Fri, 25/09/2009 Highbury Square was officially opened today and the site of the old Arsenal ground has been transformed into a highly desirable housing development. Arsenal legends from the past were on hand to make the official opening a bit more special as well as current Manager Arsene Wenger, previous Manager George Graham and current board members. There is 650 properties within the complex and the pitch has been turned into gardens that also house a remembrance bench with the names of all the people that were buried at the ground over the years

Sat, 26/09/2009 Arsenal scrape a 0-1 win away to Fulham in the days late 5.30pm kick off. This game will be remembered not for Robin van Persie’s clinical finish on 52 minutes after a sublime pass from Captain Cesc Fabregas but for a series of good saves by Vito Mannone who was still deputising for first choice keeper Manuel Almunia who was missing again due to a virus. All things considered it was a bit of a smash and grab but that's a skill Arsenal need to perfect if they are to be genuine title contenders.

Tue, 29/09/2009 Arsenal beat Olympiacos from Greece 2-0 at the Emirates on Match day 2 of the Champions League but again, like in match day 1, made a meal out of what should have been a straight forward victory. Arsenal dominated possession, the corner count and the shot count but could not find a breakthrough till the 78th minute when Robin van Persie finished from close range and with four minutes to go Andrey Arshavin made it 2-0 with a cheeky back heel. Six points from the first two games are the only thing that matters but better performances will be needed later in this competition, should we qualify

Thu, 01/10/2009 Manager Arsene Wenger becomes the clubs longest ever serving Manager (13 years) After his amazing transformation of the whole club and many top prizes, I feel he has somewhat lost his way the last few years but he has my respect and thanks for what he has achieved and I congratulate him on his new club record and all that he has achieved so far with our club

Arsenal equals Emirates goal record

Sun, 04/10/2009 What a day as arsenal hit their second six of the season and equal their Emirates record score of 6-2 in the Premier League, which was also against Blackburn Rovers nearly three years ago (23/12/2006) Blackburn's NZonzi opened the scoring with a header on 4 minutes. Thomas Vermaelen then levelled with a cracking shot on 17. Rovers Richard Dunn then restored their lead on 30 with a deflected shot past Vito Mannone who was still deputising in goal. That was it from a Rovers point of view in terms of goals but Arsenal had only just started. Within eight minutes of Rovers taking the lead, they were behind. First a Robin van Persie shot on 33 was followed by an Andrey Arshavin shot on 38, both goals set up by Cesc Fabregas and the Gunners took a 3-2 lead into the break. After the break Fabregas got in on the act as well and scored from just outside the box on 57. Substitutes Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner then came on and both had time to put the icing on the cake. First Walcott scored on 75 (the 200th Emirate goal Arsenal have scored in all competitions) and then Bendtner hit goal number 201 with another shot from outside the box into the net on 89. This was a cracking result and a cracking game

Sat, 17/10/2009 Arsenal continue their early season scoring spree with a 3-1 win over Birmingham city at the Emirates. Robin van Persie opened the scoring on 16 minutes with quick neat feet and a diagonal shot into the far corner of the net. Abou Diaby made it two nil just two minutes later when left unmarked to blast home from eight yards. Lee Bowyer pulled a goal back on 38 minutes after some sloppy keeping from Vito Mannone who fumbled an up and under and Bowyer scored an easy goal. It took Arsenal till the 84th minute to make the game safe, when the cool Andrey Arshavin casually picked up a pass, ran towards goal and slotted a nice shot past the Birmingham City goal keeper Joe Hart to round off the scoring.

Tue, 20/10/2009 Arsenal drew 1-1 in Holland against AZ Alkmaar but a wrong refereeing decision probably cost Arsenal all three points in this Champions League, Game 3 match. Arsenal took the lead on 36 minutes when Andrey Arshavin capitalised on a defenders mistake and fed the ball to Robin van Persie who squared the ball into the path of Cesc Fabregas who banged home the opening goal. On 74 minutes Carlos Vela came on as substitute for v Persie and within minutes was brought down in the penalty area, only for the Ref to wrongly wave play on. That was the turning point because as the clock reached 93 minutes, AZ had a rare attack from a long free kick and after the ball was headed on by Moreno, Mendes Da Silva smashed a volley into the back of the net to give AZ an unlikely and undeserved point.

Thu, 22/10/2009 Longest serving Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger celebrates his 60th Birthday today.

Sun, 25/10/2009 A win at West Ham's Upton Park would have put Arsenal just three points behind EPL leaders Chelsea and a point behind Manchester United, with a game in hand of both. This was a game Arsenal had to win against struggling West Ham if they are to be considered Championship material. All Started well with a simple van Persie goal on 16 minutes, then William Gallas made it 2-0 on 37 minutes with a headed goal from a corner. That should have been that but this Arsenal team has a habit of shipping goals and today was no exception. Arsenal still in control until the 74th minute when a West Ham free kick was only pushed away by Arsenal keeper Vito Mannone right on to the head of Carlton Cole who pulled a goal back for the home team and then five minutes later, Alex Song was adjudged by the Referee to have fouled Charlton Cole in the box and substitute Alessandro Diamanti stepped up to make it 2-2 from the penalty spot. That's how the game ended and Arsenal had let two vital extra points slip from their grasp. With so many goals conceded this season, all my defensive/goal keeping worries have become a reality and why I still doubt we will win the EPL this season. 

Wed, 28/10/2009 This was Arsene Wenger’s 750th game in charge of the Gunners as Arsenal took on Liverpool in the 4th Rd of this seasons Carling Cup, played under floodlights at the Emirates. Both teams played weakened sides but it was still a great game with some great goals. Firstly Fran Marida shot from the right hand side of the 18 yard box and the ball flew in off the post on 19 minutes (his first senior goal). Six minutes later a cracking, dipping volley from outside the area by Emiliano Insua brought the visitors level and that’s how it stayed till the half time break. Five minutes after the break Arsenal were back in front, a good Arsenal move ending with a ball to Aaron Ramsey who knocked the ball to Nicklaus Bendtner and he did the rest, hitting a shot into the roof of the Liverpool net from six yards. That was the end of the scoring but not of the chances as both teams pushed forward for more goals. Arsenal now reach the Quarter Final stage with this 2-1 win and it was good to see both Lukasz Fabianski in goal and Samir Nasri back after a few months out on the treatment table.

Sat, 31/10/2009 North London Derby day. Spurs marched into the Emirates, got a kick up the Arse_nal and left with their tail between their legs! Inform Robin van Persie netted twice and Cesc Fabregas scored in between. With the game heading for a nil, nil interval score line, the game completely changed in just a few seconds. First v Persie touched home a near post cross from Bacary Sagna on 42 minutes and then........ Spurs restarted the game and eleven seconds later were two nil behind. Scorer v Persie won the ball back straight from the kick off and Fabregas picked up the loose ball and headed back towards goal from the half way line, drifting past a few players before shooting past shell shocked Gomes in the Spurs goal. Arsenal then went into the break the happier of the two teams. The third goal on 60 minutes saw Eduardo clattered to the ground and everyone stopped for the free kick but advantage was given, Sagna realised first and put another low cross into the box which deflected off a Spurs defender, the ball then hit v Persie and went into the net. Three nil to the Arsenal then on the day and the 60th League win against Spurs.

2 goal Robin van Persie, scores his first

League results against Spurs: played 144, won 60, lost 45, draws 39

Wed, 04/11/2009 Arsenal beat AZ Alkmaar 4-1 at the Emirates in Game 4 of this seasons Champions League. It was Arsenal’s tenth straight home win of the season to maintain a 100% record. This was a strange game as Arsenal easily beat and outclassed the Dutch champions without ever needing to take the hand brake off. First Cesc Fabregas scored on 26 minutes with a low soft shot from the edge of the box that found it’s way into the corner on the net past a poor dive by Sergio Romero, then on 43, Samir Nasri picked up a ball, moved towards goal, turned the last defender inside out and put him on his knees before a lovely shot into the other corner of the net and two nil was the half time score. Eight minutes into the second half and it was game, set and match with another great move and a second goal on the night from Captain Cesc Fabregas as he swept home a shot high into the net from 14 yards. The fourth came on 72 minutes when newly arrived substitute Eduardo’s back heel completely undid the AZ defence and put Andrey Arshavin through, he passed across the box for Abou Diaby to make it four. AZ did pull a goal back through Lens in the 82nd minute with a shot that left goal keeper Manuel Almunia flat footed and very sluggish to say the least. All in all, a great performance at a canter and another step closer to the knock out stage.

Sat, 04/11/2009 Arsenal head to Woverhampton to take on Wolves and with some help from two own goals, Arsenal come away with the full three points and a 4-1 away win. On 28 minutes Ronald Zubar knocked a Cesc Fabregas corner into his own net and on 35 Jody Craddock deflected an Eduardo effort into his own net to make it two nil. On the stroke of half time Cesc Fabregas scored from the edge of the six yard box after good work from Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie. The second half saw Arsenal play some more great football and Andrey Arshavin made it 4-0 on 66 minutes after a corner was knocked to the edge of the area by goal keeper Wayne Hennessey and Arshavin shot the ball back into the net from 18 yards. Own goal scorer Jody Craddock got a consolation header from a corner on 88 minutes and made sure Arsenal were not to keep a rare clean sheet. Still that's 25 points from a possible 33 and keeps the pressure up on the teams around us.

Sat, 14/11/2009 On fire Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is carried off 10 minutes into a friendly game between Holland and Italy with serious ankle ligament damage. The injury will keep him out of the Arsenal team for at least a few months and probably longer. This is a major blow to Arsenal and another case of a player coming back from International duty Injured. This situation drives me mad and it's bad enough when a player gets injured playing for Arsenal but to lose a player on top form because he is playing in a friendly is just unacceptable although there is nothing that can be done to stop it.

Sat, 21/11/2009 Arsenal fail to score for the first time this season and go down 1-0 at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. A corner in the 70th minute scored by former Spurs striker, Darren Bent gave Sunderland a very rare Premiership win over the Gunners, the last being nine years ago. With Chelsea going from strength to strength at the top of the EPL, next Sundays clash between the two clubs at the Emirates has become a must win game for the Gunners in my opinion. My fingers are already crossed

24/11/2009 Arsenal beat Standard Liege 2-0 at the Emirates to qualify for the knock out stages of the Champions League. Samir Nasri opened the scoring on 35 minutes when a long forward ball was misjudged by a slipping defender and Nasri buried the ball from 12 yards. With half time approaching, fit again Denilson hit a dipping shot from the best part of thirty yards that also found the net on 45 minutes although a great shot, maybe there keeper, Sinan Bolat could have done slightly better than he did. A good and very important win was soured by the injury to young stand in left back Kieron Gibbs who broke his foot during the match.

Returning Denilson makes it 1-0

This was the TENTH consecutive time that Arsenal have qualified out of the Champions League group stages and into the knock out stages and that's a great achievement  by everyone involved

Sun, 29/11/2009 Arsenal took on Premier League leaders Chelsea in a game Arsenal could not afford to lose, I would say could not afford to draw either. Chelsea comfortably ran out 3-0 winners with out breaking sweat, ending Arsenal's unbeaten home record and probably our chance of winning the Premier League as well and it's not even December yet. Didier Drogba the man who can't stop scoring against Arsenal, clipped in a low cross into the top corner of the net from close range on 41 minutes and then the unlucky Thomas Vermaelen turned another low cross into the top corner of his net on 45. Arsenal came out and gave it their best shot in the second half but it was all ineffectual and Drogba finished the game off on 86 minutes with a great free kick into the corner of the net leaving Manuel Almunia with no chance. Arsenal are ELEVEN points behind Chelsea with a game in hand and it will take a brave man, or maybe a fool to bet on Arsenal winning the English Premier League now. We can only hope and cross our fingers but I for one will not be holding my breath.

Wed, 02/12/2009 It took a new multi million pound, full strength Manchester City side to put Arsenal's Carling Cup kids out of the competition with a 3-0 win at the City of Manchester Stadium. Carlos Tevez opened the scoring on 50 minutes with a shot that went in off the crossbar. On 69 Shaun Wright-Phillips caught Arsenal on the break and ran from the half way line to the penalty area before firing in a shot into the top corner, then with the game almost over on 89 minutes, Vladimir Weiss shot home from close range from a left wing Craig Bellamy cross to put City into the Semi-Final and ended this seasons education for the Arsenal youngsters

Sat, 05/12/2009 Arsenal played their 100th competitive game at the Emirates today and beat Stoke City 2-0 in the Premier League. Captain Cesc Fabregas on his 250th appearance should have given Arsenal the lead on 20 minutes from the Penalty spot but his spot kick was comfortably saved by Thomas Sorensen in the Stoke goal. It only took six more minutes though to take the lead when Andrey Arshavin slotted the ball past Sorenson to make it 1-0. On 54 minutes Emmanuel Eboue had to go off Injured and it was his replacement, young Aaron Ramsey who put the game to bed on 79 with a shot from the edge of the penalty area after a one_two he tried to play came back to him off a defender and he tucked it away for 2-0. Today was also Arsene Wenger's 500th Premier League game in charge.

Arsenal's overall record at Emirates Stadium:  Total   P100   W70   D24   L06   GF217   GA66 

Wed, 09/12/2009 Group winners Arsenal fielded a much weakened team in this last Champions League qualifying match against Olympiacos in Athens and put up a very good performance in a 1-0 defeat. Arsenal with a very young, inexperienced team at this level (average age 21 and that included old boy Mikael Silvestre in defence who is 32) were the better team for most of the game but two minutes after the interval, Arsenal were caught out when the ref played play on after a collision near the halfway line (and was right to do so) and left Leonardo to sprint forward and comfortably tucked in a nice shot under the advancing Fabianski in the Arsenal goal. Arsenal then had chances to score and Carlos Vela had a golden opportunity but shot weakly straight at the keeper when hitting the net was easier to do. The defeat was disappointing but no damage was done and the experience gained by the youngsters will hold them in good stead for the future

Sun, 13/12/2009 With Manchester United losing 0-1 at home to Aston Villa and Chelsea being held 3-3 at home to Everton, It was vital that Arsenal made up some lost ground away to Liverpool in the Premier League. Never an easy place to go but this season Liverpool are poor and just a shadow of the team they once used to be many years ago and so it was a big relief that Arsenal turned a 1-0 half time score into a 1-2 winning result. Liverpool had the better of the first half and on 41 minutes a free kick into the Arsenal box was only flapped at by Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia and the ball found its way to Dirk kuyt who scored through a crowd of players to give Liverpool that 1-0 half time lead. Five minutes into the second half and it was all square. Lady luck played its part after a right wing cross from Samir Nasri deflected off Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher before hitting Glen Johnson and going in for an own goal. On 58 minutes the comeback was complete when Cesc Fabregas found Andrey Arshavin on the edge of the area and his shot flew into the top of the net off the right hand post to make it 1-2. Liverpool huffed and puffed after that but there was no way back for them and Arsenal headed back to the Emirates with the three valuable points needed to keep their Premier League chances alive and kicking.

Arsenal became the first team in six years to trail at Anfield and go on to win!

Wed, 16/12/2009 Arsenal draw 1-1 at Burnley in the Premier League. It all started bright enough when Cesc Fabregas twisted and turned inside the area and slipped a nice shot right into the bottom corner of the net on just seven minutes. Burnley drew level on 28 minutes when Thomas Vermaelen caught Andre Bikey with a high lunge in the box and Graham Alexander stepped up to score his 70th penalty from 75 attempts and his 100th league goal. Both teams had further chances to win the game and Burnley had what looked like a good goal ruled out late on for off side. At the end of the day it was two points dropped but it could so easily have been all three

Fab Goal

Sat, 19/12/2009 Arsenal needed to get back on the title trail against a team that gained a shock 1-2 win at the Emirates last season. Hull City were the visitors but this time they were eventually beaten 3-0 on a bitter cold early evening kick off in North London. The game was all square as it entered first half injury time when Abou Diaby was fouled 25 yards from goal and up stepped Denilson to curl in a cracker and put Arsenal one up. Arsenal had chances after the break but the game now hinged on a few dramatic minutes. On 56 mins Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre was adjudged to have pulled down Craig Fagan and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Geovanni (who scored a cracker in last seasons win) but his placed shot was saved by Manuel Almunia, diving to his right. Three minutes later it was 2-0 to Arsenal after a Diaby cross was turned in just a few yards out by Eduardo. On 80 minutes it was 3-0 after Andrey Arshavin fed Diaby who fired home from 14 yards out. With Manchester United losing 3-0 at Fulham and leaders Chelsea still to play tomorrow at West Ham. It was a good three points to pick up today

Snow joke

Mon, 21/12/2009 Great photo of the Emirates and a snow covered pitch just four days before Christmas, trouble is it lead to a fans day the following morning being cancelled and that was a shame for all those looking forward to the event

Fri, 25/12/2009 Arsenal Football Club is 123 years old today!!

 Sun, 27/12/2009 Arsenal take on (unbeaten at the Emirates) Aston Villa in the EPL and win 3-0 in this vital EPL fixture. Not fully fit on the bench Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas came on for 25 minutes with the score 0-0 and went back off injured after scoring twice and winning the game in the 81st minute. Fabregas came on in the 57th minute and on 65 hit a great free kick from 25 yards out to beat Brad Friedel in the Villa goal. On 81 minutes Arsenal break and Theo Walcott feeds Fabregas who nets again from eight yards out but at a cost as his hamstring injury flairs up again and the substitute has to be taken off but job done and he gets a standing ovation as he leaves the field. On 90 minutes Abou Diaby rounds off a magnificent display with a low shot from the edge of the area and gives high flying Aston Villa something to think about on the coach trip home to the Midlands.

Wed, 30/12/2009 Arsenal Kit man and recently retired Arsenal Ladies Manager Vic Akers has received an OBE in the New Years Honours list. Vic who managed the Ladies for 22 years and won 32 major trophies, well and truly deserves his honour. Congratulations Vic and very well done.

Wed, 30/12/2009 It's 51 years since Portsmouth last beat Arsenal at home in the league and this was not about to change in this very Important EPL match as Arsenal needed to maintain third position against a Portsmouth team rooted to the bottom on the league and in dire financial trouble. Arsenal played positive, confident football and were very professional in their very impressive 1-4 victory. Eduardo started the ball rolling on 28 minutes, when he took a free kick from just outside the area, it was aimed for the keepers right hand corner but took a wicked deflection and ended up in the left hand corner. On 42 minutes Arsenal worked the ball to the left side of the penalty area before a low cross from Aaron Ramsey found Samir Nasri who shot hard and low from 15 yards past Asmir Begovic in the Pompy goal. After the break, Arsenal continued to press and 19 year old Aaron Ramsey (19 on boxing day) found himself with time and space to beat the keeper from outside the box on 69 minutes. Nadir Belhadj pulled a goal back on 74 and gave the home crowd something to cheer before Alex Song found himself unmarked in the box to head home number four on 81 minutes from a Nasri cross. Craig Eastmond came on with five minutes left on the clock to make his Premier League debut. This was a great way to end 2009 and hopefully 2010 will start the same confident, exciting way

Sun, 03/01/2010 The first game of the new Decade saw a cracking FA Cup game at West Ham's Boleyn Ground, otherwise known as Upton Park. Both teams fielded weakened teams for this game as West Ham face a very real relegation fight and Arsenal have a very important Premier League game on Wednesday night that could see them move to just a single point behind table toppers Chelsea. The first half was played with more pace than skill and it was all nip and tuck until injury time when Arsenal tried to play the off side trap but it was beat by Alessandro Diamanti darting through the middle of the Arsenal defence and hit a shot from 18 yards that Fabianski in goal did well to get a hand to diving low to his left but the ball then hit the post and went in for a 1-0 lead to the home side. The second half started, Arsenal looked more purposeful but West Ham still posed a threat on the counter. On 66 minutes Arsenal brought on Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri and the whole team simply went up a gear leaving West Ham on the back foot. On 78 minutes a great move ended when Carlos Vela made an inch perfect pass in a crowded penalty area to Aaron Ramsey who slotted a diagonal shot across Robert Green in the West Ham goal to make it 1-1. Arsenal were well on top by now and on 83 minutes the ball found Carlos Vela wide left who put in a delightful cross that was met with a brilliant looping header by Eduardo that found its way into the top corner of the net. That was game over but there was a time when it looked like it might not be our day. Still the final score was West Ham 1-2 Arsenal and Arsenal will be away to Stoke City in the 4th round.

Up, up and away! Eduardo's looping header

Wed, 06/01/2010 Arsenal's first home game of the new decade is postponed because of snow. This is the second time in the Emirates short history that a game has been snowed off. Tonight's EPL game against managerless Bolton Wanderers could have put Arsenal within a point of the top. The game will now have to be rescheduled for the third time as it was already postponed at the start of the season for a Champions League game.

Sat, 09/01/2010 Severe weather has decimated the Premier League and only two games have survived (three if Man City v Blackburn goes ahead on Monday) Arsenal v Everton and Birmingham v Man United (which ended 1-1) With United dropping two points and Chelsea postponed, this is a golden opportunity to get three points and put real pressure on Chelsea. When the final whistle blew at a snowy Emirates, Arsenal were lucky to have just a single point. On 12 minutes Landon Donovan took an Everton corner and 5ft 8in Leon Osman beat everyone to the ball to make it 1-0 to the visitors. On 28 minutes the home side were level when some neat Arsenal play end with Denilson firing in a shot which took a deflection off goal scorer Osman and past Tim Howard in the Everton goal to make it 1-1 at half time. Heavy snow fell during the second half and on 81 minutes Tim Cahill found Steven Pinaar on the halfway line and he raced towards the Arsenal goal alone, with just Almunia to beat he lifted a superb little chip that beat the oncoming keeper and found the net to make it 1-2 to the Toffee men. Arsenal piled forward for the equaliser and as the 90th passed Abou Diaby found substitute Tomas Rosicky whos goal bound shot took another deflection, this time off Lucas Neill that lifted the ball over the diving Tim Howard to make the final Score 2-2. That was a vital point gain but it was also a vital TWO points lost

Tue, 12/01/2010 After the tragic shooting at the African Cup of Nations when three Togo officials were killed and two players wounded in a shooting ordeal on the Togo bus, Manchester City's ex Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor appeared on TV wearing an Arsenal shirt to talk about the incident. I can't see that going down to well in Manchester but maybe under the circumstances all will be forgiven

Fri, 15/01/2010 Arsenal re sign 35 year old former Arsenal Central defender and former England defender Sol Campbell on a short term contract until the end of the season as defensive cover for William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen. This is a complete u_turn on Arsene Wenger's usual transfer policy of not signing "older" players or players that have left the club in the past. Campbell has been training with the club since September 2009. Is this a good/clever move?? Time will tell. I would sooner have bought someone who would have helped us push on in a more active roll this season instead of just being cover, with BIG prizes still in sight, I would have liked to see a more positive move. Campbell will wear the number 31 shirt

Sun 17/01/2010 A tricky trip to the Reebok against struggling Bolton Wanderers complete with brand new manager Owen Coyle was the task in hand and Arsenal passed the test with flying colours and a 0-2 win. Captain Fantastic, Cesc Fabregas ran the show and opened the scoring on 28 minutes after a great move ended with a one-two with Eduardo, Fab then slotted the ball home from 15 yards. On 77, Arsenal made the game safe when Fabregas found Eduardo on the left and he hit a deep cross from the byline that found Fran Merida who controlled the ball before knocking it home from close range. Young Craig Eastmond started for Arsenal for the first time and nearly scored from a corner in the first half. He was eventually replaced by second goal scorer Marida in the 63rd minute. Next game Wednesday night is........ Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates, hopefully for the third time of asking will finally be played (this EPL game should have been Arsenal's first home game of the season) Fingers crossed for another three vital points

Wed, 20/01/2010 What a mad night of football and back to back EPL games against Bolton Wanderers. If Arsenal could win by two goals tonight, they would top the ELP on goals scored. Within 28 minutes Arsenal were two DOWN!, within 53 minutes it was all level and within 85 minutes Arsenal were top of the Premier League. Cahill put Bolton in front on 7 minutes from close range and then Denilson fouled Chung-Yong Lee in the box and Matthew Taylor put away the penalty on 28. This was a massive shock in the making but on 43 a thumping shot on the edge of the area from Tomas Rosicky gave arsenal hope as they entered the half time Interval 1-2 down. After the break it was a completely different story. On 52, Captain Cesc Fabregas pulled Arsenal level with a shot from a narrow angle that went through keeper Jaaskelainen's legs and into the net. Thomas Vermaelen is next on the score sheet on 65 after Bolton fail to clear a corner and Vermaelen hits a left foot volley high into the net. One more goal would put Arsenal top of the EPL and on 85 minutes Russian Andrey Arshavin made it so, smashing home the fourth after some intricate passing that shredded the Bolton defence to bits. This was a night to remember and now a time to push on.