Fabregas fires Gunners towards Europe

AFP - 14 April 2007 19:12

Arsenal´s Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas(C) celebrates scoring during their English Premiership match against Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium in London. Arsenal took a giant leap towards qualification for next season´s Champions League after edging out nearest rivals Bolton 2-1 on Saturday.

LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal took a giant leap towards qualification for next season's Champions League after edging out nearest rivals Bolton 2-1 on Saturday.

Cesc Fabregas' first Premiership goal of the season early in the second half allowed Arsene Wenger's side to move five points clear of Wanderers - who saw Ivan Campo sent off late on - in fourth place.

Bolton's hopes of a notable scalp had been perked by Nicolas Anelka's early strike against his old club but once Tomas Rosicky had levelled mid-way through the first half, Arsenal assumed control.

The north Londoners could strike a decisive blow with victory in their game in hand against Manchester City on Tuesday, although for the moment they will be grateful just to have ended a costly four-game winless streak.

Wenger had focused before this match on the sporting implications of failing to secure a place in club football's most lucrative cup competition, but on a balmy day, it was Arsenal's accountants who had reason to sweat.

A place in the Champions League group stage is worth a minimum of 10 million pounds (20 million dollars) and, with a new 357 (700 million dollars) million pounds stadium to pay for, missing out entirely would spell financial catastrophe.

Initially, at least, the pressure told. Bolton dictated the early tempo and should have struck an early blow. Emmanuel Adebayor made a hash of clearing Gary Speed's corner and the loose ball fell to El Hadji Diouf, but the Senegalese blazed wide from 20 yards.

It was a warning which Arsenal failed to heed. In the 10th minute, Nicky Hunt's free-kick was met by Kevin Davies, who stretched the laws of fair play to the limit in out-muscling Kolo Toure and nodding on to Kevin Nolan.

The Bolton captain's looping header was pawed away by Jens Lehmann, but the lurking Anelka drove the rebound into the net, via William Gallas's hand on the goal-line.

Arsenal falling behind on home soil has become something of a tradition in these parts, as has their faltering attempts to restore equilibrium. Sticking rigidly to the script, Freddie Ljungberg swept downfield and set free Adebayor, who hammered his shot against Jussi Jaaskelainen's legs.

The Finn - impressive all season - was in determined mood. In the 29th minute he brilliantly parried Emmanuel Eboue's daisy-cutter, although he had been helpless moments earlier when Fabregas's exquisite cross flashed across the six-yard box.

Arsenal needed a dollop of good fortune and, perhaps, a pinch of the dark arts to hit back in the 32nd minute. Adebayor's cross should have been cleared by Hunt but he dithered, allowing Rosicky to creep in. The Czech appeared to handle before bundling home, although television replays were inconclusive.

That relieved the pressure and within seconds of the re-start, Arsenal forged ahead. Gilberto Silva was the architect, slipping a perfect pass to Fabregas who evaded Abdoulaye Faye's despairing lunge and slotted the ball into the corner of the net.

Bolton were suddenly bedraggled. Three minutes later, the hapless Hunt scuffed a clearance straight to Alexander Hleb but the Belarussian could only roll his shot past the post, while Abou Diaby then headed wastefully wide from Adebayor's cross.

Bolton's hopes receded further when Campo, already booked for a clumsy hack at Hleb, was dismissed for clattering into Rosicky, although Diaby did his best to keep them interested.

The French defender was set clear by Fabregas but finished dreadfully and his error might have proved costly, with Eboue escaping an apparent hand-ball in his area seconds later. But Arsenal were worthy winners.