Anelka scored a great goal for Arsenal at the Reebok !
His 11th minute goal beat Manchester United, hoisted Bolton out of the bottom three, and put Arsenal clear at the top of the table.
It was a Campo free-kick and Pique made a reckless, panicky jump, missed the ball, and Anelka allowed it to bounce up onto his body and then pivoted perfectly and buried his shot past Van der Sar.
At the end of the game Anelka had a smile on his face that was as wide as Holloway Road.
Gallas and Rosicky scored two late goals after stubborn resistance by Wigan and that extended Arsenal’s lead to three points with a game in hand.
The Arsenal players all blanked Wigan sub Emile Heskey at the end, refusing to shake hands, after his rough tackle put Theo Walcott on a stretcher.
VERDICT ? After an international break, Wigan was an ideal fixture. A home game against a team who had lost their last seven games and just sacked their manager.
Lassana Diarra looked good in central midfield.
He is a quicker passer than Flamini and a better footballer. The sharp technique and instant passing ability that he first showed at Chelsea was evident immediately in Saturdays game. Diarra sees things early and knocks it off and that’s vital to a manager like Arsene, who wants his team to be the fastest-passing team in the world.
The absence of Fabregas and Hleb was a cue for Rosicky to raise his game, to really step up to the plate, and he did that. His passing was excellent and he took his goal beautifully after sub Bendtner ran from his own half with the ball and played the Czech in on the right. Rosicky’s low shot went in off the far post.
Sagna was superb as usual and his cross gave Gallas the chance to head the first goal from three yards at the near post. When it’s 0-0 and you are playing at hone, the captain should join in the attack like that.
Gallas was a failed striker at Clairfontaine but he always thinks he can score a goal. He was lethal from three yards at Chelsea. Gallas should be wearing No.6 but he doesn’t mind wearing the No.10 and he is a good captain now. He insists his team to maintains the competitive edge they often lacked last season. He will be a slightly calmer captain when he’s lifted his first trophy
Theo Walcott’s not a winger.
I don’t see him as a winger and haven’t done for several months. Neither does the manager. It’s a big decision for Arsene to play Walcott down the middle and it’s one he has been thinking about for a long time, wondering when to try the kid there. He has done it before and he sees it working in the future.
My guess is that Walcott’s best role is as a mobile striker who can receive the ball in tight areas and explode out of small areas and make things happen. His off-the-ball play is quite good and will improve. He can zip onto longer passes and go one-on-one with the keeper, and he can also use his sublime touch to link play, to improvise penetrating moments.
Theo Walcott, for me, is more Romario than Robinho. But he’s done nothing yet, so we have to wait and see what he can do. It’s all somewhat hypothetical at the moment. We see exciting glimpses and think : Will he make it? Nobody knows.
All we can say is : It’s a big season for Theo Walcott. But it’s a big season for the whole team and staff. Arsenal have won nothing since 2005.