Bolton did not deserve any goodwill from Arsenal

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
20 Jan	7:45 PM	P	Bolton Wanderers (H)	4	2	Win

After the treatment Arsenal has got from Bolton in recent games and indeed in recent years, they did not deserve any goodwill from Arsenal.

William Gallas' tackle was horrible. It doesn't matter that it was unintentional. It was bad and I would have sent him off for that. In any other situation, Arsenal should have put the ball out to allow treatment. It is courtesy. But Bolton play bully football. They always want to kick their way to victory. I believe that if Arsenal were playing Fulham, they would've put the ball out. Rosicky stood still when Sagna had the ball and wanted the ball put out but Sagna knew exactly what he was doing. He was not going to show courtesy to a team that never plays with decency.

Arsenal were a bit mean against Bolton. They put in some rough tackles and scored when a player was lying injured. I don't enjoy mean teams but it pleased me to see them make that statement. It was a big statement.

Fabregas has got a very good sensor for the team. He seems to instinctively know when to push them and drive them on and when to settle things down. When rumours surfaced about Patrick Vieira around October, I thought the one thing he could bring to the team is that sense of when to push and when to contain. Cesc is the heartbeat of the team. He doesn't need to shout. If he raises his tempo the team naturally responds. When he drops the team drops. He doesn't have to speak or shout. He can actually disappear for a while and then surprise defenders who start enjoying the break.

You don't quite realise how much defending he does until you pay attention. He is so intelligent with everything including his defending. Fabulous Captain!

After Tomas Rosicky scored, he started taking the kind of responsibility that I think he can do more of. Out on the right, Rosicky tends to take the ball and pass. He did so against Bolton until he got a goal and then he started to move. Arsenal's play is predictable. It is only in those seconds when Fabregas gets the balls and drives deeper than the opposition expected or when Arshavin takes someone on that the opposition really gets worried and confused. Rosicky scored because every Bolton play expected a stop and a pass back. We need a little bit more ingenuity and sponteneity like that.

Arsenal play differently with Eastmond. They are a lot more conservative in midfield and don't try to do too much because they are aware Eastmond is easing in. That ironically helps us. It means we get the ball out of midfield quicker. Eastmond suddenly finds himself in the fray as Diaby is injured. I hope Diaby is not out for too long because I am not sure how long Rosicky and Denilson will stay fit – it is always a gamble with those two.

Manuel Almunia is having a good run of games. He looks like a proper goalkeeper all of a sudden. It is a very good time for players like Almunia, Rosicky and Arshavin to get their groove back. Eduardo lacks pace in the final yards but he is constructive. You can give him the ball with four players around him. Arsenal can now concede and still win – you probably remember the days when we lost everytime we didn't score first. We need all these good things to keep happening right now at this crucial point of the season.

Top of the league. YES! But it is one hell of a crazy month. Tough games, Champions League, midfield is back to bare bone again – yet again! I am desperate to relax and enjoy but I can't. I am so desperate to relax and enjoy for a change.

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