Bolton 0 Arsenal 2

Cesc’s return from injury today, as Arsenal faced Bolton away from home.

Fiery start to the game from Bolton under their new manager. Davies nearly gave Bolton a shock lead inside 40 seconds but he failed to control a low cross from Chung-Yong Lee. 1 minute later and Klasnic has the ball in the back of the net with a rasping finish but he was offside.

Arsenal are soon to get their passing game into effect. Cesc showed some neat control before unleashing a fierce shot across the face of goal. No one can get to the end of it.

7 minutes in and Cesc played a superb through-ball to Eduardo, but Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen was alert to the danger.

12 minutes in and a penalty shout for Arsenal as Eduardo sent in a low cross from the left for Cesc, who seemed to be clipped by Jaaskelainen. Nothing given!

A bit of a sticky moment for Almunia, 16 minutes in, as he failed to catch a floated cross from Cohen to give away a needless corner but made up for it by catching the cross.

19 minutes in and Arshavin showed some great skill in the area, but his left-footed shot was blocked.

At the 22 minute mark, Klasnic got the ball stuck under his feet and squeezed in a shot from just outside the box which Almunia gathered.

25 Arshavin starting to boss the game, cuts inside and his goalbound shot is deflected by Steinsson for a corner which comes to nothing.

28 minues and GOAL! Cesc played a lovely one-two with Eduardo before he drove his shot low into Jaaskelainen’s bottom right-hand corner. 1-0 to Arsenal.

4 minutes later and Eastmond nearly scored on his debut! Cesc sent in the corner and Eastmond volleyed it towards goal but Jaaskelainen made a decent save.

34 minutes in and Cesc goes down in the area under a challenge from Knight. Taylor then sits on top of Cesc and there are some afters but nothing awarded.

Some more afters as Robinson was given a yellow card for clipping Cesc. Rosicky soon followed into the book for body checking one of the Bolton players.

40 minutes and Bolton have another attempt at goal. Lee showed some great control in chesting the ball down and fired in a half-volley from the edge of the area, but his effort was well held by Almunia.

It so easily could have been 2 for Arsenal after 43 minutes. Arshavin got behind the defence and cut the ball back for Eduardo, who fluffed his lines. Cesc ran on to the ball but shot wide of the post.

Half-time score Bolton 0 Arsenal 1.

Bolton got the second half under way and they also had the first chance of the second half as Steinsson released Lee down the right and the South Korean delivered a brilliant cross for Taylor, who couldn’t reach the ball as he crashed into Almunia.

51 minutes in and Cesc curled a free-kick to the far post where Gallas jumped above the defence but headed over.

Bolton seemed to be getting a lot of joy down the right. Some good link-up play again as Lee sent in a cross which Gallas deflected towards the near post, where Almunia saved.

59 minutes in and a good chance for the Gunners as Arshavin cut the ball back for Diaby who flashed his effort well wide.

On the counter, Klasnic sent Taylor clear, but the midfielder shot over when well placed inside the box. Bolton’s best chance of the game!

65 minutes and substitute Merida got in on the action played the ball out wide for Rosicky, whose cross was cleared from the head of Eduardo by Cahill.

70 minute mark and Klasnic beat the offside trap from Steinsson’s pass but he took a shot far too early when he had plenty of time. Just missed the post with a shot across the face of goal.

Arsenal are awarded a free-kick after 75 minutes after Merida was brought down. Vermaelen stepped up to curl it left-footed over the bar. Very close!

In quick succession, Bolton were awarded a free-kick after handball from Vermaelen, which was poor as it hit the wall.

78 minutes and finally the second goal! Cesc surged forward and layed the ball off to Eduardo, who crossed from near the left by-line. Knight headed the ball straight into the path of Merida and he steered it in off the far post with a cool finish. 2-0 to Arsenal.

83 minutes in and another chance for Bolton after Lee set up Taylor on the edge of the box, but again the midfielder couldn’t keep the ball down.

Stoppage time and Arsenal were awarded a free-kick. No more goals as Vela’s shot went straight to the Bolton goalkeeper.

Full-time score Bolton 0 Arsenal 2. Full match report here.

Congratulations to the Gunners!! Welcome back Cesc!! A vital 3 points as the next couple of premier-league fixtures are anything but easy.

I have added some photos of Cesc in the match in the latest photos section!!

Let me know your thoughts on the match as usual.

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1. Arsenal 4 Bolton 2
2. Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3
3. Arsenal 3 Hull City 0
4. Arsenal 4 AZ Alkmaar 1 + Cesc post match interview
5. Burnley 1 Arsenal 1 + Injury update