ARSENAL showed they have the stomach for a title battle as they overcame Bolton 2-0 at Emirates Stadium to consolidate their place at the top of the Premier League. For long spells the Gunners were frustrated by the managerless Trotters, who subjected Arsene Wenger's emerging side to a severe physical test of their character.

However, it was one which they passed comfortably, as a low 25-yard strike from Kolo Toure finally broke the visitors' resistance on 68 minutes. A close-range effort from substitute Tomas Rosicky wrapped up the points.

While plenty more tough examinations of their championship credentials lie in wait . . . with games against both Manchester United and Liverpool fast approaching . . . you can only beat whichever team you are playing. Arsenal did just that for the 11th consecutive time this afternoon and, no matter what the opposition, it is on such form which title charges are built.

Arsene Wenger and midfielder Cesc Fabregas had been presented with their respective manager- and player-of-the-month awards before kick off . . . so often a sign of an imminent change in fortunes. However, there was the expected positive start by the hosts against a team which had lost seven league games.

Arsenal were dangerous down the flanks and a cut-back from Alexander Hleb almost picked out Emmanuel Adebayor in the box, but the striker could not make clean contact and the ball was hacked clear.

The gangly Adebayor was again the target when Bacary Sagna swung over a cross from the right. This time his glancing header flew wide.

The visitors were happy enough to break up play whenever possible and also get physical when necessary. And on 20 minutes, there was a flashpoint when Gavin McCann clattered into Sagna with both feet. Tempers boiled over and, following a brief melee, Fabregas and El Hadji Diouf were shown yellow cards by referee Mike Riley, along with McCann for the original foul.

The home fans were soon screaming for a penalty when Adebayor went down under a sliding challenge from McCann, but the referee was correct to rule the Bolton player had won the ball. Diouf then clattered into Sagna on the near touchline, and can count himself fortunate not to have been shown a second yellow card by a busy Mr Riley.

Arsenal slowly started to up the tempo in the final 10 minutes of the first half. On 42 minutes, Croatia striker Eduardo . . . in for injured top Robin van Persie . . . floated over a high ball from the left to the back post. Adebayor was unmarked, but timed his jump all wrong and was only able to put a tame downward header behind. Arsenal had a great chance to take the lead at the start of the second half.

Bolton failed to clear from inside their own six-yard box, with McCann knocking the ball into the path of Emmanuel Eboue. However, the Ivory Coast winger rushed his angled shot and slashed it across goal and high into the stands. A well-worked counter attack then saw Fabregas teed-up on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was straight at Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The visitors were pushed further back as the hour mark approached. Adebayor exchanged a neat one-two with Eduardo and struck the ball just wide of the top righthand corner from 20 yards.

With 28 minutes left, Wenger introduced Theo Walcott and Rosicky for Eduardo and Eboue. Fit-again Arsenal captain William Gallas came close to snatching the lead when he diverted a corner goalwards from inside the sixyard box, but Jaaskelainen reacted quickly to make a point-blank save.

However, Arsenal did not have to wait much longer for the goal to come. Ivan Campo conceded a free-kick some 25 yards out, just right of centre when he fouled Fabregas after 68 minutes. Three men stood over the ball, which was tapped back to Toure, and the defender drilled a low strike into the bottom left corner.

The relief around Emirates Stadium was clear, and the hosts were soon looking for the cushion of a second goal. It duly came with 10 minutes left when Walcott was fed in on the right side of the area by Hleb, and his low cross was turned in by Rosicky from close range.