That was the least the home side deserved as they dominated the league leaders throughout and but for a number of contraversial decisions by the referee Graham Poll would have on reflection been the better of the two sides to claim the three points.
Wanderers could have taken the lead as early as the fourth minute when Kevin Davies forced the Gunners keeper Jens Lehmann into a low save at the second attempt after a cross by Nicky Hunt which found its way to the former Chesterfield striker.
Then minutes later Davies turned provider for Kevin Nolan when he flicked the ball into the path of the England U21 midfielder but the young Liverpudlian didn't get enough conviction on the shot to test Lehmann who collected with ease.
On the quarter hour mark Thierry Henry had the first real chance for the away side when he tried to lob the ball over Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal, however fortunately for the home side the ball bounced just wide.
Emerson Thome and Youri Djorkaeff then had half chances for the Wanderers in the space of five minutes which where cleared by the Gunners defence. Djorkaeff in particular should have done better but he balooned over following a good cross by Per Frandsen.
Wanderers played some attractive football and played with confidence which has seen them maintain a healthy position in the league and Arsenal, like many teams this season, found them difficult to break down.
On 29 minutes former Bolton transfer target Dennis Bergkamp had a glorious chance to put Arsene Wenger's side into the lead after a neat pass by Kolo Toure had set up the former Dutch international, however due to the conditions of the surface and some good defensive solidarity the former Inter Milan man wasn't able to get enough control on the resulting shot.
A minute later Bolton could have broken the deadlock when Kevin Nolan went on a mazy run which looked to be heading knowhere, however the youngster's persistance lead to him having a sight of goal and his cross field shot was tipped out for a corner by the German Lehmann in the Arsenal goal.
Bolton went into half time the better of the two sides but it was the side from North London who began the second half in a more positive fashion, as they managed to pressure the home side for a good spell. Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva had a snapshot well saved by Jaaskelainen on 50 minutes and it was on 56 minutes that the League leaders went in front.
Bolton felt they should have had a foul after an infringement by Bergkamp, the resulting pass found its way to Henry who delivered an inch perfect pass into the area which found Freddie Ljungberg, the Swede saw his shot parried by Jaaskelainen but Robert Pires was on hand to fire home the rebound to give the Gunners the lead.
Jay-Jay Okocha, much the talking point of Bolton Wanderers at the moment then saw his free kick shave a post as the home side looked to get back into the game.
Referee Mr Poll then lost all control the game which meant that things started to get a little heated on the pitch, he was giving decisions for both sides which where suspect to say the least. The home crowd where not happy at some of his decisions, especially a foul by Gunners forward Thierry Henry on his fellow countryman Youri Djorkaeff in the last quarter of the game.
Bolton midfielder Ibrahim Ba was then brought introduced into the game coming on as a substitute for Ivan Campo after the Spaniard had become one of the players to become frustrated at the referees actions and the home side used to opportunity to freshen things up in attack as Carling Cup hero Henrik Pedersen was brought on for Kevin Nolan.
On 83 minutes Bolton got a deserved equaliser when Pedersen volleyed home following good work from fellow striker Davies to set up the Danish international.