Arsenal went top of the Premier League after a stunning comeback
against Bolton Wanderers - but their controversial equaliser drew
criticism from Bolton boss Owen Coyle.
Arsene Wenger’s side came from 2-0 down to thump four goals past
Coyle’s men. They now lead the title race on goals scored from
Chelsea, while Liverpool are up to sixth thanks to Dirk Kuyt’s
double in a 2-0 win over Tottenham.
The Gunners had referee Alan Wiley to thank for their
52nd-minute equaliser after the official waved play on despite a
dreadful challenge by William Gallas on Mark Davies.
Fury: Coyle confronts referee Wiley at the
end
Coyle raged: ‘It was akin to assault and it changed the
game.’
With the Bolton player clutching his right ankle on the floor,
Arsenal continued. Andrey Arshavin slipped a pass to Cesc Fabregas,
who danced through the Bolton defence and hit a right-foot finish
from a tight angle through Jussi Jaaskelainen’s legs.
Davies left the field on a stretcher and had an X-ray last night
to determine the extent of the damage.
Bolton boss Coyle said: ‘It was not just a foul - probably
closer to a red card. Arsenal, being full of fair play as we keep
hearing, have carried on and scored on the break.
‘It was a bad tackle. Gallas has touched absolutely none of that
ball and he’s caught the boy. It was clear, the lad was clearly in
agony.
‘You know when you’ve caught somebody, but the only man who
knows that is William Gallas. The referee said he never saw it. I
was 40 yards away and I saw it. Maybe he was at a bad angle.’
Arsenal boss Wenger condemned the home fans who jeered Davies as
he was taken off the field and added: ‘I’m sorry if the tackle was
not good and I apologise.
Gallas: came under fire from Bolton boss Owen
Coyle
‘But the players didn’t even know what was happening behind
them. That’s why I don’t believe you can kick the ball out every
time a player is down when you win the ball.
That’s why they changed the rule. We got some big tackles, but
we had to cope with it.
‘If it’s a foul, it’s a foul. It didn’t look dirty from the
outside.’
Conceding such a controversial equaliser affected Bolton, who
had taken the lead after just seven minutes when Kevin Davies beat
Thomas Vermaelen to a poor Gael Clichy clearance and Gary Cahill
blasted the visitors ahead.
Coyle’s side doubled their advantage after 28 minutes when a
clumsy challenge by Denilson on Chung-Yong Lee gifted Bolton a
penalty. Matthew Taylor duly converted the spot kick.
But Tomas Rosicky started the Arsenal fightback just before
half-time after Fabregas had escaped the shackles of his marker
Fabrice Muamba to feed the right winger.
Vermaelen then fired Arsenal ahead with a left-foot finish
before Arshavin completed the win with five minutes left.
Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Sol Campbell is suing Portsmouth for
£1.7million in alleged unpaid image rights fees and bonuses.
Top Gunners: Cesc Fabregas fires home for
Arsenal
Pompey’s former captain, 35, claims the cash-strapped club owe
him £1.67m, plus more than £60,000 in interest.
Campbell’s writ was lodged with the High Court earlier this
month. It claims Portsmouth agreed to pay him £20,000 a week for
the first year, and £30,000 for the last two years of his contract,
to use his image in commercial and sponsorship deals.
In addition, Campbell should allegedly have received a £500,000
bonus for making 25 appearances in Premier League and FA Cup games
in 2008-09.
Portsmouth confirmed receipt of the writ and a club spokesman
said: ‘The matter is being dealt with by our lawyers.’
