Arsenal

1-1

Bolton Wanderers

Toure 78

 

Nolan 50

The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Fourth Round Proper
4pm, Saturday 27 January 2007
The Emirates Stadium
Winning clubs will receive £60,000 from The FA
Each club will receive £150,000 from The FA
Fourth Round - Click Here





A determined and stubborn display from Bolton Wanderers upset Arsenal at home and earned a replay for Sam Allardyce's side at the Reebok Stadium on Valentine's Day.

Bolton skipper Kevin Nolan had given the visitors the lead shortly after half time but Kolo Toure struck with just 12 minutes left to set up Arsenal with the daunting prospect of another visit to the North West.

It was a typical Cup tie atmosphere with of 59,778 fans in Arsenal's new home and they were treated to an end-to-end game that was particularly difficult to predict in the second period.

There was an early chance for Bolton to shock the North Londoners from Stelios Giannakopoulos' second minute corner. Kevin Nolan found space just eight yards out but Manuel Almunia was able to hold his downward header.

The first chance fell at the feet of Arsenal's captain, Thierry Henry, and although the half volley from the Frenchmen drifted harmlessly wide it was an early warning to the Bolton defence that allowed the space on the edge of the area for the shot to come in.

Moments later Almunia was in some discomfort after a 50-50 challenge with Kevin Davies, and Arsenal were under more pressure after 16 minutes when Ivan Campo almost gave them the lead. Again from a corner from the left Kevin Davies won the initial flick on and the former Real Madrid man almost opened the scoring.

Bolton continued to press the home side and force them toward their own goal, even when they spent a period of time with ten-men while Davies received treatment on a heavily strapped ankle.

Theo Walcott gave the home fans receive to get off their feet midway through the first half with a burst past Ricardo Gardner and a strong shot that Jaaskelainen needed two attempts to gather in.

Henry almost gave Arsenal the lead four minutes before half time after a mistake in the Trotters defence. Jaaskalainen failed to claim a lofted through ball and Henry cooly back heeled the ball, only for a goal saving clearance from Abdoulaye Faye to prevent the opening goal.

Kevin Nolan gave the visitors the lead five minutes into the second half with a clinical break from Sam Allardyce's side. The Bolton skipper finished a flowing attack that saw fine approach play from Anelka, Davies and Gary Speed.

Speed found Anelka who ghosted past Senderos before laying the ball off to Davies, whose attempted shot was skewed perfectly into the path of Nolan who slotted the ball home.

Nolan almost doubled the advantage just three minutes later when he sped onto a Campo through ball, but Almunia produced a brilliant interception when the Trotters' number four sought to take the ball past him.

It was the start of a frantic period in which chances came in brief bursts and an end-to-end Cup tie exploded into life.

First Walcott drove a volley wide when unmarked at the back post, then Henry was unfortunate as he saw his free-kick deflected just over the Bolton bar.

Walcott and Adebayor found space on the flanks while Baptista came on in the centre of midfield to give some creative thrust through the middle of the pitch.

It was a set play that gave the home side a deserved equaliser with 12 minutes remaining, Toure popping up at the back post to head past Jaaskelainen. Though it was only what Arsenal deserved it was slightly fortuitous as Toure's finish went straight into the ground before bouncing over the stranded stopper to the delight of the Gunners' fans.

Jaaskelainen saved superbly from another Adebayor header in stoppage time to set up the replay on 14 February.

Teams:

Arsenal: Manuel Almunia, Cesc Fabregas, Kolo Toure, Phillippe Senderos, Thomas Rosicky, Thierry Henry (c), Mathieu Flamini, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Justin Hoyte (Julio Baptista 66), Theo Walcott (Jeremie Aliadiere 86)

Subs not used: Abou Diaby, Denilson, Mart Poom

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Kevin Nolan, Adboulaye Meite, Gary Speed, Stelios Giannakopoulos (Ricardo Vaz Te 84), Ivan Campo, Ricardo Gardner (Henrik Pederson 79), Kevin Davies, Abdoulaye Faye, Nicolas Anelka

Subs not used: Ian Walker, Andranik Teymourian, Idan Tal

Referee: Mike Dean

Attendance: 59,778