The lead Chelsea has now is not insurmountable. And you just never know when or if the football gods will turn their cruel eye upon them and point the Finger of Injury Crisis.

And here we are, not eight weeks later… Top of the table. Sure, the blue twats from the Bridge have a game in hand, but that will even itself out in time. So…

That was a nice little match last night, was it not? After two major defensive cock-ups to go down 0-2 to the hated Trotters, the mighty mighty Arsenal come steaming back to put in four goals and take the points… and their rightful place at the top of the Premiership. After the match at the Reebok this past Sunday, I wrote:

Have fun trying to claw your way out of the basement.

But I would like to soften that statement a bit. Instead, I would like it to be:

Suck it, Trotters. I hate you more than I ever thought possible. But, I love when Arsenal play against you. Please don’t go down to the Championship. You’re our bugaboo team, and it’s been ever so much fun squashing you this season. Let’s do it again next year!

There are other teams that I’d rather see go down. I’d rather torment Bolton each year, and watch them languish just above the drop. It’s like a little premiership sideshow for me now.

Our first goal was the one that spurred us into high gear, I believe. The team were definitely mounting the pressure, but when Tomas Rosicky put that beautiful shot in past the dumbstruck Juicy Jaaaaaskelainen, you could feel things ratchet up a bit. It was a brilliant shot and exactly what we needed going into the tunnel at the half. It’s great to see Tomas back in fine form.

After the break, we took about eight minutes to equalize. It came about in odd fashion, though. William Gallas and Mark Davies came together in midfield and Gallas went in late and crunched Davies ankle. He went down in a heap, but Alan Wiley waved play on. So… we played on. And while half the Trotters were waving their arms and screaming like girls… Cesc Fabregas scored. You get what you give, Coyle. And sometimes you get it in spades. I’m glad to hear Davies is not seriously injured.

Oooh... that's gotta smart.

And It’s hard to imagine that Gallas didn’t intend the foul, and foul it was, but I suppose he was getting a bit tired of seeing a basement team trying to kick points out of us. And, he’s not exactly known as someone who keeps his cool, now is he? The whole incident had Owen Coyle making this sort of face you see here to the left. He looks a bit like John Cleese, doesn’t he?

With the score now equal, you could just tell we were on our way to another. The pressure was on and Bolton had all eleven men in their area, bleating like sheep. At 65′ the ball got ricocheted around a bit and Thomas Vermaelen showed some nice skill to turn as the ball passed him and pound one in off the upright. It was at this point I started screaming unintelligibly at the screen… something about “Push that up your hoop, Owen!” And, it still felt like we had more in the tank. We settled a little at this point, and Bolton did manage a few scary moments, but we were still in control. And, with that goal differential we needed in mind, the little genius of Andrey Arshavin wound up with the ball in the area, took a brilliant touch to make space and bashed home our fourth. Done, dusted… left a fifty on the dresser. Thank you ma’am.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

Owen Coyle has his work cut out for him, that’s or sure. I’m not so sure he’s made the right career move, despite being a Wanderer alum. Does he miss the Championship? So, new manager or no, Bolton went about playing us the only way they know how. Getting the kicks in, and… hair pulling, as it were. And they call Arsenal girls? Getting a good crunching tackle in and taking a man out is part of football, but kneeling on someone’s head, kicking them in the face and pulling their hair? That’s cowardice, and Taylor is a coward. He and his ilk got nothing last night, and they’ll go home Wednesday with nothing.

Fabregas’ goal was a thing of sheer beauty. Despite the ridiculous announcer who was having a love-in with Bolton the whole match, it wasn’t luck. No, he took the ball, touched once, and threaded a needle in less than half a second to put us ahead. That’s not luck, you dipshit. That’s skill. Merida’s was just skillful and the build up as well. Where was Bolton’s skill? Flashing the fucking ball wide six or so times? All they did was play rough, as we expect them to. But they’ve been served notice: it’s not enough anymore. Have fun trying to claw your way out of the basement.

Riveting, was it not? Oofa… I had a hard time staying awake for that one, after waiting all night for the torrent. Someone posted the second half earlier in a wide format, but I really wanted to see the whole thing, so I waited for the usual source. Bad move.

As expected, Bolton tried to compensate for their being utter shit by packing the box with pretty much everyone. It looked as if they had all 11 players plus the’re four subs in the box for the duration. Not that we threatened their goal very much. Despite having 99.4% possession and Captain Kolo doing a fine job pressing the boys on, we seemed content to practice passing and probe their defense for most of the match. To be fair, there was some lovely passing in evidence, but not much of it actually entered the Bolton area. But eventually, Robin van Persie made a nice little move up the left side, put a beautiful cross over to the far post where Niklas Bendtner came sliding to hoof it in. It felt good seeing Nik get the goal. He might have had two, but he’s been struggling a bit lately. Last season, his return vs the amount of time spent on the pitch was pretty impressive. He’s getting just as little time this season, but people expect just as many goals. I think he needs more 90 minute sessions, but that’s hard to justify with RvP and Adebayor available. But hopefully this goal will set him about finding his form.

So, now we’re off to Hull City. Wherever the hell that is. It’s going to be a tough match, but we owe them one. I seriously hope the boys are up for this one and get some revenge. An away win, after seven consecutive matches without a defeat, would be a great boost to team confidence.

Transfer Bits: The Arshavin Saga continues. Some of the other blogs are reporting that Man City are pissed at us for Kolo not being sold to them and are planning to disrupt the Arshavin deal. I find that unlikely now that they’ve tabled a £100 million bid for Kaka. More interestingly, there’s a report that we might be pursuing Jimmy Bullard. I’ve said several times that Jimmy would fit great with us. But, this is probably hooey as well. We’ll see.

After Wanderers went up 1-0, I wasn’t worried. Not even a little. I remember thinking, “Shit, another mediocre side exposing our weakness to defend from the corners… but no big deal.” And I was right. The Arsenal went on to simply dominate the rest of the match and had themselves a fine old time whacking in goals.

Who cares if he was a little offsides? HE IS EBOUE! Mortal men worry about the offsides rule, not Eboue. So, he gets himself on the scoresheet for Arsenal for the first time in, I don’t know… forever maybe. The enigma that is Emmanuel Eboue this season rolls ever onward. A minute after the Eboue Show at 27′, Denilson put a lovely little cross in front of Niklas Bendtner who put us up 2-1. Not to be left out of the scoring party, Denilson put home our third on a cross from Emmanuel Adebayor only a few minutes from time. Done. Let’s go home.

It has to be said, Manuel Almunia had himself a good time as well, putting in some highlight reel efforts to keep the opposition at only one goal. World class shot stopping, Al. Overall, it was a concerted effort, and as is typical Arsenal form, they never gave up. Bring on those Hull City fellows.

Also, things lined up quite nicely on Sunday when some foul smelling side drew 1-1 with another equally decrepit bunch of wanks to allow Arsenal to take their rightful place atop the English Premier League. I forget their names. I won’t be surprised if we’re in and out of that position all season long with the points being as tight as they are right now. But it only matters where we are when the season comes to a close.

Ok, I paused the game… we’re at 68′ and Robin van Persie just netted his PK after Alexandre Hleb was fouled. I was pretty happy when Gallas hit his goal a few minutes earlier, but when RVP’s ball went in to equalize, I punched the air so hard I nearly shit myself from the exertion. If you can imagine that. I’m going for another glass of wine and a handful of Chex Party Mix. This might be why I don’t live-blog these matches. And, we hit play…

Pause… 72′… still 2-2. I’ve gone and gotten my Arsenal scarf, despite it being a comfortable 68f in my home and that it clashes terribly with the Penn State jersey I’m wearing (my redcurrant is in the wash, thank you). Time to get religious, people. Un-fucking-pause…

Holy… fucking… MOLEY… Doth mine eyes deceive me? Did I just see my beloved Gunners, in the form I remember from earlier in the year… come back with only seconds to remain, and win at the Reebok, with only 10 men on the field?! You are god damned RIGHT I did! I am so fucking ecstatic right now I can’t even communicate. Garble, splurble, fook… pfffsht. Sure, it’s only a win over Bolton… but what a win over Bolton! And, just when we need one, and just what we need… to believe, yet again. That there is a very good reason why we held the top spot for so long this year… We are that good. GOD I love football! Roll on with the rest of the season!