You Maroc My World: Chamakh Scores His Second in Gunner Win

Playing perennial EPL bottom-feeders, Bolton, on Saturday, Marouane Chamakh garnered his second goal for the EPL club. In a 4-1 dismantling of the Wanderers, although at 10 men for the last 30', number 29 showed his aerial skills...heading home the go-ahead goal at the hour mark.

Wenger lost a few starters this week when it was revealed that Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott, Vermaelen, Nasri, and Sagna were injured.
With van Persie and Walcott out, this meant that Chamakh would definitely get the start up front with Arshavin.
The match started fast for both teams, then slowed to a lull...until the 24' when a pinball match in front of Bolton's goal resulted in Laurent Koscielny slapping home a winner, after being fed by Fabregas. The Bolton keeper got a hand on it and actually helped the ball into the net...although Koscielny was the last to touch, so no own goal was called. ARSENAL 1-0
Chamakh and Arshavin continued to press the area, with Chammy putting a nice ball through to Rosicky, who should have scored in the 30'...then Arshavin had two chances to score in the 31' and 41', with both hitting the side netting.
Marouane was taken down in the area in the 43' but no penalty was called. On the breakaway play by Bolton, Elmander headed home a winner after goalscorer Koscielny let him run around him in the 18yd box. The Frenchman has had a time of keeping up with the EPL's pace, as evidenced by last week's performance too. Elmander's header from a cross was bang-on, with Almunia having no chance. TIED 1-1.

Barely after halftime, Chamakh was one-on-one with the keeper, and put in a viscious shot that was just palmed wide of the goal. The ensuing corner in the 57' was blocked back by Bolton, but the ball fell to Fabregas. He lobbed in a nice cross to the far post, where Chamakh was waiting GOAAAALLLLLLLLL! Chammy's header was a mirror image of Elmander's in the first half. ARSENAL 2-1

In the 63' Gary Cahill dove in late on the touchline as Chamakh flicked the ball back to Arshavin. The ref recognized the cynical tackle and pulled his red card. The only problem (aside from the fact that the red was very harsh...a yellow would have sufficed) was he stopped play, just as Arshavin was running down the wing unmarked. I'm not sure why he stopped the momentum, but it didn't matter anyway. Bolton were now down to 10 men.
The game took a more rough turn after the red card, with the Bolton players unleashing their frustrations on the Gunners. Alou Diaby took a nasty boot to the ankle from Robinson, and the two ended up having words. The comical part of this for me was that Marouane was saying something to Robinson...although I'm not sure what it was since his English is not very good! :)
In the 69' all of Bolton's frustrations almost paid off when Lee lobbed a ball that Almunia had difficulty spotting, and it could have gone into the net had he not gotten his hands around the ball.
Alex Song put the game to rest in the 77' when he chipped a ball past the keeper from a wideout angle. ARSENAL 3-1.
Marouane was substituted off in the 80' (not sure why...he needs to play 90 to strengthen his fitness). His replacement, Carlos Vela, made good use of his substitution and scored in the 82' from a Fabregas pass. ARSENAL 4-1.

Chamakh took second in Man of the Match voting, losing out to Fabregas.

The Gunners were patient, in the words of Arsene Wenger, and deserved the win:

"Overall it was a competitive game where we dominated and created many chances but it is the kind of game, when you play Bolton, that for as long as you don't kill the game off they can score. You can dominate 80 per cent of the game and still lose against Bolton because one or two balls, throw-ins, set pieces, can be dangerous and they are a good side in midfield as well. They marked us very tight and I think that provoked a very physical game but they played well as well."