Arsenal 2-2 Bolton Wanderers (Saturday 18th September 2004)

it's 503 days since Arsenal last lost the league game it's 42 years since Bolton won one here Freddie lindberg's back strain has eased he returns for Dennis Bergkamp in the only lineup change from Tuesday's European win Perez moves to the left and Reyes pushes up front with Henry elhad's Juke makes his full debut replacing Henrik Pederson as Bolton make two changes left back Ricardo Gardner is recalled for Anthony Barnes [Music] the referee is filled out from Staffordshire who took Bolton's opening day victory over Charlton by the way it's his fourth Premiership season [Applause] Cliff Richard was top of the pops with the young ones when Bolton last won a league game at hybrid with a famous Victory today would make it their best Premiership start and Arsenal win with equal newcastle's 1994 record of six in a row at the start of a Premiership campaign a lot of people thought that without Campbell at the heart of that defense Arsenal wouldn't get off to the sort of start they have the Defenders have proved them wrong this is Henry in behind young bird but allowed to turn grass just cut out [Applause] and Lauren worldwide [Applause] this is where Lundberg was allowed to turn and Jamie got the Block in [Applause] [Applause] the best of communication between the two the German and the Cameron Internationals and a little bit of a European hangover for Arsenal in these opening moments they have to be patient against PSV Eindhoven in the week and instead of going gung-ho into the European prey as they did a year ago against inter when they were picked off of the break they were more methodical but now they have a chance Henry Perez good goalkeeping by asking [Applause] Arsenal's first opportunity let's have a play [Applause] Henry through you put your house on him wouldn't you you ask your line and blocked and then Pierre is closing he's got a very good goal scoring record Robert Perez against Felton Wanderers he's calling his last three home and away [Applause] on speed back to him from Jupe now Nolan has come to a more Central position here we'll go for goal well not a bad effort at all Kevin Nolan drove it with power netted against Manchester United last week oh and but for the late bend the wrong way Bolton would have been ahead terrific strike oh that was blocked all right and he has it again now camper Nolan such a good player joof off call and our stoop out wide he was unhappy that he was played there many times for Liverpool he didn't think it was his best role stinging in his criticism of the club's previous regime when he left to go to Bolton for this year lovely character JJ o'crocher plays his football with a smile on his face or the lemons missed it didn't seem to be under two great pressure in there yens Layman oh I'm not too sure Davis certainly Thrust out enough Reyes Henry Nolan from Lauren and he's still going here gets the cross in and off Bruno ain't got it first time Lawrence got Ford in the game down the right hand side and It produced that result Reyes with the corner junbergen on yaskeliner torreira right nearly drops the Viera this is Perez that was placed that was blocked catch a low Perez is this the moment that Arsenal finally step on the gas turiano give him for the challenge [Applause] there's a dart of a Crossing I thought the ball was there to be one to be honest did he raise a hand as he went in yep he did and the referee got it right Viera again Bolton keeping their shape and disciplined [Applause] way through maybe now Viera to Henry there's the pace I'm ready to the Penalty area and this time he does make it the deadlock is broken for Arsenal Thierry Henry just past the half hour mark gives them the lead beautiful ball as the move built up with speed and the Finish was so precise and Thierry Henry has his fifth goal of the season between hunting and Gotti and the Finish clipped and Drew [Applause] Cole Pierre Estates Pierre has continued his run here he is [Applause] Arsenal's best move of the game other than the goal yeah didn't have to move too far and Rick Pederson coming on and El had Shoup also departing for Les ferdinand's emergence [Music] and Sam anodized changing his front too booze for the former Tottenham man he'll love that Les Ferdinand somehow remember captain in and Nola's not topping off the ball and that's a rank and the crossbar is rocking and Nolan claims a touch that should have given Bolton a corner [Applause] his second tremendous thump of a ball in the game and it clipped the top of the crossbar [Applause] Campo spunwise [Applause] it sounds a raise to protect his face [Applause] it's a corner and Vieira and Arsenal's lead is a fragile one [Applause] Ferdinand in there [Applause] by Johnny huge head up he rose so cleanly but where was the marking has publicized this fellow's power in the air he wasn't picked up thumped it into the net turned away found the space and crashed it in and I said the lead was a fragile one and they've worked hard for that Bolton there's Wings the foul uh lovely first touch takes him away from Gardner Perez who's in the middle and Arsenal's lead is restored he squirted in Bolton we're back in the game for just three minutes the touch from nimberg was magnificent and the little drag back from Pierre's beat yes Colin look at that though junberg away from Gardner and he shuffled it into the back of the net Robert Perez he's scored in his last four games for Arsenal against Bolton and he has four this season [Applause] on side much better game now but Charlie again is in there and Ferdinand was behind him and the height of Bolton and the power in the air is unsettling the reigning champions [Applause] and away it wasn't convincing was it now can they break here Bolton chasing the game the ball had the wrong weight the pass was too heavy [Applause] burkham taking up a good position arriving it deserved better lovely run in by Freddie youngberg camper drifted wide into space always looking there's the Run of young bird [Applause] and there's going to be a caution here for Lauren turned by Patterson dragged him down [Applause] Ferdinand it trickled so very very slowly and Bolton Wanderers I'm back at it again that's not undone Fireball to the heart of the defense in the air on by Ferdinand and though it trickled slowly it trickled Shirley and Henrik Pederson gets his fourth of the season [Applause] [Applause] gas Carolina dropped onto it May well have gone up and got it [Applause] [Applause] offending the referee filled out yeah experience cultural diversity at Bolton these days Pederson in there and Gotti with it and again hesitation of the rap for Arsenal back forward [Applause] they look for him again he's offside this time and Peterson and Ferdinand have done enough damage in this second half to suggest that Arsenal will welcome back Soul Campbell he plays for the reserves on Monday and they'll be hoping that he comes through unscape Henry lovely third camp [Applause] he stopped on the ball did he handle it Henry Vieira deflected Henry still in there Away by Johnny first man to it there is cliche for Ashley Cole definitely she once again [Applause] poor head of that away Ryan got it [Applause] under two minutes to go plus stoppage time and this is Ada [Applause] I also will have two minutes of stoppage time to force the winner [Applause] Moran tidally done the air and speed was back covering it comes to Bird Cab on the outside of Gardner until youngberg yes girl Island dropped onto it and made it safe that's a little bit lucky the way it came to burkham lovely drop of the shoulders and a very good point for Sam allodice and Bolton Wanderers they haven't had many here over the last 40 years Chinese scoring with a thumping head up to cancel out cherry on Ray's goal and Pederson after Robert Perez had put Arsenal two one up securing a very good point as Arsenal's 100 record goes in a 2-2 draw