Fabregas 52     Taylor (pen) 28

Arsenal went top of the EPL in frenetic and controversial circumstances at Emirates Stadium, completing an EPL double over Bolton in three days.

But the game turned shortly after half-time with Bolton still 2-1 ahead. Referee Alan Wiley missed a sickening challenge by Arsenal’s William Gallas on Bolton’s Mark Davies.

And as Davies lay injured, Arsenal worked the ball to Cesc Fabregas, who fired the Gunners level, to the fury of new Bolton manager Owen Coyle and his backroom staff.

Thirteen minutes later, Arsenal, who had as per usual created a host of chances, went ahead and a shell-shocked Bolton were unable to recover.

Until then, they had been terrific. They took the game to Arsenal from the word go and went ahead on seven minutes when Gary Cahill volleyed home Kevin Davies’ knockdown.

The Trotters doubled their advantage on 28 minutes. Denilson clumsily fouled Chung-Yong Lee just inside the penalty area and Matthew Taylor beat Manuel Almunia from the spot, the Arsenal keeper getting his left-hand to the kick.

Tomas Rosicky fired a lifeline to the Gunners two minutes before the interval, beating Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen at his near post with a well-struck drive.

Fabregas nutmegged Jaaskelainen for Arsenal’s controversial leveller after Gallas had gone in with his studs showing on Mark Davies’ ankle. And they went ahead for the first time in the match on 65 minutes.

Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen’s left-foot half-volley flew in off Jaaskelainen’s right-hand post after Bolton had failed to clear a corner.

Victory was sealed and top spot in the EPL secured when Andrei Arshavin masterminded an intricate passing move in minimal space on the edge of the box before lashing a right-foot drive past the helpless Bolton custodian.