By Ollie Irish
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Photos: PA
A fairly routine win for Arsenal was guaranteed when Gary Cahill was sent off for a reckless challenge midway through the second half. Thereafter Wenger’s boys turned on the tika taka style, and for once all that neat passing (punctuated by ‘Oles’ from the Arsenal faithful) produced a goal – and a brilliant goal it was – by Carlos Vela.
At the moment, Arsenal look like the only team taking the fight to Chelsea – and the Gunners aren’t even playing that well, which should encourage their fans: the Arse have squandered a hell of a lot of chances already this season, and they looked uncertain at the back on Saturday. It will take a few more weeks, months even, before the likes of Chamakh, Squillaci and Koscielny really find their feet. But the signs are good.
To end on a sour note, Bolton clogger Paul Robinson – a nasty journeyman – should be ashamed of himself for his ugly, over-the-top tackle on Abou Diaby. Yet another example of a limited English player ‘doing’ a fancy Arsenal foreigner. It’s likely that Diaby will now miss Arsenal’s next couple of matches, including the Champions League tie against Braga.