Kanu rescues Gunners

Arsenal 2 Bolton 1

David Seaman had Kanu to thank after the Nigerian rescued Arsenal with a late winner and spared the blushes of his goalkeeper following his third high-profile elementary gaffe in the space of just three months.

For Ronaldinho in Shizuoka and Gianfranco Zola at Stamford Bridge, let alone Nayim from the halfway line, now read Gareth Farrelly at Highbury.

With Arsenal leading through Thierry Henry’s 26th-minute strike as the Frenchman made amends for a penalty miss, Farrelly had let loose just after half-time with a hopeful cross-shot from 20 yards out on the left touchline.

Seaman had taken up a position at the near post and, despite being virtually on the goal-line – yet again – he was unable to react in time as the ball flew over his head and dropped into the far corner.

The disbelieving shake of the head was reminiscent of his shocked reaction to Ronaldinho’s strike against England at the World Cup in June.

And there was another red-faced moment for the veteran keeper at Chelsea earlier this season as a long-rang free-kick by Gianfranco Zola evaded not only the Gunners’ defence but also Seaman.

This time, however, the Arsenal keeper was at least able to taste victory as his team made the most of the late dismissal of Bolton midfielder Ivan Campo.

Henry’s strike may have made history in matching Chesterfield’s 72-year-old English record of scoring in 46 consecutive league games.

However, against a team down to 10 men, Kanu’s late prod home from close range was far more important to the Gunners’ title hopes as they somehow maintained their confident early season charge.

There were just 13 minutes gone when Henry first looked to have the ideal opportunity to put his side ahead only to strike the inside of the post from the penalty spot.

Fredrik Ljungberg was adjudged – correctly, it seemed, despite a rather theatrical tumble – to have been pulled back by Gudni Bergsson as he latched onto Sylvain Wiltord’s pass.

Although Henry sent Jussi Jaaskelainen the wrong way, he watched in despair as the ball struck the inside of the left-hand upright before speeding along the ground behind the prostrate keeper and into touch for a goal-kick.

Henry’s second miss came 10 minutes later as he showed determination to chase a seemingly lost cause and lift the ball over the Bolton keeper only to clip his shot wide from a tight angle.

It was a case of third time lucky, however as the Frenchman finally found the target on 26 minutes.

Ljungberg was the creator, directing a superb through-ball into the path of his team-mate to peel off his marker, clip the ball around Jaaskelainen and make no mistake with his finish.

Bolton were at least managing to enjoy some possession but they were still creating little. That, however, all changed with Seaman’s latest mistake just after the break as the ball sailed over his head.

Bolton’s tails were now up and Youri Djorkjaeff was left unmarked only to blaze a shot over the top, with Henry coming similarly close at the other end and Gudni Bergsson clearing Kanu’s shot off the line.

Dennis Bergkamp and Francis Jeffers were duly introduced and Bergkamp almost immediately put Henry through only for the Frenchman’s finish to be ruled out for offside in what was at best a questionable decision.

Bolton were similarly unimpressed when Campo received his marching orders for a second yellow card.

He looked to have been harshly treated but, then again, he still lost his cool at Ray Parlour flicking his ear as he ran past him and threw the ball away as Arsenal were trying to line up a free-kick.

Arsenal launched a frantic late assault on the Bolton goal, which looked likely to prove futile as Jaaskelainen saved from Henry, who also sent a free-kick narrowly wide.

However, that was reckoning without Kanu. The Nigerian international had looked out of touch for most of the match but he forced the ball home when it mattered most amid a huge penalty area scramble.

Unsurprisingly, however, as the final whistle blew on an unlikely escape, the widest smile of relief in the stadium was Seaman’s.