Wenger: Bolton defeat is 'big blow'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger conceded it was "a big blow" to slip up in the title race at the Reebok Stadium.

Nicolas Anelka scored twice against his former club to steer Bolton to a 3-1 victory and leave Arsenal floundering in the title race.

Wenger said: "It was a good occasion to get a victory and we should have won this game. What kind of impact it will have (on the title race) I do not know. But it is a big blow to lose."

Bolton had failed to win in five games going into the match but after Abdoulaye Faye opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a free header they never looked back.

Anelka scored his first with a thunderbolt in first-half stoppage time before Gilberto pulled a goal back.

However the £8million buy from Fenerbahce had the last word with a superb strike.

Wenger said: "I am sad for my team because they gave a lot and played well.

"But overall we did not control well the decisive moments in the game, particularly on the first goal. You cannot come to Bolton and give them freedom of movement on corners, although I thought their third goal was offside. After that it was difficult. We were running after the score."