It is now 29 games unbeaten in the league for the London side who where last beaten in the league by Leeds United eleven months ago meaning they have now equaled the feat set by both Leeds United (1974) and Liverpool (1988) and despite a delayed kick off due to the adverse weather conditions this did not stop the Gunners from coming at their Lancashire opponents from the first whistle.
With just five minutes into the contest at Highbury some neat footwork by the onrushing Arsenal striker Thierry Henry had Wanderers on the backfoot and his 35-yard curling effort thundered back off Jussi Jaaskelainen's crossbar to give an early sign of what was to come from Arsene Wenger's side who looked hungry for victory in the early stages of the game.
On the quarter hour mark Robert Pires gave the home side the lead when he cut in from the right hand side to curl an effort right into the corner of the net following some good interplay by Edu and Dennis Bergkamp.
Jussi Jaaskelainen was the hero from Wanderers point of view in the first half as he made a number of crucial stops to deny a very strong attacking Arsenal side. On 21 minutes the Finnish international dived in bravely at the feet of Ashley Cole to deny the England defender from increasing the Gunners lead but he was powerless to deny Arsenal their second goal of the afternoon when on 24 minutes with another counter attack the home side broke forward enabling the Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp to steal in first time at the far post to make the scoreline 2-0, Bolton tried to play the offside trap and even the assistant referee was unsure but referee Graham Barber allowed the goal to stand.
Jaaskelainen then saved well from Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto shortly before the interval but what was to happen next turned the game on its head. Bolton on a rare attack in the 40th minute, won their first corner of the game Stelios Giannakopoulos cross found it's way to defender Bruno N'Gotty who's drive caused panic in the Arsenal defence and midfielder Ivan Campo was on hand to fire into the roof of Jens Lehmann's net to bring Bolton back into the game.
Giannakopoulos then could have snatched an equaliser for Bolton in first half injury time when his header from a left wing Henrik Pedersen cross clipped the top of Lehmann's crossbar.
Bolton for long periods of the second half began to frustrate their opponents and striker Kevin Davies spurned a glorious chance to bring the North West side back on level terms just six minutes into the second period when he headed a cross from Giannakopoulos the wrong side of Lehmann's post despite finding himself unmarked.
Jaaskelainen was once again the Wanderers saviour on the hour when he made a fine stop from Thierry Henry after the French ace took advantage of some slack Bolton midfield play.
In the closing stages Bolton huffed and puffed to get an equaliser and with six minutes remaining Henrik Pedersen had an effort goalwards but the referee Barber pulled the play back as the Danish striker clearly used an arm to divert the ball when challenging Arsenal defender Lauren for the ball. Pedersen was then booked for his trouble but many could argue that the player's elevation carried him through the challenge.
The Trotters threw everybody forward and in the dying stages of the game Spaniard Ivan Campo had a glorius chance to equalise but the former Real Madrid player could not keep the ball down and hooked the shot over the bar of Lehmann. Arsenal despite another victory would probably agree that on another day Bolton would be going home with a point but the form of the Gunners at the moment has been a class above any of their opponents as they look to create a bigger gap between themselves and the teams chasing them for the Premiership title. For Bolton it was no disgrace to lose out marginally to a team on a hot run of form but concerningly it is over a month since they registered a win, and after five straight defeats they know next week's home televised clash with Newcastle United will be another crucial match.