Breaking down the massed ranks of Bolton was hard work yesterday. And it was almost as hard work watching with everyone in the stadium struggling to stay warm. The temperature in London apparently never rose above freezing all day and the game took a long time to thaw out into something watchable in response.

The attack looked lacklustre and there were no seriously decent chances created in the first half. Bolton’s attacking intent was limited to Kevin Davies’ elbow. Some fans were highly critical of Adebayor’s seeming lack of effort to find space. When a gilt edged chance was finally created for him after the interval, his delay in getting his shot in summed up his afternoon. However, by that time, things were looking up generally. Crucially, Abou Diaby had been withdrawn for Carlos Vela which meant that Samir Nasri was moved into the middle to partner Denilson.

As a consequence, Arsenal looked so much more dangerous and able to slice open Bolton’s stubborn rearguard. This isn’t new. Nasri has been switched central before after substitutions (against Pompey for one) and the team have as a consequence suddenly looked a lot more imaginative and difficult to contain with the ex-Marseille man at the hub of things. Out wide, he is less influential and often cuts in, sacrificing the side’s balance.

So, on the evidence of the side’s improvement with Nasri in the middle, the manager has to bite the bullet and start a central midfield of Nasri and Denilson to try and revive Arsenal’s season. It may mean sacrificing Diaby or Eboue – ideally both some might say. But Nasri is simply wasted out wide, and until Fabregas returns to full fitness (and knowing Arsenal’s medical staff, that probably means next season) the team is crying out for some imagination and inspiration at its heart.

With the prices they now charge, Arsenal are in the entertainment business, like it or not. If the majority of us were paying £3 to stand on the North Bank, the dogged ability to grind out a result might be admired and accepted. But with the cheapest seat at £32.50, and more critically, those available to the less habitual attendees invariably starting at £44, people are not going to continue to pay through the nose just to watch result football.

Before Nasri was moved into the middle against Bolton, the quality of the football was really not very good. It was better than Championship fare, but a long way below what the team were producing in the first half of last season. If Arsenal were to grind out enough results to actually look like serious challengers again, people will tolerate such performances more willingly. The reason being the result matters so much more, so the tension itself provides entertainment. However, on a cold January afternoon, with Villa having beaten West Brom, crucial as the points were, the crowd could not get that excited about a workmanlike attempt to break down Bolton. There were no really special moments that took the breath away that I can recall. A snap shot here, a weak header there.

It was a game that needed electrifying and when Vela was brought on for Diaby, and Nasri switched, that finally happened. Statisticians can argue that the Gunners have put together a run of seven unbeaten Premier League matches. But those that have watched them know that this has included some very average performances and points dropped (against Villa and Middlesbrough) that meant opportunities to make up lost ground were spurned as rivals dropped points.

Still, wins breed confidence and the most important thing about the Bolton game was the three points at the end of it. The team need to keep the momentum going in all competitions which means as full-strength a line-up as possible in Cardiff after ensuring Hull’s current misfortunes continue next weekend. The instincts suggest Arsenal are in decline, but football can surprise, and seasons going nowhere can be turned around with a mix of fortune, courage and inspiration.

On those latter two points, it’s time the manager bit the bullet and re-shaped his starting line-up. It is not too late for Arsenal to challenge for silverware this season, even if the title has gone. But for the sake of momentum, every game must be played as if it matters. The failure to realise the sins of taking your foot off the gas selectively was a huge part in the collapse of the 2007-08 season. Let’s not repeat those errors.