Bolton 1-3 Arsenal: Wenger awestruck by glory Gunners

Arsene Wenger spoke like an awestruck fan rather than a proud manager when he admitted he was enthralled by the "magic" his Arsenal team produced to go top of the table.

At a ground where their title hopes have been extinguished in the past, Arsenal's young side proved for the second weekend running they have the collective spirit to sustain a title challenge.

After an emphatic 4-0 win at Blackburn came this comprehensive triumph at the Reebok Stadium, one made all the more impressive for the character Wenger's players were forced to show after going a goal down.

The accusation levelled against Arsenal in recent seasons is that they have lacked the mental fortitude required to last the distance in the title race.

But this season all the signs are that Wenger's emerging side are now able to hold their own against intimidating and physical sides like Bolton, play their wondrous football, and still come out on top.

And that, more than anything, fills their boss with pride. "The pleasure for me is exactly the same as it is for you," said Wenger. "Collective sport is fantastic if people don't transform it into a individual sport. It becomes magic if the team plays as a team.

"I'm not a golf fan but I have liked watching the Ryder Cup because it's a team sport. There's something beautiful to watch because of the collective unit."

The Frenchman is convinced that the heartache of last season will make Arsenal a tougher nut to crack this season.

"This team has learned and improved from last year," he said. "Look at my team today: Denilson is 20, Cesc Fabregas is 21, Alex Song is 21, Theo Walcott is 19, Nicklas Bendtner is 20. When you have players of that age and can still fight for the championship it bodes well. You hope the year after they will be even better.

"We've dropped points at teams like Blackburn and Bolton in the past but we have won convincingly at both places in the last week.

"We had an international break, then three away games, including a Champions League tie in Kiev, so what this team has done in the last week is exceptional."

Despite his faith in his side, Wenger prowled the technical area throughout the game, running the gamut of emotions from despair to joy, at one stage exploding with Basil Fawlty-like rage when his team failed to convert a goalscoring chance.

But after going behind to a Kevin Davies header in the 14th minute, Arsenal asserted themselves with a calm authority and destroyed Bolton with two marvellous goals in as many minutes.

A quick exchange of passes between Fabregas and Bendtner left Bolton's defence static and ended with Emmanuel Eboue running through to steer the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen's near post.

Bolton were still reeling from that goal when Arsenal struck again moments later, Fabregas combining with Emmanuel Adebayor to release Denilson, whose low cross was turned in by Bendtner.

Not even a contentious tackle from Davies on Gael Clichy just before half time, which forced the Arsenal defender out of the game, could deflect the Gunners from their task.

England hero Walcott, left on the bench following his exertions in Kiev in midweek, came on with 17 minutes remaining and fulfilled his brief to torment Bolton with his pace and put the game beyond doubt.

With three minutes left, Walcott released Adebayor down the right side, and his cross was turned in at the far post by Denilson to seal the points.

At the final whistle Wenger and his players complained of Bolton's intimidatory tactics, chiefly the tackle from Davies which they felt warranted a straight red card.

But Arsenal provided compelling proof of their newfound ability to deal with such treatment to suggest they may this season be more than mere onlookers in the title race.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen 6, Samuel 5, A O'Brien 6, Shittu 6, Steinsson 5, Muamba 6 (Vaz Te 81,), Gardener 6, Nolan 6, J O'Brien 6 (McCann 61, 5), Smolarek 5 (Riga 56, 6, Davies 6. Goals: Davies 14.
Arsenal: Almunia 7, Sagna 7, Gallas 7, Toure 7, Clichy 6 (Djourou 46, 6), Eboue 7 (Ramsey 85), Fabregas 7, Song 7, Denilson; Bendtner 8 (Walcott 73, 7), Adebayor 6. Goals: Eboue 26, Bendtner 27, Denilson 87
Referee: Steve Bennett
Attendance: 22,694

MAN OF THE MATCH
Nicklas Bendtner (ARSENAL) 8
Made one goal and scored another

VILLAIN OF THE MATCH
Kevin Davies (BOLTON) 6
Poor challenge on Clichy

NEXT THREE GAMES
BOLTON
Saturday: Man Utd (a) Prem
Sun Oct 5: West Ham (a) Prem
Sat Oct 18: Blackburn (h) Prem

ARSENAL
Tomorrow: Sheff Utd (h) Carl Cp
Saturday: Hull (h) Prem
Tues Sept 30: FC Porto (h) Ch Lg

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