It had started so well for the visitors after ex-Gunner Nicolas Anelka had fired them into an eleventh minute lead but goals either side of the interval from Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas ensured that the three points went the way of the Londoners.

The Trotters welcomed back their captain Kevin Nolan after two games out suspended but it was an unhappy return to action for the midfielder as neither he nor his more experienced sidekicks Ivan Campo and Gary Speed could force the game in the middle of the park.

El-Hadji Diouf fired high and wide for Sam Allardyce's team with just a couple minutes played but it was better luck for the Lancashire outfit from their next venture into the Arsenal penalty box.

Full back Nicky Hunt lofted a deep free kick into the hosts area and Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann could only parry Kevin Nolan's header into the path of Anelka who fired home his twelvth goal of the campaign since moving from Fenerbahce.

Arsenal showed great potency in the final third of the field and lively midfielder Rosicky went close with a 30-yard piledriver which just sailed over the Bolton crossbar.

Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was then called into action to stop an Arsenal equaliser when diving at the feet of the Gunners lanky African forward Emmanuel Adebayor.

This spell of Arsenal pressure was still not subsiding as Freddie Ljungberg curled a free kick just over the bar but there was to be a little bit of respite for the Wanderers when goalscorer Anelka nearly added a second on the quarter hour mark after some good play by veteran Gary Speed.

On 19 minutes the Gunners had their versatile defender William Gallas to thank after the experienced French star nodded a Kevin Davies header from off his own goal line.

Czech international Rosicky was dominating the midfield and both he and attacking full back Emmanuel Eboue breached the Bolton defence midway through the first half.

In fact it was Rosicky who brought Arsenal back on level terms on 32 minutes when he took advantage of some sloppy Nicky Hunt defending to guide the ball past Jaaskelainen.

Hunt appeared to switch off when Adebayor's right wing cross came into the penalty area and this error proved to be costly as the Wanderers surrendered their advantage.

Toure and Ljungberg had further chances to increase Arsenal's advantage as the half drew to a close and things inevitably went from bad to worse for the Wanderers when the Gunners forced themselves into the lead sixty seconds after the restart.

Gilberto Silva picked out Fabregas with a perfect ball and the young Spaniard calmly placed the ball into the corner of the net to mark only his second league goal of the season.

What happened next bemused the Wanderers travelling support as Ricardo Gardner was withdrawn from left back duty and replaced by in form midfielder Andranik Teimourian with the erratic Ivan Campo moving into defence.

This was a surprise move by Bolton manager Allardyce as Rosicky and Alexander Hleb where having fun on the flanks and after Tal Ben-Haim playing out of position against Wigan last week it was maybe the wrong idea.

Fortunately though, no more Arsenal goals where forthcoming but that wasn't for the want of trying as substitute Abou Diaby misdirected his header after being set up by Adebayor.

Bolton seemed much fresher in the midfield area with the introduction of Andranik and fellow substitute David Thompson but the options in the final third where unable to be picked out.

The visitors afternoon was made worse eight minutes from time as Campo picked up his second booking of the game after a rash tackle on Rosicky. The former Real Madrid man will now miss the Wanderers game against Reading next week, his second suspension of the last month.

Jaaskelainen did well to deny Julio Baptista the chance of getting a third Arsenal goal and referee Rob Styles waved away Bolton appeals after Emmanuel Eboue appeared to handle in his own area.

Next up is Reading, who themselves looked to be in and amongst the UEFA Cup chasers but for a bad recent run of form and this is followed by a trip to Premiership holders Chelsea.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Faye, Abdoulaye Meite, Ricardo Gardner (Andranik Teimourian), Kevin Nolan (David Thompson), Ivan Campo, Gary Speed, Kevin Davies, Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf (Ricardo Vaz-Te)

Subs Not Used: Stelios Giannakopoulos, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

Arsenal: Jens Lehmann, Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure, William Gallas, Gael Clichy, Alexander Hleb (Julio Baptista), Cesc Fabregas, Gilberto Silva, Tomas Rosicky, Freddie Ljungberg (Abou Diaby), Emmanuel Adebayor

Subs Not Used: Philippe Senderos, Jeremie Aliadiere, Manuel Almunia (GK)

Referee:

Rob Styles

Attendance:

60,101

Booked:

Abdoulaye Faye (Bolton)

William Gallas (Arsenal)

Ivan Campo (Bolton)

Nicky Hunt (Bolton)

Jens Lehmann (Arsenal)

Sent Off:

Ivan Campo (Bolton)

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