Bolton Wanderers 0 - 0 Arsenal: How the hell did we not win this one?

It's so strange to be associating Arsenal with an inability to create and score goals and not a bad defence, but that has so often been the case this season and the case again tonight.

Bolton have the worst defence in the league and it was evident in the opening twenty minutes or so why that was the case. Arsenal, without trying particularly hard, created three or four great opportunities but the entire front four managed to spur one each. Van Persie played in Ramsey who could only give a stretched and weak effort. Van Persie then provided for Chamberlain who sliced his shot wide. Van Persie himself blasted a shot over from a good position. Walcott perhaps had the most guilt-edged opportunity, being one-on-one with Bogdan but his finish was woeful.

Bolton themselves had a great chance. Wheater played in N'Gog with a flick and the French striker had a fantastic chance to score, but fortunately for us he missed.

So the game at that point should have been 3-1 to us at least. Bolton were definitely there for the taking, but for some reason we just went completely flat and failed to string any decent passes together or create anything of note.

This continued into the second half, too. We looked no better, failed to create anything and the closest we came to scoring was when van Persie hit the bar with a great effort. Bolton actually looked the more likely to score but they're, well, Bolton. They're at the bottom for a reason.

Not much else to say on the game. 0-0.

Boring boring Arsenal
There's no irony in that chant now. Watching Arsenal at the moment is becoming more like a chore than it is a pleasure, as every game we see the same thing: our team flounder about with the ball, trying to create and score and failing miserably in both departments.

Now I'm sure there'll be cries of why didn't we spend in January. Despite this result I still believe that we could not have gotten anyone in January that would've made this situation any better and this issue would not even be discussed had someone scored earlier on in the game. Even the fan favourite "do no wrong" Chamberlain and van Persie failed to bury their chances. That suggests to me that tonight was more "one of those nights" than a continuation of a prevelant problem that's been around since day one of the season.

That's not to say it isn't, of course. There were definitely signs of the usual issues out there.

Was that our strongest eleven?
The more worrying aspect I think is that the team we had out there was quite possibly our strongest eleven. The only players we currently have that would make that team better would be Santos/Gibbs, Wilshere and Gervinho. Good players in their own right but I don't they'll actually make much of a difference when or if they play again this season.

Another issue here is that a large part of this team is having to play every game because the alternatives are just so lacking. Ramsey has been discussed a lot but one thing no one can deny is that he's played too many games and need some time on the sidelines. Song is someone we haven't talked about a lot but in recent maths looks lathargic and sloppy. He could do with a rest, as well.

Walcott and van Persie are having to play every game, too, to varying levels of success. Gervinho coming back should hopefully give us some room to rotate a bit but the alternatives to van Persie are not really worth talking about.

Player Ratings
Wojciech Szczesny - 6. Did not have many saves to make but looked a bit shakey for some reason.

Per Mertesacker - 7. Very solid and composed at the back.

Laurent Koscielny - 6. Was far too easily outmuscled by Bolton on ocassion.

Bacary Sagna - 7. Mr. Consistency is back, and he looked like he had never been away.

Thomas Vermaelen - 6. Did okay but wasn't overly convincing.

Alex Song - 5. Very sloppy in just about every aspect.

Mikel Arteta - 6. Usual performance from him.

Aaron Ramsey - 5. Desperately needs some time off. Had very little effect on the game.

Alex Chmaberlain - 6. Had a couple of good dribbles and one outstanding pass, but shooting was wasteful and he has little effect on the game overall.

Theo Walcott - 5. Had a poor night, especially in front of goal.

Robin van Persie - 6. Looked a cut above everyone else without even playing that well. That's not a good sign.

-----------------------

Tomas Rosicky - n/a.

Thierry Henry - n/a.

Jay, don't bother. It would be a waste of your precious time and energy. the entire tea, was dire today, bar RVP, Sagna and the Ox

Theo and Ramsey are so awful in front of goals especially Ramsey. What happened to him he used to be a decent finisher. He is such a panic merchant in front of goals, always rushing

Lex wrote:Jay, don't bother. It would be a waste of your precious time and energy. the entire tea, was dire today, bar RVP, Sagna and the Ox

Arsenal aint the same Arsenal anymore. Teamwork is zero also its now boring to watch arsenal as they dont play the same football anymore.

Of course we were going to bottle it when we had a great chance to get closer to that 4th spot.

Walcott needs to ride the bench for a bit before he can get his form back...

Could've won this easily with 5 or 6 goals up, we're so shit at scoring goals.

I get the feeling that when we bought AOC there was a clause that we have to pay a certain amount of money for every 90 minutes he plays or if he plays a certain amount of 90 minutes because this is gettng ridiculous. i know henry had to come on but why for AOC WHY! he was easily the best player, whhy not take off walcott?

about Ramsey's finishing ask Shawcross that utter ****

welcome back sagna very solid baring one mistake or two mistakes

urbaNRoots wrote:Could've won this easily with 5 or 6 goals up, we're so shit at scoring goals.

It's been like this all season apart from Robin...the entire team has been shit in front of goals. The usual suspect Gervinho, Walcott, Ramsey

Watching Arsenals matches makes me sad and thats why i'll stop watching Arsenals matches. Depressing stuff from Arsenal! We are too stingy to spend, disgusting!

It's gonna be a fun summer transfer window.

Sushi Master wrote:It's gonna be a fun summer transfer window.

You really think so?

Bolton had 30 interceptions
10 of them in our own half
wheater had 7 that sometimes frustrated me

I only got to see the final 30 minutes, so I pretty much missed our apparent period of dominance. The thing that stuck out to me was the fact that in the final 5 or so minutes, I don't think we made a single pass - hopeful long balls against Bolton? Really?

REWB wrote:going to be terrible, can only see rvp leaving and us only replacing him with ONE striker instead of two.

RVP leaves then Wenger says ok lets be patient in the transfer window.

Bendy plays well during the euro's and wenger says he deserves a chance but does not rule out buying a striker.

Season starts andd Bendy plays for Arsenal

Transfer window closes and Wenger says he is happy with Bendy,Chamack,Theo as striker

thats what will happen

Did you guys really think Oxlade was that good tonight ?



The team played like they have given up. I am not even joking but there was no hunger, desire or anything at all. Players didnt know what as going on in the 2nd half. we missed few very good chances but that doesnt mean u give up afterwards. There was no movement in the midfield

Song was utter shit, Ramsey plays like he is playing for stoke, runs all game without doing anything spectacular. Arteta controlled the midfield and thought he was alright.

Theo was OK in the 1st half, shit in the 2nd. Rvp was really unlucky no to score.

What i dont get is, Are we really going to rely on Ramsey, song n Arteta for the rest of the 3 months ? What kind of logic is that ?

wilshere is out for the season, DON'T beleive in Arsenal.com or anyone, he is out for the season, or will come back when its too late.

Diaby :lucas:

1 point in last 4 games. That isnt the Arsenal i know

Sagna

he made 25% of his passes in attacking third
passes 62/69
Ground duels:3/5
Take on:0/1 &Aerial:0/1

so unlucky not to have an assist to his name

RealGunner wrote:Did you guys really think Oxlade was that good tonight ?



The team played like they have given up. I am not even joking but there was no hunger, desire or anything at all. Players didnt know what as going on in the 2nd half. we missed few very good chances but that doesnt mean u give up afterwards. There was no movement in the midfield

Song was utter shit, Ramsey plays like he is playing for stoke, runs all game without doing anything spectacular. Arteta controlled the midfield and thought he was alright.

Theo was OK in the 1st half, shit in the 2nd. Rvp was really unlucky no to score.

What i dont get is, Are we really going to rely on Ramsey, song n Arteta for the rest of the 3 months ? What kind of logic is that ?

wilshere is out for the season, DON'T beleive in Arsenal.com or anyone, he is out for the season, or will come back when its too late.

Diaby :lucas:

1 point in last 4 games. That isnt the Arsenal i know

i thought he was lively and looked dangerous, he was making a few mistakes but he looked threatning, he looked a lot better then walcott.

Out of Walcott, Ramsey and the Ox, only one managed to get a shot on target

£100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 to whoever guesses which of the three it was.....

RealGunner wrote:Diaby :lucas:

Bloody frakking serious when I say we badly need him

We have 0 midfield depth. Ramsey needs to be benched badly, but the thing is we have no bench. Walcott also needs bench time, but again, no bench.

Oxlade played well....don't know why wenger took him off, Henry just slows everything down

Lex wrote:Out of Walcott, Ramsey and the Ox, only one managed to get a shot on target

£100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 to whoever guesses which of the three it was.....