Arsenal kept up their perfect Premier League record at home with two second-half goals against Bolton.
Second-half strikes see off Bolton
Arsenal kept up their perfect Premier League record at Emirates Stadium with two second-half goals against Bolton.
The Trotters' temporary manager Archie Knox organised his troops well in the first 45 minutes as Jussi Jaaskelainen was rarely troubled.
But Arsene Wenger made a double change just past the hour mark - bringing on Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky - which sparked his side.
Kolo Toure finally fired Arsenal in front in the 67th minute when his free-kick from 25 yards found the bottom corner.
The substitutes combined for the second with ten minutes remaining as Rosicky finished from six yards out after Walcott's cross.
Early struggles
Arsenal were dangerous down the flanks in the first period and a cut-back from Alexander Hleb from the left almost picked out Emmanuel Adebayor in the six-yard box, but the Togo striker could not make clean contact and the ball was hacked clear.
The gangly Adebayor was again the target when Bacary Sagna swung over a cross from the right. This time his glancing header flew wide.
The visitors were happy enough to break up play whenever possible and also get physical when necessary.
And on 20 minutes, there was a flashpoint when Gavin McCann clattered into Sagna, with both feet in a sliding challenge.
Tempers boiled over and, following a brief melee, Fabregas and El Hadji Diouf were shown yellow cards by referee Mike Riley, along with McCann for the original foul.
The home fans were soon screaming for a penalty when Adebayor went down under a sliding challenge from McCann, but the referee was correct to rule the Bolton player had won the ball.
Arsenal slowly started to up the tempo in the final 10 minutes of the first half.
On 42 minutes, Croatia striker Eduardo - in for injured top scorer Robin van Persie - floated over a high ball from the left to the back post.
Adebayor was unmarked, but timed his jump all wrong and was only able to put a tame downward header behind.
Arsenal had a great chance to take the lead at the start of the second half. Bolton failed to clear from inside their own six-yard box, with McCann knocking the ball into the path of Emmanuel Eboue.
However, the Ivory Coast international rushed his angled shot and slashed it across goal and high into the stands.
A well-worked counter attack then saw Fabregas teed-up on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was straight at Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen.
Adebayor then exchanged a neat one-two with Eduardo and struck the ball just wide of the top right-hand corner from 20 yards.
Key change
With 28 minutes left, Wenger introduced Walcott and Rosicky, for Eduardo and Eboue.
Fit-again Arsenal captain William Gallas came close to snatching the lead when he diverted a corner goalwards from inside the six-yard box, but Jaaskelainen reacted quickly to make a point-blank save.
However, Arsenal did not have to wait much longer for the goal to come. A free-kick some 25 yards out was tapped back to Toure, and the Ivory Coast defender drilled a low strike into the bottom left corner.
The relief around Emirates Stadium was clear, and the hosts were soon looking for the cushion of a second goal.
Adebayor raced clear and rounded the Bolton keeper, only to then theatrically tumble near the goalline as he looked to cut the ball back to Walcott in the centre.
The England Under 21 winger then turned provider with 10 minutes left. Walcott was fed in on the right side of the area by Hleb, and his low cross was turned in by Rosicky from close range.
| Arsenal |
Team Statistics |
Bolton Wanderers |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
0 |
| 11 |
Shots off Target |
1 |
| 8 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 5 |
Corners |
3 |
| 15 |
Fouls |
22 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
5 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 84.8 |
Passing Success |
72.9 |
| 24 |
Tackles |
21 |
| 79.2 |
Tackles Success |
71.4 |
| 61.7 |
Possession |
38.3 |
| 57.4 |
Territorial Advantage |
42.6 |
|
