Arsenal back to winning ways as Van Persie grabs 100th goal

Arsenal got back to winning ways as they picked up their second win of the campaign as they beat Bolton 3-0 on Saturday afternoon. Two goals from the captain, Van Persie meant he scored his 100th goal for the club whilst Song grabbed a third late on. However Bolton were down to ten men for part of the game as Wheater was sent off. Van Persie has now become only the 17th player in history to score a century of goals for Arsenal. For the game there were changes to the side that lost to Blackburn last weekend as Gibbs came in for Santos and Walcott came in for Arshavin.

Robin Van Persie - Now a Century of goals for the club

The first chance of the game fell to the hosts, Bolton. Arsenal were caught out as they were momentarily down to ten men due to Koscielny having a head injury. A free kick was aimed in at Wheater who headed across goal to Pratley who hit a volley towards the goal but Sczesny did what he had been doing all season by making a brilliant save to deny the ex-Arsenal youth player, Pratley.



Arsenal's first chance also came from a free kick after Walcott was brought down on the edge of the box. Arteta then layed the ball off to Van Persie from the freekick who curled a shot around the wall but just wide of the goal.

In a half with not many chances Gervinho had a rare sight of goal but he drove his shot over the bar from distance.

The score at half time was 0-0.

Just seconds into the second half Arsenal took the lead. Song playing Ramsey down the middle who  found Van Persie who got past one player before firing a shot just inside Jaaskelainen's near post and into the back of the net.

The skipper, Van Persie then had a great chance to extend their lead as Walcott played the ball through to the dutchman but this time Jaaskelainen kept the shot out.

Ten minutes into the second half Bolton had a man sent off. A ball was slipped through to Walcott but Wheater brought him down, and because it was a clear goal scoring opportunity he was sent off. Van Persie took the free kick but put his effort straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.

It was then Bolton's turn to attack and they had a great chance to equalise as Petrov played Eagles in who ran clear of the defence and hit a shot goalwards but Szczesny easily kept out the attempt.

Straight away Arsenal went up the other end and almost made it 2-0 as Gervinho found Van Persie who once again hit a shot towards the goal but the ball curled just wide of the post. Van Persie had another good chance as Walcott chipped the ball into him but he saw his header brilliantly kept out by Jaaskelainen.

Then Arsenal did make it 2-0 and Van Persie finally grabbed his second of the game and his 100th goal for the Gunners. Walcott again supplying the ball from the right into Van Persie who got ahead of his man to steer the ball home with 18 minutes left.

A rare goal from Alex Song sealed the win

Arsenal were dominating the game against the side which find themselves in the relegation zone. They then managed to find another chance as Song split the defence with a ball through to Walcott. He raced clear of the defence only for him to hit a tame shot which was easily saved by the Bolton goalkeeper.

With a minute left on the clock Arsenal scored again. Sagna playing the ball from the right into the path of Alex Song who turned Pratley before firing the ball past Jaaskelainen and into the back of the net.

The final score finished Arsenal 3-0 Bolton. 
  
The teams lineups: 

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta(81), Song, Ramsey, Walcott, Van Persie(86), Gervinho(78).
Subs: Fabianski, Santos, Frimpong, Rosicky(81), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin(78), Chamakh(86).

Bolton: Jaaskelainen,Wheater, Robinson, Knight, Steinsson, Petrov, Pratley, Muamba(56), Reo-Coker, Eagles, Ngog(20).
Subs: Bogdan, Boyata(56), Gardner, M.Davies, Kakuta, Tuncay, K.Davies(20).

My man of the match: Robin Van Persie

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Attendance: 59,727