Gunners rally, go atop EPL
LONDON, England (AFP) — Arsenal fought back from two goals down to go top of the Premier League with a controversial 4-2 win over Bolton at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.
Arsene Wenger’s title chasers were stunned when Gary Cahill put Bolton ahead before Matthew Taylor increased the visitors’ lead with a first-half penalty.
But Tomas Rosicky’s strike brought Arsenal back into the match and a piece of debatable refereeing from Alan Wiley allowed the Gunners to equalise through Cesc Fabregas.
Wiley waved play on despite William Gallas’s ugly stamp on Mark Davies and Arsenal, ignoring Bolton’s protests, took full advantage as Fabregas levelled.
Thomas Vermaelen’s goal completed Arsenal’s revival before Andrey Arshavin struck to send the north Londoners above previous leaders Chelsea on goals scored.
Chelsea have a game in hand on Arsenal, but Wenger’s men will fancy their chances of winning the title race if they continue to play with this kind of spirit.
With pole position up for grabs, Arsenal needed a repeat of the dominant display that saw them cruise to a 2-0 win at Bolton on Sunday.
But the Gunners were caught cold in the seventh minute as woeful defending allowed Bolton to snatch a shock lead.
French left-back Gael Clichy started the comedy of errors when he miscued a clearance high into the air, then Vermaelen allowed Kevin Davies to out-jump him on the edge of the area and the rest of the Arsenal defence stood statuesque as Cahill pounced to drive the knock-down past Manuel Almunia.
Fabregas should have equalised moments later when Rosicky’s pass picked out the Arsenal captain but, with only Jussi Jaaskelainen to beat, he shot weakly at the Finn.