Henrik humbles Gunners
The Are Prada Handbags Cheaper In Italy Reebok Stadium and the surrounding West Pennine moors may never have been less inviting than they were on a dark, dank day of freezing, driving rain yesterday but to Agatha Ruiz Dela Prada Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger events there in the space of less than 24 hours could ensure Bolton Wanderers’ home long holds fond memories for him.
Hours after Rio Ferdinand was handed his eight-month ban in an FA hearing at the stadium, Arsenal, assisted in no small part by referee Graham Poll, escaped with a scarcely deserved point against one of the Premiership’s teams of the moment. If the championship trophy ends up at Highbury next year, this weekend could prove pivotal.
Substitute Henrik Pedersen denied the Gunners all three points seven minutes from time when Kevin Davies headed a long ball to the striker, who controlled it on his chest before smashing a superb left-foot volley into the back of the net.
Bolton’s run of good form has seen them lose only once in nine matches, enjoy victories over supposedly more established Premiership forces such as Chelsea, Leeds Authentic Prada Bags Online Singapore United, Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, secure a place in the Carling Cup semi-finals and a mid-table spot in the league – all on a budget that wouldn’t cover Ferdinand’s legal bills.
Arsenal are the latest Premiership club who can testify that Bolton’s run is no flash in the pan. Arsenal were made to roll up their sleeves and graft to maintain the Are Prada Handbags Cheaper In Italy first-half stalemate. Jens Lehmann’s handling was impeccable and his fingertip save in the 31st minute to deny Kevin Nolan, who had beaten Pascal Cygan and shot across the face of goal, was world-class.
Bolton just lacked the composure in and around the Arsenal penalty area to match their confidence and workrate. Kevin Davies had two stabs at an early shot that lacked power, Youri Djorkaeff shot disappointingly Bicester Village London Prada Authentic Prada Factory Outlet Online over the bar from Per Frandsen’s Authentic Prada Handbags Outlet Online square ball and Ivàn Campo’s neat footwork took him away from Gael Clichy and resulted in a low cross that Davies hacked at unproductively when Djorkaeff was better positioned.
Frandsen’s 37th-minute cross from the right summed up Bolton’s first half, Davies flicking the ball on promisingly but Nolan just failing to make decisive contact.
Of linked site course, all the time Bolton were being frustrated, there loomed the lingering menace of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. Henry, in particular, was a threat when left in isolation with young Bolton right-back Nicky Hunt. A corner from Bergkamp forced Davies into some unimpressive emergency defending in the 22nd minute, an untidy clearance falling for Henry, who lobbed the ball just wide with a mesmeric piece of skill.
Then Kolo Touré’s ram-raiding run saw the ball Authentic Prada Leather Handbags break to Bergkamp, who scooped a poor effort well over the target before the half ended with an Arsenal counter-attack and Henry crossing for Fredrik Ljungberg to flash a header just wide.
That, though, was the sum total of noteworthy Arsenal chances in the first period, but with the wind growing stronger, and Bolton facing a second half of kicking into it, the home side could reasonably have expected a tougher time after the interval and, after an early errant volley from Davies, the match did, indeed, seem to be slipping from their control.
Gilberto Silva’s long shot was parried and gathered by Jussi Jaaskelainen, the Bolton goalkeeper, then Henry shrugged off Hunt and sped into the area, where he was stopped by a magnificently timed tackle by Simon Charlton.
Arsenal had signalled their intent and carried through the threat, albeit in controversial circumstances, when Robert Pires put them into a 57th-minute lead. Bergkamp started the move, and the controversy, by appearing to foul Ricardo Gardner in winning the ball and freeing Henry.
The Frenchman led a three-man Arsenal break and, after Ljungberg’s initial shot was superbly saved by Jaaskelainen, Pires was on hand to score into the open goal, to the relief of Arsenal and the apoplexy of the home Authentic Prada Americas Cup Sneakers side, for whom Nolan was booked for protesting too vociferously.
Bolton responded quickly. Djorkaeff’s shot tested Lehmann, Jay-Jay Okocha struck the outside of the post with a magnificent free-kick, Gardner found space to turn and again force the goalkeeper to make a save and Djorkaeff, for once, showed a lack of patience and rushed a shot into the side netting from a promising position. All this in less than 10 minutes.
Television replays suggested Bolton should have had a penalty after Cygan handled in the penalty area, then Frandsen’s looping goalbound shot was headed clear by Pires before Pedersen’s late heroics ensured justice was done.
Man of the match Amazon Uk Prada Bags – Jay-Jay Okocha: Sam Allardyce has been complaining for much of the season about the prospect of losing the Nigerian for up to nine games while he plays for his country in the African Nations Cup early next year and understandably so. Okocha struck the post with a brilliant free-kick and led Bolton with his box-to-box drive and guile.