ACTUALITE |
23.09.2002
Kanu rescues Arsenal
Arsenal 2-1 Bolton
Arsenal equalled Chesterfield`s 72-year-old English record of scoring in 46 consecutive league matches as they scraped to a win over Bolton.
Kanu hit a late winner after Gareth Farrelly had embarrassed David Seaman and cancelled out Thierry Henry`s opener.
Bolton had been seconds away from leaving Highbury with a point but just as against Liverpool in their last match, it was not to be.
Henry had opened the scoring, finally supplying the finish after earlier missing a penalty and spurning a good chance.
Farrelly`s name will be on the scoresheet, but it was Seaman`s inability to deal with a ball looped goalwards that contributed most to the goal.
Farrelly can now be added to the list of Ronaldinho, Dietmar Hamann and Nayim - all of whom have beaten England`s number one with innocuous efforts.
Arsenal had been in control and cruising to their 11th successive home win.
Then, a minute after half-time Farrelly delivered a cross that left Seaman flapping and red faced as the ball drifted over his head and into the back of the net.
It was a shocking error and brought Bolton back into a match they had struggled to contest.
Missed penalty
From the outset, Bolton appeared to be on damage limitation duty.
Freddie Ljungberg, making his first league start since returning from injury, created Arsenal`s first clear opportunity.
The Swede was pulled back in the area by Bolton captain Gudni Bergsson and the referee pointed to the spot.
Henry stepped up to take the kick but his shot struck the foot of the post and the Frenchman`s disbelief at his third consecutive penalty miss was evident.
However, shortly after, Henry had a chance to make amends.
Chasing a lost cause, the Frenchman managed to wriggle between Bergsson and keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, but with the goal gaping, he screwed his shot wide from a tight angle.
But with less than half an hour of the match played, Henry managed to avoid a hat-trick of misses when he finally scored.
Ljungberg`s pass split the defence and Henry rounded Jaaskelainen and slotted home.
It looked plain sailing for the champions at this stage with Sylvain Wiltord continuing to impress and the rest of the team stroking the ball around with ease.
But that changed dramatically after Bolton`s equaliser as Arsenal grew increasingly frustrated by their opponents` stout defending.
Dramatic finish
And the visitors, who beat Manchester United in their last match on their travels, began to create one or two chances of their own.
Youri Djorkaeff volleyed over from inside the area and substitute Michael Ricketts hit an overhead kick straight at Seaman.
But the majority of possession was Arsenal`s - as was the number of chances.
Henry went close with a curling shot from the edge of the area, and Kanu almost dribbled the ball into the net.
Then substitute Francis Jeffers` poor touch saw a good chance go begging and Henry`s low drive was smothered by Jaaskelainen.
The team that can not stop scoring looked like they had lost their touch, despite playing against 10 men after Ivan Campo was sent off for two bookable offences.
That was until Kanu`s long leg reached a bouncing ball in the area and poked home the winner.
And, incredibly, it should have been 3-1, but Jeffers somehow managed to miss from three yards.
Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren (Toure 84), Campbell, Keown, Cole, Ljungberg (Bergkamp 68), Silva, Parlour, Wiltord (Jeffers 68), Kanu, Henry.
Subs Not Used: Luzhny, Shaaban.
Booked: Keown.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Whitlow, Bergsson, Campo, Barness, Farrelly, Frandsen, Charlton, Djorkaeff (Tofting 81), Dean Holdsworth (Okocha 66), Pedersen (Ricketts 48).
Subs Not Used: Livesey, Poole.
Sent Off: Campo (80).
Booked: Campo, Dean Holdsworth, Jaaskelainen.
Attendance: 37,974.
Referee: D Pugh (Merseyside).
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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