Win against Trotters papers over cracks

OWEN COYLE’S combative Trotters wouldn’t normally have been top of my list of ideal opposition for a confidence restoring encounter ahead of our trip to White Hart Lane.

However with Bolton having lost nine of their last 10 outings, they proved the perfect foil for our bomb-damaged Gunners.

With Arsène’s side on its knees the majority of teams would have arrived at the Emirates intent on capitalising on our plight. But with our customary nemesis, Kevin Davies, only coming on from the bench after lone frontman Ngog limped off, this typified the limited ambitions of a Bolton side that was principally focused on snuffing out our threat, instead of any gung-ho quest for all three points.

In light of our lamentable recent plight, on paper, a 3-0 win and a clean sheet, looks the perfect pick-me-up.

But amongst those present, I’m sure there’ll be plenty who’ll admit that this result might be somewhat misleading.

The seriously underwhelming form of Dalglish’s Scousers since their first league victory in an epoch at our place, Blackburn’s slapstick defending and the hard work we made of a Swans outfit, likely to prove such easy meat for others, all this seems a far more accurate barometer of the Gunners rapid descent towards mid-table mediocrity.

If not for Szczesny’s heroics, it might’ve been a different story.

We endured a dreadfully disjointed first half, where, playing in front of our back four, Arteta was easily smothered, causing a disconnect between him and all those in more advanced roles. Mercifully it finally seemed as if the Gunners had begun to find their mojo during the second half. We were aided by the dismissal of Bolton’s centre-back, but even before this, it felt as if Wenger found the right buttons to press during the break, to turn on some style.

Although he might lack the control and composure of a more cultured talent, without the millstone of Walcott’s timidity, Gervinho’s willingness to run with the ball is akin to putting a dreadlocked rooster in the opposition’s hen house.

On the face of it, the depressing news about Wilshere’s prolonged absence appears to lend weight to the contentions of those who question the competency of our medical team. Without Wilshere and Vermaelen, an injury-prone Van Persie is arguably the only player left in the team who’d be coveted by all the cash-rich competition (perhaps along with the unsung Sagna). Yet with each passing week you can sense the frustration in Robin’s demeanour, with his team-mates repeated inability to look up and pass to the unmarked striker. Unless this squad clicks and this situation is rectified pronto, we risk another Arsenal captain requesting his P45.

Thankfully, on one of Theo’s better afternoons, he was able to find Robin on Saturday. But then some might argue that even a broken clock is right twice a day, especially the increasing army of Arsenal fans who are convinced that our misfortunes of late are evidence of the ebb tide of Arsène’s long tenure. Myself I believe Wenger has easily earned the right to prove himself capable of turning the tide.

Ask me again after Sunday.