin Davies 74). Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Klasnic, Boyata, Riley. Booked: Steinsson.
ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Ramsey (Rosicky 80), Song, Walcott, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Henry 69), van Persie. Subs not used: Fabianski, Park, Arshavin, Benayoun, Coquelin. Booked: Vermaelen.
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
