Match Review: Gunners frustrated by Trotters

The Reebok stadium saw an uneventful match today, both the home side and the visitors failed to score a goal; the match thereby ending in a stalemate. The end result proved the match prediction of every football pundit wrong, who believed that the match will see many goals. The reason being that Bolton have conceded the most number of goals at home whereas gunners have conceded most number of goals away from home. The result means that Arsenal have not won a single premier league game since the beginning of 2012.

Victory for Wenger’s side would have taken them within striking distance of the champions league spot but now they are languishing at seventh behind Newcastle and Liverpool. Newcastle’s victory today only piled up more pressure at an already pressurized Wenger. His choice of not making any marquee signings in the January window had left him with a few attacking options. His team’s over dependence on RVP was again exposed. It would be unfair to say that Gunners did not create enough chances, but they were wasteful in front of the goal.

Theo Walcott wasted at least two glorious opportunities in front of goal, while he does trouble the opponent by his energetic running he seems to waste his good work with his awful finishing. Ramsay and Chamberlain must also share the blame for poor finishing, both are world class performers but lack the finishing prowess of their captain. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain was the impact player today as well, however, he needs to learn a lesson or two in finishing and feeding the ball to RVP at the right time.

Mikel Arteta made a successful return from injury though he looked a bit off color which could be attributed to his lack of playing time. Few of the positives from today’s game for Arsenal was their resolute defense. This season they have a dubious distinction of conceding the most number of goals away from home thanks to a 8-2 hammering by Manchester United, but today they kept a rare clean sheet. The return of Sagna from injury meant that it was a full strength Arsenal playing today, however Mertesacker still looks less than convincing in his role as Center back where he formed an unlikely partnership Koscielny. It must have been a relief for Szczesny to keep a clean sheet after such a long time, same for his Bolton counterpart too.

Van Persie was close to scoring the goal of the season but was denied by woodwork

Though he was denied by the woodwork for what would have been his 20th goal of the campaign, the dutch star looks more threatening and he certainly is in his form of the life. As for Bolton they had a fine game, had David Ngog not wasted a couple of chances Bolton would have been in front. The team coped well despite the absence of Gary Cahill who was sold to Chelsea earlier in the transfer window. Owen Coyle must have been pleased to see his team keep a clean sheet as well. Arsenal now will have to fight very hard till the end of campaign to capture the coveted 4th spot or else who knows we might see a sweeping change at Emirates.