Live Commentary

Last Updated at 4:53 pm, September 24th 2011

1. Thanks for all your comments, sorry I couldn't put them all on here but stay with us for the match report, player ratings and manager's reactions.

2. That's the end of the game. Superb second-half from Arsenal after a lacklustre first. Bolton had a great chance for the opener after just minutes but Szcznesny pushed Prately's volley wide. Then came the RVP show who struck at the near-post and tapped in the second. Song made sure of the points with a crisp finish on the edge of the box. 3-0 Arsenal

3. 90+3

   Arshavin strikes the ball first-time from a Song pass, the angle was tight and the Russian's effort goes wide.

4. 90+2

   Good sign is that Walcott is back on his feet but he's limping at best. It happened after he tried to race on to Chamakh's ball. He's gone straight down the tunnel for treatment. Both sides down to ten men now after making all of their substitutions.

5. 90+1

   Walcott has pulled up very, very sharply. He's had a brilliant afternoon, this is the last thing Arsene wants. Looks like his hamstring.

6. 90

   Reo-Coker manages to win his side a corner following Song's block. What a job the Arsenal midfielder does, very under-rated in my eyes.

7. 89

   GOAL SONG!!! Sagna pulls back the ball to Song on the edge of the box, he cuts back on to his right and wraps his foot around the ball to guide it past Jaaskelainen. Great finish.

8. 88

   The Gunners are looking extremely comfortable now on the ball.

9. 87

   Think I spoke too soon because the ball eventually finds its way to Mertesacker who calmly heads the ball back to his 'keeper. No challenge on the German.

10. 87

    Bolton finally find their feet and are enjoying a decent spell of possession, pegging Arsenal back into their final third.

11. 86

    Goalscorer Robin van Persie makes way for Marouane Chamakh.

12. 85

    Walcott attempts a curler, he totally spoons that one wide. He's still played excellently today even if his shooting has been a little off.

13. 85

    Chamakh is warming up for the Gooners.

14. 84

    RVP is on fire, he tries to turn Steinsson, creates the smallest of gaps and on the turn has a crack on goal - the defender does excellently well to block.

15. 83

    The game's cooling a little now after those frantic first few minutes.

16. 82

    Rosicky is straight into the action and tries to pull the ball back from the right, Petrov's having none of it and launches the ball into the car park!

17. 82

    Arteta comes off for Rosicky.

18. 81

    Capello's gone... possibly following that Walcott effort...

19. 80

    Kevin Davies is pulled up for offside following a decent flowing attack from Wanderers.

20. 79

    RVP had a penalty claim there, I'd like to see that one on the replay. First impression was it was a fantastic tackle to stop the forward in his tracks. Good work by Walcott again to get to the byline.

21. 78

    Arshavin (or as my dad calls him 'R Sharon') is on for Gervinho.

22. 77

    Walcott you spoon! Song picks out the winger with an inch-perfect pass which Robinson can't reach, Walcott's got plenty of time to pick where he wants to put it and drills it straight into the arms of Jussi.

23. 77

    Steinsson is undone by the bounce, despite a great run. He manages to kick it out for a throw rather than for a goalkick.

24. 76

    Bolton now have the poorest defence in the Premier League following that double from van Persie.

25. 75

    The Emirates faithful are in full voice and nearly get to cheer another goal as Ramsey, unchallenged, drags a shot goalbound - Jaaskelainen is equal to it.

26. 74

    It's all for the Wanderers to do now, best option for Arsenal would be to shut up shop considering their previous form but then again with ten men to contend with - they can punish Coyle's men.

27. 73

    Prately's played well today, he looks a bit of a workhorse. Brilliant work-rate.

28. 72

    Think that will be curtains for Bolton, but then again if they pull one back I can imagine the pressure once again piling back on to Arsenal.

29. 71

    GOAL VAN PERSIE!!! It's two for the Dutchman who finishes off a Walcott run to the byline with a tap-in past Jaaskelainen.

30. 71

    Eagles comes off for Mark Davies.

31. 70

    What a cracking second-half this is, I can't keep up! *smokes comes off keyboard*

32. 70

    Petrov goes for an ambitious Hollywood pass to the far stick when Davies was in a far better position through the middle. Szczesny collects.

33. 69

    Walcott wins a corner, he must be impressing Capello following this second-half performance.

34. 68

    Wanderers are doing their best to stay in this match, that earlier Eagles chance could prove costly for the visitors.

35. 67

    The ball finds its way to Koscielny on the edge of the box, he strikes it on the half volley and again Jaaskelainen is called into action. Walcott's causing all kinds of problems.

36. 67

    RVP is teed up by Walcott at the far-post, he has to generate the power and directs his header towards Jaaskelainen's right-hand post who pushes the effort wide. Good save.

37. 66

    Robinson is back on the field having left it for treatment following an earlier altercation, think the frustration is telling. Bolton aren't happy with RVP though.

38. 65

    RVP and Prately are having a bit of handbags, Clattenburg tells them to calm down.

39. 64

    RVP curls the ball superbly towards Jaaskelainen's far-post, just crept wide.

40. 63

    Eagles runs out of legs as he finds himself one-on-one and desperately trying to get power begind his shot, it's a great ball from Petrov to release the winger but he's eased wide by Gibbs and smashes his effort into Szczesny's arms.

41. 62

    Great saves from Jaaskelainen to deny Arsenal doubling their lead, it was all a bit of a scramble in the box, he got down well to save Arteta's placed effort.

42. 61

    Bolton could do with bringing on a bit of magic here, maybe someone like Tuncay to affect the game when they counter.

43. 60

    It's amazing how one goal has just seemed to take all of the pressure off Arsenal. They're stringing together passes, working the ball from defence and really do look confident in possession.

44. 59

    It's going to be a monumental effort from the Trotters if they are to come back from this, but there's plenty of time to do so.

45. 58

    Arteta goes for the placed effort, his side-foot goes wide with the slightest of deflections. Arsenal are completely in control, great pull-back from RVP to set pu that chance.

46. 58

    Can ten man Bolton find a way back into this match? Either that card will result in their collapse or galvanize the troops into levelling the tie.

47. 57

    RVP lines up the freekick, he drills it straight down the throat of Bolton's shot-stopper.

48. 56

    Muamba comes off for Dedryck Boyata to fill in the hap left by Wheater.

49. 56

    Bolton are stunned, but they've got to defend this freekick now on the edge of the 'D'...

50. 55

    OFF - WHEATER!!! The defender has played superbly but pulls back Walcott who is through on goal, last man - he's off. Beautifully weighted pass from Ramsey to set-up the chance.

51. 54

    Gervinho just can't get to a throughball and his heavy touch trickles over the line for a goalkick.

52. 53

    Bolton are chasing shadows at the moment, but Arsenal have been guilty of not being able to close the game in the past - can this be the change in Wenger's fortunes?

53. 52

    Davies is lacking in pace to get to a throughball and Koscielney tidies up in the box. Good defending.

54. 51

    It's all gone a bit manic in these first couple of minutes following RVP's opener, Bolton are piling on the pressure for the equaliser.

55. 50

    It's all Arsenal at the moment, after RVP's goal just 38 seconds after the restart. Suddenly Wenger's men look very assured and comfortable on the ball.

56. 49

    Another great chance for RVP, Walcott lays off a pass first-time to get the Dutchman in on goal, he drills an effort goalbound which Jaaskelainen gets down well to and collects after the second time of asking.

57. 48

    That goal has changed the mood completely. The Emirates is finally singing and hoping for more.

58. 47

    How will Bolton respond to that opener then? Worst possible start for Coyle's men in this half.

59. 46

    GOAL VAN PERSIE!!! Great start by the hosts, van Persie beats Jaaskelainen at the nearpost after great play by Ramsey to release the Dutchman. 1-0 Arsenal!

60. Arsenal get the second-half underway

61. "To be honest I'm disapointed with arsenal's start to the season as is anyone but I am really angry at Arsene Wenger's tactics they've been poor." adds Josh from Luton.

62. (@TheDon1804) richard tweets: "Arsenal To Win 3-0 Van Persie With a brace & gervinho!!"

63. (@pez942) Darren adds: "Really hope Arsenal start playing with some creativity soon & dominate games at the Emirates like they should be doing."

64. (@JazzyShenanigan) BigLAD tweets: "Still holding out for Arsenal to just nick the win here. Arteta clearly best signing of the transfer window; so influential."

65. Ellsy1981 Lee elliott (@Ellsy1981) says: "Arsenal are poor as I've ever seen them.. Probably will draw this game... Top 8 league finish if we r lucky... Bad times."

66. Thomas Francis-Jones (@TomFJ13) tweets: "I think the score ill be 3-1 to Arsenal, with davies scoring and walcott, scoring 1 and van persie scoring twice."

67. Keep sending in your thoughts on today's game live from the Emirates. hayley.paterson@bskyb.com Tweet: @HayleyP_11

68. That's it for this half. Bolton started the better and finished the worse. The best chance of the half came when Pratley's volley had to be expertly parried away by the left hand of Szczesny. Robin van Persie's long range effort curled just wide of Jaaskelainen's post and the Gunners had a couple of decent attacks in the final minutes. However, the score remains 0-0

69. 45+3

    Walcott shapes to shoot from just over 20 yards out but the effort is always rising and flies wide of Jaaskelainen's left-hand post.

70. 45+2

    Great play by Walcott to escape the attentions of his Steinsson on the left, he cuts into the box and lays it off to RVP who strikes the ball first-time - Wheater superbly blocks the effort, he threw everything at the ball.

71. 45+1

    There's three minutes to be added on and it seems to be Arsenal's best period of the match.

72. 45

    First time I've seen Sagna as he collects the ball well and releases Gervinho, great chance for the turn and shot but the forward takes too many touches and gets a corner for his troubles.

73. 44

    Ramsey's backheel is blocked well in the 'D', it was making its way to an unmarked Walcott on the right.

74. 43

    Just as I say that, Arsenal put together their best move of the game with a collection of passes - however Gervinho fails to pick out a red and white shirt with his pullback.

75. 42

    It must be difficult for the Arsenal fans to watch this one, their play is very stop-start at the moment. They need more fluidity in their possession.

76. 41

    It's a comedy of errors from Arsenal as the ball is bouncing all over in the box, Eagles' sliced clearance finds Walcott - he scuffs his shot, it comes to Ramsey on the bounce who shins it and Bolton clear.

77. 40

    Cynical foul from Muamba from behind on Gervinho, he gets a telling off - that's his last chance before a card is shown.

78. 39

    There's very little space for Arsenal to work in as Bolton close off the wings.

79. 38

    Koscielny is given time and space to advance forward, he lays it off to Walcott who tries to create a couple of yards. He eventually finds the centre-back who ambitiously goes for a scissor-kick and instead lands on his backside with the ball firing off his shin.

80. 37

    Song tries to pick out the run of Gibbs on the left, his outside of the boot pass just skims off the surface for a goalkick. Great run from the left-back.

81. 36

    Mertesacker gets a bit of a suicide pass and eventually Szczesny clears away from an advancing Petrov.

82. 36

    Owen Coyle should be reasonably pleased with how his Bolton side have faired so far. They need to use Petrov more.

83. 35

    Poor delivery by Walcott, he needed a first-time ball into the box with Gervinho and RVP surging forward but having taken a touch, there was enough of a block to deflect the cross away from goal.

84. 34

    Steinsson should be tighter on Gervinho as he cuts on to his right, 20 yards out and unleashes a rasping shot which goes over Jaaskelainen's bar.

85. 33

    Arteta has to be seeing the most of the ball out of anyone, he's a superb addition to the Gunners.

86. 32

    Walcott very nearly evades the offside trap to bring down Arteta's inch-perfect pass. That's a tight decision but will give it to Clattenburg.

87. 31

    Timely challenge from Robinson on Gervinho right on the edge of the box. Great defending.

88. 30

    Davies gets pulled up for an aerial challenge, it's one of those six of one situations but Mertesacker is given the benefit of the doubt.

89. 29

    Great ball by Petrov but again nobody is there, superb delivery from the left.

90. 28

    Bolton are still the ones with the best chance so far which came in the first couple of minutes. Arsenal haven't responded with much yet.

91. 27

    Wheater versus Walcott - it's like little and large... the winger's never going to get a header with that beast of a central defender in his way.

92. 27

    Davies will be lamenting that touch - was that off a baby elephant. If it would've been cleaner, the striker was through on goal there.

93. 27

    Great play by Petrov to carry the ball 60 yards and deliver a peach of a cross, just evades a diving Davies in the box. Superb wing play.

94. 26

    Arteta curls in a deep corner, aiming for Mertesacker but Bolton's number one (or number 22) clutches it from the air away from any danger.

95. 25

    Gibbs is looking sharp, he's linking up the defence and attack well. His pass to RVP manages to force a corner for the hosts.

96. 24

    Nervy moments in the Bolton defence, Gervinho's ball takes a huge deflection off Pratley and Steinsson goes for the diving header to clear - thankfully for Wanderers he completely missed the effort and Jaaskelainen was able to collect.

97. 23

    Reo-Coker plays an awful pass down the right channel for Steinsson to chase, even if the Icelandic defender was Usain Bolt, he'd have never had caught that one.

98. 23

    Muamba catches Arteta late as the playmaker makes the pass, terrible challenge but goes unnoticed by Clattenburg.

99. 22

    Davies gets straight into the action by nudging over Song, silly freekick to give away when there was very little danger posed by Arsenal's midfielder.

100. 21

     Muamba throws down Ramsey who tries to turn the midfielder. Easy freekick decision for the ref.

101. 20

     Wanderers skipper Kevin Davies comes on for David Ngog.

102. 19

     Ngog needed smelling salts after that bang on the head and it looks like he's not really recovered well. Think he's had another crack on the head which has led to it being gameover for the striker. Big shame for the forward.

103. 18

     RVP is stopped in his tracks for offside in the box, he's definitely off but the lineo took forever to put his flag up. Wheater's a relieved man.

104. 17

     Steinsson fails to clear and Walcott is the quickest to react towards the left byline. He's kept it in and builds another Gunners attack.

105. 16

     Dangerous delivery from Gervinho into the box, Mertesacker rises but Wanderers just get to the ball before the big German.

106. 16

     Wanderers are showing RVP too much on to his left, that's exactly what the Dutchman wants as he dances across the edge of the box looking for a yard of space to shoot - when he does it's eventually well blocked by Wheater.

107. 15

     Walcott dallies on the ball and is challenged well by Muamba. Should've done better there the winger, especially with Capello in the crowd watching the England international.

108. 14

     It's shaping up nicely this encounter, both are trying to pick out the killer ball. Arsenal appear to be enjoying moew of the possession at the moment.

109. 13

     Wheater's having a stormer so far, he manages to make sure Ramsey's cross from the right is a weak one with a decent challenge. Another good ball from Arteta to release the Welshman.

110. 12

     Eagles does his defensive duties and clears an Arsenal attack down the left channel.

111. 11

     Ramsey finds himself down the left flank, he cuts back on to his favoured right foot and curls a cross into the box - it's just too high for a leaping Walcott to connect with and Bolton escape.

112. 10

     Ooft, that is ridiculously close, Arteta lays it off to RVP who curls it into the top corner - just inches past the post. Jaaskelainen could only watch and pray for it to go wide.

113. 9

     RVP curls it, but the ref has already blown his whistle for the retake - not sure why but after the Dutchman's tame effort, he gets another bite at the cherry...

114. 8

     A clumsy challenge by Wheater on Walcott, who was cutting in from the right, sees a great chance for RVP to strike a left-footer on goal.

115. 7

     Great run from Gervinho after a superb ball from Arteta to split the defence. The forward's touch was a little on the heavy side though and saw his potential one-on-one chance go begging as Jaaskelainen races out to collect.

116. 6

     Arsenal are all over the place, Petrov's unmarked at the back and brings down Eagles' set-piece, he drops it into the area which just evades the outstretched boot of Wheater.

117. 6

     Gervinho is pulled up for a handball in pretty much the same position as the first freekick, the home side will have to deal with this one better.

118. 5

     Koscielny looks like he'll have his hands full today with Ngog, the Frenchman looks hungry to show his worth. Chasing everything down.

119. 4

     Arteta is attempting to slow things down after that first couple minutes of action, he'll be the one pulling the strings in the middle of the park for Wenger's men.

120. 3

     Wanderers can't make anymore of their first corner of the game, Arsenal have Szczesny to thank there - great save to his left to deny Pratley.

121. 2

     It's a Bolton freekick, it's lofted into the box Wheater gets a great header and directs it into the feet of Pratley who volleys at the far post - superb save from Szczesny.

122. 1

     There's a head injury after Ngog gets a right knock on the bonce from Koscielny in an aerial challenge. Both players were floored there and are receiving treatment.

123. Bolton, in their black strips, get the game underway

124. Injury-plagued Stu Holden is excited to watch his Wanderers team-mates, tweeting: "Come on boys!! Big game at the Emirates! :) beautiful stadium and perfect day for footy" Let's hope there's goals, goals, goals!

125. So there we have it folks, a couple of interesting changes - no Cahill for Bolton and skipper K.Davies finds himself on the bench. For Arsenal it will be good to see how the Mertesacker and Koscielny partnership fairs having been the subject of criticism early on. Right, let's get ready to rumble!

126. Zach in Biggleswade says: "A desperate test for both sides but I still predict a Bolton win - 2-1 the final score."

127. Gary Cahill, an Arsenal transfer target this summer, is not in the Bolton matchday squad and Kevin Davies has been dropped to the bench in one of five changes as the Trotters looked to arrest a worrying run of four straight league defeats.

128. Arsene Wenger has made two changes to his starting line-up as Arsenal look to avoid dropping into the Barclays Premier League relegation zone with a win against Bolton at the Emirates Stadium. Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs both start after missing out on last week's 4-3 defeat to Blackburn - the Londoners' third reverse of a woeful season that has seen them drop to 17th after five games.

129. Chris D (@airbornecd) tweets: "Arsenal now need to prove how good they can be and give us supporters something to hang on to."

130. Referee: Mark Clattenburg

131. Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Wheater, Robinson, Knight, Steinsson, Eagles, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Pratley, Petrov, Ngog. Subs: Bogdan, Sanli, Gardner, Kevin Davies, Mark Davies, Boyata, Kakuta.

132. Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Song, Ramsey, Gervinho, van Persie, Walcott. Subs: Fabianski, Rosicky, Andre Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Frimpong, Chamakh.

133. Team news is in, here you go...

134. James Massey (@wiregooner) tweets: "Battle of the bad starts! I'm fancying Arsenal to be the better team today backed by a big crowd. Van Persie 1st goalscorer 3-1."

135. Here's Sky Bet's Jonathan Witty on today's game - "Arsenal have struggled so far this season and are 2/5 to beat Bolton at the Emirates, with the visitors 13/2 to pile on the misery for Arsene Wenger's men. A stalemate is a 7/2 chance and Robin van Persie is 5/2 favourite to open the scoring." Give him a Twitter follow @SkyBet_Jonathan

136. If you fancy sticking a couple of quid on this one, the latest odds are Arsenal 2/5, draw 7/2, Bolton 7/1. Go on, be a devil!

137. Some Opta stats to tell all your friends - I must admit it's bleak viewing for both, apologies you Gooners and Trotters - This is Arsenal's worst start to a season since 1953-54 when they were reigning champions, while Bolton have lost nine of their last ten Premier League games.

138. Afternoon football fans and welcome to another mouth-watering encounter in the greatest league in the world! I'll be your eyes and ears for the Arsenal v Bolton match so if you'd like to air your views, email me at: hayley.paterson@bskyb.com or Tweet me @HayleyP_11