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Arsenal see off Bolton in FA Cup

Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor, left, and Fredrik Ljungberg celebrate Ljungberg's extra-time goal against Bolton during their FA Cup fourth round replay match at The Reebok Stadium in Bolton on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

Fredrik Ljungberg and Emmanuel Adebayor scored extra-time goals and Arsenal beat Bolton 3-1 on Wednesday to reach the fifth round of the English FA Cup.

In a game in which Arsenal missed two penalties, Adebayor gave the Gunners a 13th-minute lead at the Reebok Stadium. But Abdoulaye Meite sent the game into extra time with an equalizer in the second minute of second-half injury time.

Ljungberg, who has played in four FA Cup finals and has only just returned to the side after a long injury layoff, scored a second in the 108th minute and Adebayor made it 3-1 with seconds remaining. The result pits 10-time champion Arsenal at home against Blackburn in Saturday's fifth round.

Bolton, a four-time FA Cup winner but none since 1958, had lost to Arsenal only once in its previous eight meetings and eliminated the Gunners at the same stage last season.

But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger rested Thierry Henry and Jens Lehmann, again relying on many of the young players who have earned the Gunners a League Cup final showdown against Chelsea on Feb. 25.

Adebayor gave Arsenal the lead when he collected the ball after a slick Arsenal move opened up the Bolton defense. His left foot shot struck Bolton midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos and past goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

In the final two minutes of the first half, the unlucky Giannakopoulos blocked a goalbound drive by teammate Andranik Teymourian but recovered with a shot that hit the bar.

The Greek midfielder also had a chance to equalize in the 49th minute when he raced clear of the Arsenal defense but waited too long and Gunners goalkeeper Manuel Almunia grabbed the ball at his feet.

Arsenal should have doubled its lead in the 64th minute when Julio Baptista was brought down by Tal Ben Haim, but Gilberto Silva sent the resulting penalty over the bar.

With four minutes remaining, Adebayor produced an even worse miss. A blunder by Ivan Campo allowed the Togo striker a free run at goal and -- after rounding the goalkeeper -- he shot against the post.

It looked even worse when Bolton equalized in injury time. Campo headed a corner into the goalmouth and Meite neatly turned the ball inside the far post for the Ivory Coast defender's first goal for the club.

Gilberto almost gave Bolton the lead in extra time when he deflected a cross against his own post.

But Arsenal regained the lead in the 108th minute when Ljungberg collected the ball after a strong run by Jeremie Aliadiere and hit a left-footed drive from 15m inside the far post.

Former Arsenal striker Nicholas Anelka had a chance to make it 2-2 when the ball dropped to him from a corner but his shot grazed the crossbar.
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