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Bolton don't play proper football, says Van Persie
James Olley12.01.09
Robin van Persie today hit back at Kevin Davies' attack on Arsenal by insisting Bolton's negative playing style is "not proper football".
Striker Davies accused the Gunners of play-acting and attempting to con referee Chris Foy during Saturday's 1-0 win at Emirates Stadium.
Substitute Nicklas Bendtner scored the only goal with six minutes left after a frustrating afternoon in which the visitors showed almost no ambition beyond keeping a clean sheet.
Arsenal striker Van Persie (right, with Bendtner) said: "We weren't surprised - I have been used to them for the last couple of years. Bolton played really defensively - a bit more than normally - but we stayed focused.
"They stayed behind the ball with 10 men. This is what we know and the only way to break them is to score. You could see after the goal, they were finished. They were tired suddenly.
"It's not the most positive way of playing football. I know they had lots of injuries as well - they just brought 15 players to the Emirates. But it is still not a proper game of football."
Relations between the two clubs have been strained since the sides met in September when Gunners manager Arsene Wenger accused Davies of violent conduct after a tackle that injured Gael Clichy. Bolton's style has caused Arsenal problems in recent seasons and Wenger claimed his opponent Gary Megson's approach is a sign of the Premier League losing its appeal as a spectacle.
He said: "I sit on the bench and I try to put myself in the position of Gary Megson and straight away I understand. And then after I think we have to be good enough to create the chances if the opposition only defends.
"The Premier League has definitely lost something. It has been linked to the fact that the League is so tight, that some teams are all scared to go down and that could make everybody be more cautious.
"But I can remember when I arrived in 1996 everybody had a go at you and you had space up and down. Sometimes you lost the game but you could see more chances than on Saturday. You go 10 years back everybody played a strict 4-4-2. This year I can't remember a single team coming here with two strikers, except Hull who played three just at the start."
Davies instead chose to focus on Arsenal's conduct as they laboured to a win that leaves them eight points behind leaders Liverpool.
"Sometimes it feels like they are trying to earn you a booking, which is a bit disappointing really and in some of the challenges, I felt that I won the ball," said the 31-year-old, who is the Premier League's most fouled player.
"A few of them let out a big scream, which is a bit embarrassing because it is a man's game. Kolo Toure did one, and he is big, strong man, and he was screaming 'my leg' which is a bit unnecessary - but they get the free-kicks.
"In my eyes that is cheating the referee, they have conned him but you just have to get on with the game."
Although the manner of Arsenal's victory was distinctly uninspiring, it is a crucial result and comes on the back of a hard-fought win and another solitary late goal against Portsmouth in their last League outing.
Van Persie added: "The confidence is coming back. I have been here four-and-a-half years and every single year we have been in the Champions League. Every single year we qualified for the finals so it would be new for me."
Meanwhile, reports today suggest Arsenal have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Andrei Arshavin after Zenit St Petersburg turned down a £10million bid for the 27-year-old.
The Gunners are expected to make an improved offer around £12m later this week but Zenit want closer to £20m.
Reader views (10)
Spider,
No one is suggesting that Bolton players shouldn't be trying to win the ball back from technically superior players, what people object to is the WAY some of them do it.
Go onto the official Premier League site and look at the stats for committing the most fouls in a league season:
2003/04 - 2nd worst player, Kevin Davies.
2004/05 - Worst, Kevin Davies.
2005/06 - Worst, Kevin Davies.
2006/07 - Worst, Kevin Davies.
2007/08 - 2nd worst, Kevin Davies.
2008/09 - 2nd worst, Kevin Davies, (so far).
Opposition fans hate players like Ronaldo, Lampard, Fabregas and Gerrard etc. because they know they are good players playing against them that may make them lose.
Every non-Bolton fan hates Kevin Davies because he makes up for his limited talent with dirty tackles and play, often tantamount to outright violence.
The fact that he moans about a player going down after he's deliberately kicked him is laughable.
- John, London
I would be happy o see a team like Bolton relegated as they are the nemesis of football. I'm a Man United fan and as such, I'm no fan or Arsenal. However, you have to admire the fact that Arsenal. like ourselves, always atempt to play football (it's a spectators sport after all). Bolton think football is about booting the ball in the air and kicking lumps out of the other team. Their approach is shocking! Everytime they lose, it's a victory for footbal.
- Terry Jones, Manchester, UK
nuff said RVP !!
- The Windster, Gloucester
Is tackling no longer a part of the beautiful game? I have noticed that 22 grown men are on the pitch yet the Arsenal chaps act like little girls. It's natural that Bolton will try and win the ball back from technically superior players. Football is a many faceted game and whilst it's lovely watching Arsenal try and walk the ball in every week for that 2nd/3rd spot, Bolton's "old-fashioned" approach can be just as eefective.
Stop crying like your players and concentrate on supporting your team. The atmosphere at the Emirates is worse than Old Trafford and gooners have turned whinging into an artform Spurs fans can only dream of.
- Spider, Bolton UK
Poor old Davis, this is the only way he can get any publicity for himself! Sore at losing to Arsenal yet again... when is he going to grow up and start playing football instead of kicking, shoving and cheating his way around the pitch every week.
He's the Premierships most despised player.
- Paul Tallin, London, UK
all that said about bolton...we all know that's what they are about but still it is up to Arsenal to be good enough to break them down and score...so yes VP is right but I still disagree with both he and Wenger. Arsenal simply aren't good enough, which is why we struggle against teams like Bolton
- Lean, VC canada
Bolton's performance against Arsenal was dire & they got what they deserved. In any event, I believe that 0-0 draw should not receive any points. This would help cure this negative style of football.
- Rob Gooner, North London
I wish people would not call Kevin Davis a 'thug'. He is a 'good old fashioned, give it my all' forward. He would score a hat full of goals if he played for the Arsenal or Man U. I am an Arsenal fan and when he, Kevin Davis, is on the pitch he scares me in the same way Mark Hughes used to do. You always know that when he is around something is bound to happen. He should be admired as a player not put down at every opportunity. Players always give me the impression that they are somewhat scared of him. Whos fault is that, certainly not Kevin Davis.
- Pedro, Dubai UAE
Robin van Peries is absolutely right....Bolton didnt come to play football (they dont know how) they came to park the bus in front of the goal....boring
The thug Davies waited all of 30 seconds before he committed his first foul of many.
I personally think the likes of Bolton still play the Allardyce way....hoof and foul.
- Sue, London, UK
YOU ARE RIGHT THEY CANT PLAY FOOTBALL THATS ALL
- Av, london.uk
