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Arsenal 1. Bolton Wanderers 1.
By Mark Heys January 29 2007
Bolton Wanderers are still in the draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup after putting in a strong defensive display against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium yesterday afternoon.

The two sides must now go to a replay at the Reebok Stadium in just over a week from now to determine which team makes it through to the next stage of this world famous competition.

After a good opening period for the Wanderers it was Arsenal who dominated most of the second half with defender Kolo Toure's 77th minute header being the perfect reward for a period of sustained pressure after Kevin Nolan had earlier given Bolton the lead.

The Trotters pressed and probed for the first half an hour of the game and looked the most likely to break the deadlock with striker Kevin Davies testing Gunners keeper Manuel Almunia as early as the second minute.

Midfielder Ivan Campo then had a chance of opening the scoring on the quarter hour mark but he chose to volley Kevin Davies flick on rather than use his head. Fortunately for the ex-Real Madrid man the ball came off defender Toure to earn Wanderers a corner.

On 20 minutes it was Arsenal's turn to force an attack as teenager Theo Walcott used his pace to beat Ricardo Gardner on the inside and fire in a shot which stung the palms of visiting keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Walcott had excelled in the league game between these two teams earlier in the season but he was having less of his own way against Gardner who kept him at bay for large spells.

Five minutes before the interval Arsenal could have taken the lead but for some timely last minute intervention by Ivorian defender Abdoulaye Meite. The big African centre back was on hand to slide Thierry Henry's backheel from off the goal line after Gardner's header had caused confusion in the Bolton area.

With the second half just five minutes old Bolton took the lead when their skipper Kevin Nolan finished off a fine team move involving Kevin Davies and ex-Gunners favourite Nicolas Anelka.

Anelka showed good vision to put through Davies who was unmarked on the edge of the Arsenal area and he in turn produced a low cross which Nolan lashed past Almunia.

Nolan could have doubled the Wanderers advantage moments later when Ivan Campo's defence splitting pass put him in a one on one situation with Almunia, but fortunately for Arsenal the Spanish custodian was alert to deny the midfielder.

Arsenal began to up the ante and a wayward volley by Walcott was the start of some serious second half pressure dished out by the Gunners, but to their credit Bolton put in a defensive display which manager Sam Allardyce would be more than content with.

Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Thierry Henry all combined well down the left flank but Jaaskelainen showed why he is one of the best goalkeepers in England right now by denying the French striker Henry.

Just after the hour, on 65 minutes, Bolton had Jaaskelainen to thank again, this time when the Finnish international palmed away a difficult shot by Fabregas which was swerving all the way.

The Bolton keeper could do little about the Gunners leveller thirteen minutes from time though. Wanderers veteran Gary Speed inadvertantly flicked a Fabregas free kick into the path of the unmarked Toure who stooped to head the ball home.

Substitute Julio Baptista forced the ball wide late on as Arsenal desperately searched for a winner but Bolton will be delighted that they have forced a replay as Arsenal have struggled at the Reebok Stadium in recent times.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Faye, Abdoulaye Meite, Ricardo Gardner (Henrik Pedersen), Kevin Nolan, Ivan Campo, Gary Speed, Stelios Giannakopoulos (Ricardo Vaz-Te), Nicolas Anelka, Kevin Davies

Subs Not Used: Andranik Teimourian, Idan Tal, Ian Walker (GK)

Arsenal: Manuel Almunia, Justin Hoyte (Julio Baptista), Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos, Gael Clichy, Tomas Rosicky, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Theo Walcott (Jeremie Aliadiere), Emmanuel Adebayor, Thierry Henry

Subs Not Used: Abou Diaby, Denilson, Mart Poom (GK)

Referee:

Mike Dean

Attendance:

59,778

Booked:

Matheiu Flamini (Arsenal)

Abdoulaye Faye (Bolton)

Nicky Hunt (Bolton)

Philippe Senderos (Arsenal)

Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton)

Jeremie Aliadiere (Arsenal)

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