Henrik Pedersen struck a deserved late equaliser as battling Bolton ended Premiership leaders Arsenal's 100 per cent record this season.
Arsenal led twice, through Thierry Henry and Robert Pires but Bolton never gave up.
The hugely impressive Radhi Jaidi headed their first equaliser from a corner before substitute Pedersen finished off Les Ferdinand's flick for their 85th-minute leveller.
The move came from a free-kick which came as little surprise as Arsenal had looked vulnerable at set-pieces throughout the match. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann never took command of his box.
The Gunners did extend their unbeaten Premiership run to 46 matches, but the day belonged to the visitors.
The result leaves Arsenal top, although Chelsea can go level with them on 16 points if they beat Tottenham on Sunday. Bolton are currently third, five points behind the leaders, after their best start to a season since 1958-59.
Both teams made pre-match changes. Freddie Ljungberg returned for Arsenal after a back problem with Dennis Bergkamp dropping to the bench.
Ricardo Gardner returned in place of Anthony Barness at left-back for Bolton. On-loan El Hadji Diouf made his first start after an impressive substitute appearance against Manchester United last weekend while former Real Madrid and Spain defender Fernando Hierro was on the bench again.
Ivan Campo operated as an anchor in front of the back four for the visitors while Kevin Davies was used a lone ranger in attack.
Bolton defended deep and tried to cut down the space for Thierry Henry and Jose Antonio Reyes to exploit. A jarring early tackle by Jay-Jay Okocha on Patrick Vieira showed their intent.
When Bolton did go forward, they took every chance to test out Lehmann. Davies twice forced him to misplace clearances and the Arsenal keeper dropped a long throw from Okocha.
He was also late diving for Kevin Nolan's 30-yarder which flew a foot wide.
Jaidi made two crucial last-ditch blocks as Arsenal exerted early pressure. The Tunisia centre back foiled Reyes as he prepared to sweep home Henry's seventh-minute centre.
A minute later, Reyes slipped Henry through but Jussi Jaaskelainen made a point-blank save. Jaidi then stepped in again to deny Pires as the Frenchman shaped to net the rebound.
Lauren forced a corner with a bending centre that Bruno N'Gotty had to turn behind and Pires had another shot blocked in the resulting scramble.
Okocha then diverted Henry's attempted curling free-kick after Nicky Hunt had fouled Ashley Cole.
Henry finally made the breakthrough as half-time approached. Vieira won a loose ball and found the striker, who controlled instantly and shot past Jaaskelainen from 15 yards, for his fifth goal of the season.
Henry headed a Vieira cross at Jaaskelainen and then failed by inches to connect with Ljungberg's throughball as Arsenal finished the first half on top.
They were soon under pressure after the restart though. Pascal Cygan fouled Davies on the edge of the box and Okocha's free-kick bounced off the wall.
Sam Allardyce made a 55th-minute double substitution, sending on Ferdinand and Pedersen for Davies and Diouf, to exploit Arsenal's weakness on crosses.
Nolan fired another stinging long-range shot that deflected off Kolo Toure and clipped the top of the bar.
Jaidi levelled from Okocha's 63rd-minute corner, jumping in front of the stranded Lehmann to power in a header.
However, Bolton were level for just three minutes. Ljungberg sped clear of Gardner and crossed to the near post where Pires somehow managed to flick the ball past Jaaskelainen.
Ljungberg could have settled the issue in the 83rd minute when he met Bergkamp's near-post centre with a rising header that cleared the bar by inches.
Pedersen struck two minutes later, reacting quickest after Ferdinand won yet another header.
Arsenal piled forward in the dying minutes. The ball pinged around Bolton's box, but Henry failed to connect with Bergkamp's flick, Edu shot over and Jaaskelainen plucked Bergkamp's cross off Ljungberg's foot.
So Bolton held on to their point and their players celebrated in front of their happy band of travelling fans at the Clock End.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Radhi Jaidi (Bolton): A major influence, in both penalty areas. He looks to be another shrewd Allardyce signing.