Rutashubanyuma
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 24, 2010
- 219,508
- 911,249
- Thread starter
- #17,321
Tamir Cohen strikes for Bolton to end Arsenal's league title challenge
Premier League
Bolton Wanderers 2
Premier League
Bolton Wanderers 2
- Sturridge 38,
- Cohen 90
- van Persie 48
- Daniel Taylor at the Reebok Stadium
- guardian.co.uk, Sunday 24 April 2011 18.05 BST
Tamir Cohen pays tribute to his late father Avi as he celebrates scoring Bolton Wanderers' winner against Arsenal. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images
Arsenal's journey towards the title has turned down its final cul-de-sac. In truth, there was probably one wrong turn too many before the latest addition in their portfolio of last-minute traumas, but there is no way back for Arsène Wenger's side now, nine points adrift and fast disappearing in Manchester United's wing mirrors with only four games remaining.
They were undone here by an 90th-minute goal from the substitute Tamir Cohen, flashing a header beyond Wojciech Szczesny from Matt Taylor's corner. At that moment Wenger turned away in anguish and could be seen hurling a water bottle into the ground in frustration. His team had contributed to a game of rich entertainment but here, too, was a telling demonstration of the flaws that have brought them to the brink of a sixth successive year without a trophy.
In attack they were beguiling at times; defensively, they were bewildering. Their football was slick, penetrative and frequently thrilling, culminating in a frenetic onslaught of the Bolton goal before Cohen's goal. Yet there were other times, particularly in the first half, when their opponents sliced them open far too easily. Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring in the 39th minute, his seventh goal in nine appearances since joining Bolton on loan from Chelsea, and Bolton could also reflect on Szczesny keeping out Kevin Davies's penalty two minutes into the second half.
That had seemed like it could be the defining moment of the game. Robin van Persie exchanged passes with Cesc Fábregas a minute later before driving his shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen for the equaliser.
After that, however, Arsenal were thwarted by Jaaskelainen's goalkeeping, some last-ditch defending, their own poor finishing and, at times, some over-elaborate build-up. In many ways it was a performance that symbolised Arsenal's season - and Cohen made them pay with the late, decisive blow.
