Arsenal win dramatic replay
Wenger was pleased to have qualified for the sixth round
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Wednesday, 14, Feb 2007 11:17
Freddie Ljungberg came off the bench to put Arsenal into the last 16 of the FA Cup as they defeated Bolton 3-1 after extra time in their fifth round replay.
The Gunners dominated the majority of the match but were made to regret missed opportunities as Abdoulaye Meite forced extra time two minutes into injury time.
Emmanuel Adebayor opened the scoring 12 minutes into the match with a drive from the edge of the area which took a deflection off Stelios Giannakopoulos to help it past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Bolton offered some spirited attacking but failed to trouble Gunners goalkeeper Manuel Almunia much during the first 45 minutes. Julio Baptista tested Jaaskelainen with a free-kick just before the break as Arsenal continued to create the better of the chances.
Just after the hour mark Tal Ben Haim fouled Baptista in the box but Gilberto Silva failed to convert from the spot as he blasted over the bar.
The Gunners continued to push forward and Adebayor nearly finished a sublime passing move only to see his shot hit the post and roll across the goal line to go out for a goal kick.
The Trotters were getting desperate but managed to convert with virtually their last chance of the game as Meite finished from close range when El-Hadji Diouf's corner fell to him to make it 1-1.
As the players became increasingly tired the game became stretched which eventually allowed Ljungberg to seize his opportunity.
Jeremie Aliadiere's run set the Swede free and he finished from an acute angle to give the Gunners the lead as the first half of extra time drew to a close.
Bolton threw everything they had at Arsenal in the second period as they desperately searched for an equaliser but this allowed the Gunners more opportunities on the counter attack.
Ben Haim was sent off for a second bookable offence, trying to prevent a promising attack. Nicolas Anelka was lucky to stay on the field when he brought down Adebayor in the box - in the absence of Jaaskelainen who had gone up for a corner.
This time Baptista stepped up to the spot but his penalty also went high and wide to the delight of the Bolton fans.
But it was not long before Arsenal put the game beyond doubt when Adebayor grabbed an easy chance for his second of the game as the Gunners ran out 3-1 winners in what was a breathless encounter.