Arsene Wenger: Bolton tried to 'intimidation'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised his side for refusing to be intimidated by Bolton on the way to a 3-1 victory at the Reebok Stadium. Kevin Davies headed Bolton in a minute 14 to lead, but the gunners hit back with two goals in two minutes from Emmanuel Eboue and Nicklas Bendtner to lead to the breakup.

Denilson wrapped up victory with a third four minutes from time after Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor had carved open the defense. An injury to Gael Clichy, caused by a problem of late Davies, was the only sour note for the gunners. "They tried to intimidate us," Wenger told Setanta Sports, "but I felt very well dealing with the problem. We were strong in the one-v-ones around the world.

"We came back in a convincing way I think we have great qualities to demonstrate today. I think we all as a brilliant team. In all areas in the countryside around the world had a very good game."

The midfielder Cesc Fabregas was also pleased with the way Arsenal's handling of the hosts' physical approach. "Every time we come here we know who is going to be a tough game and very physical and very well in front of it," he told Setanta Sports.

"We showed great character and if you're going to win the league we must win these games. We do not want to stop here. We want to move forward."

Arsenal Abou Diaby was sent off at Bolton last season for a challenge on Fabregas and Greta Steinsson clearly felt Davies should have seen too much red, adding: "Clichy, look in the leg! Why not the same [punishment]? "

Bolton manager Gary Megson as they could be pleased with a 3-1 defeat. "We started well but then we gave Arsenal a lesson in football for 30 minutes, we could not get near them in the first half," he told Setanta Sports.

"We were excellent in the second half. It's a good day, despite having surrendered 3-1 at home. Every time we play we now have to pick up where we left off in the second half because he was brilliant. You are never happy that you've lost, but the second half performance was excellent. There is some light at the end of the tunnel now. If we do against any other team that does not have the quality of Arsenal."