The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Fund us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Tumblr

  • RSS


Tech, Games & Sport

Zero goals, zero quality and zero degrees at the Reebok stadium as Gunners frozen out by Bolton

Zero goals, zero quality and zero degrees at the Reebok stadium as Gunners frozen out by Bolton
1 February 2012
Matthew OBrien
Avatar
Matthew OBrien
1 February 2012

Bolton 0-0 Arsenal

How this game ended up scoreless will baffle pundits up and down the country all week, even though both sides created excellent opportunities to score; but a combination of lamentable forward play, and decent goalkeeping made sure the game stayed nil apiece.

The game started with both teams getting the ball to their wingers, attempting to stretch the midfield as much as possible, and in the process allowing the central players to dictate the pace.

GunnersVsBolton
Defeat would have been harsh on Bolton, who ended the game on the front foot and were left incensed by referee Chris Foy’s decision not to give a spot-kick for Szczesny’s challenge on Mark Davies.

Robin van Persie took the first corner of the game; but his low hooked effort was easily cleared by David Ngog.

It only took Arsenal eight minutes to register their first attempt with Van Persie evading his marker and attempting a header, but it failed to trouble Adam Bogdan in the Bolton nets.

As the game approached the fifteen minute mark, Arsenal started to move through the gears with Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Van Persie all creating half chances; but a combination of poor technique and positioning kept the game level.

David Ngog took advantage of an uncharacteristic Bolton long ball, but his poorly struck drive was saved by Wojciech Szczesny.

Moments later, Arsenal’s shaky defence looked troubled by a Nigel Reo-Coker free kick, but when the header found Ngog; the Bolton striker’s shot skimmed the outside of Szczesny’s post.

The first half ended with a few more half chances, with neither side managing to break the deadlock, as it ended the same way it had started, 0-0.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first half, with a poor Robin van Persie corner easily cleared by David Wheater.

At the opposite end, David Wheater saw his header bobble past the upright.

On the hour mark, Robin van Persie manoeuvred his body in the box to create an opening, however, the resulting strike only managed to hit the outside of the post.

In the next passage of play, Aaron Ramsey saw his right-footed shot sail wide of the right-hand post.

With twenty minutes to go, Arsene Wenger decided to replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with Thierry Henry.

Minutes later, Van Persie almost had a moment of pure brilliance; after making some room on the edge of the box, his audacious chip had Bogdan beaten, but not the crossbar.

With only a few minutes to go, the slowest defender in the premier league, Per Mertersaker looked to have conceded a penalty with a clumsy foul on Kevin Davies; but the referee, Foy, awarded nothing.

The game petered out and both sides ended up with a point, Bolton will be aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty in the final moments, but, the visitors will feel that there were 2 points dropped after creating numerous opportunities to score.

 Matt O’Brien

Full results:

Aston Villa 2-2 QPR

Blackburn 0-2 Newcastle

Fulham 1-1 West Brom

Sunderland 3-0 Norwich City

Related Items

More in Tech & Sport

Five ways mobile phones have revolutionised the way we live

The editorial unit
Read More

The history of horse racing in numbers

The editorial unit
Read More

Five handy online extensions for your web browser

The editorial unit
Read More

Can a VPN help gaming?

The editorial unit
Read More

The best virtual reality releases for 2019

The editorial unit
Read More

Five best smartphones at the end of 2018

The editorial unit
Read More

Ten most lavish phone cases for the iPhone XS

The editorial unit
Read More

The quality of streaming

The editorial unit
Read More

What can we expect from the ePremier League?

The editorial unit
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Sponsored

SPONSORED CONTENT

Tickets

Theatre tickets

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • The Aftermath premiere: On the red carpet with Keira Knightly, Alexander Skarsgård, director James Kent and cast
    Cinema
  • Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Richard Quinn autumn/winter 2019 collection catwalk show for LFW
    Fashion weeks
  • STEVE O SMITH autumn/winter 2019 collection presentation for LFW
    Fashion weeks
  • Elizabethan Treasures at the National Portrait Gallery
    ★★★★★
    Art
  • Tell It to the Bees
    ★★★★★
    Glasgow
  • And the Rest of Me Floats at Bush Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Hole in the Ground
    ★★★★★
    Glasgow
  • The Apologists
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Fighting with My Family
    ★★★★★
    Glasgow
  • And the Rest of Me Floats at Bush Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Hole in the Ground
    ★★★★★
    Glasgow
  • The Apologists
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Fighting with My Family
    ★★★★★
    Glasgow
  • Orlando
    ★★★★★
    Theatre

Instagram

Something is wrong.
Instagram token error.
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Fund us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2018 FL Media Ltd

FA Cup – Van der Vaart stike stings Hornets and puts Tottenham in the hat for the next round
City put the pressure back on United as they return to top spot