Dark orange!

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
11 Sep	3:00 PM	P	Bolton Wanderers (H)	4	1	Win

All in all, another impressive performance from the boys at the Grove, making it two stylish wins from two at home this season, and adding to our belief that squad depth is not an issue, especially having seen three unforced changes in defence from our last outing at Blackburn. This can only mean one thing: everyone has a role to play, with the likes of Kieran Gibbs and, elsewhere, Jack Wilshere, getting deserved chances to prove their credentials. And this sends out the right message to the management, the squad, and the supporters.

Having said all that, and despite creating ample opportunities in the first half with which to put the game to bed, both, before and following Laurent Koscielny's first ever goal for the Club, it was not really until late into the second half that we were assured of the three points and the comfortable 4-1 scoreline to go with it. Points which suggest that, although we got away with it this time around as it is still early in the day, we definitely have work to do, all in order to avoid scenarios of being forced to try and nick games late on, before inevitably running out of steam. Which was the case late last season, of course.

Before we look at the goal needlessly conceded on the stroke of half-time, there was the number of chances which several, Andrey Arshavin most notably, contrived to miss. I am undecided on our Russian magician at the moment; he has shown mere glimpses of how effective he can be in the final third. But only glimpses, whilst often coasting casually. Now, we have come to know that is how our number 23 functions for the most part, but little Arsha doesn't look very happy, does he? Still, he should've buried at least one of the one-on-ones early on, not to a mention a more than presentable opportunity gone begging by Tomas Rosicky.

Then, out of nowhere, there was Bolton's equaliser.

Thomas Vermaelen had recently stressed that he is in the side to mark the league's top strikers out of the game and to secure clean sheets for the team, as opposed to scoring goals, which he did for fun on his debut season. Well, while you're at it, Thomas, I suppose you should get a word in nice and early for Koscielny, then! The number 6 took his goal with the pure instinct of a goal-poacher, before practically setting up the away side's attack which led to Johan Elmander's equaliser, forcing poor-old Manuel Almunia to look like a clown in no-man's land (exactly the image that the Spaniard has been trying to rid himself of) as he rushed out of goal to try and snuff out the danger in the process!

Now, I'm not one for judging new signings after a few weeks. In fact, both, Koscielny and debutant Sébastien Squillaci were particularly impressive in dealing with Bolton's aerial threat in the second half (interestingly, the Beeb had our new signing down as Salvatore Squillaci on their post-match review, in reference to the hero of Italia '90! That was until yours truly complained...). However, it currently looks as though Koscielny is a blunder-a-game man, with an unfortunate red card and a conspicuous skimming in his previous two outings. This has to stop, Kos, and fast, as it is often those kinds of errors that settle a title clash or big European night. And if you don't believe me, just ask your countryman, Pascal Cygan!

Thankfully, as I mentioned, the two Frenchmen at the heart of the defence were more than comfortable during the second forty-five, aided of course by our constant stream of attack after attack to relieve the pressure. In the end, the result, and probably the scoreline, were a fair reflection of events. And that is whatever Bolton boss Owen Coyle tries to tell you.

The Scot was apparently furious at young referee Stuart Atwell for his red card on Gary Cahill, especially coming moments after we should have conceded foul on the edge of our box. Admittedly, I did not see it as a red, a view obviously shared by Arsène Wenger, who, with his typical ingenious, insinuated that we should now have "dark orange" cards to be dished out for certain challenges!

However, Mr. Coyle, if that wasn't a red, I'm sure you'll agree that Paul Robinson's match-ending tackle on Abou Diaby certainly was. And so, in that respect, things were evened out pretty quick. And for anyone to imply that the sending off tipped the balance in our favour, a reminder that we were already ahead by that point, and, okay, Bolton huffed and puffed and provided an intense physical battle. But apart from the goal, given to them on a plate as already mentioned, the northerners did not create much in the way of clear-cut chances, and so they should have no complaints about the outcome.

As for ourselves, a good all-round display of attacking football, with Alex Song's goal just reward for his ventures forward, as well as Carlos Vela repaying some of the faith I had put in him in my match preview with a well-taken goal as soon as he had come on, providing the cherry on a pretty tasty cake.

True title contenders? Maybe, provided we can cut out the sporadic individual errors, safe in the knowledge that we simply cannot and will not score three or four every time.

And so, for now I'd say that we have Chelsea and any pretenders simmering, and to borrow a phrase from Le Boss, on dark orange alert, as opposed to red!

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