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So, like the Lord of the Rings movies, a trilogy ends with the hardest battle of all :). If Bolton play a more daunting fixture this season than the current Arsenal side at their home ground, there better be a cup available at the end of it. With 42 games unbeaten behind them and an average for four goals a game scored, the Gunners looked like being irresistible. But, it also has to be said, Bolton are probably in the best shape they have ever been - a team full of great players, a manager rapidly growing in repute. We'd taken three points off Liverpool and got within a kick of taking three off Man United, so why not give it a go?

And that's exactly what they did. Now, it would be unjust to suggest Bolton deserved to win the game but they certainly didn't deserve to lose it - even Arsene Wenger admitted as much. Bolton worked hard and although Arsenal had much possession, they gained few clear chances for it and at the other end Nolan's 25 yarder had Lehman at full stretch. However, the thing that sets Thierry Henry apart is he frequently doesn't need a 'clear chance', merely a hint of an opening a piece of skill or turn of pace can prize open. And on half an hour, that was what he got. A quick pass from Viera gave him a sliver of room and the result was immediately predicable, a low shot past Jaaskelainen with the Bolton defense in his wake.

Previously this season, most teams seem to have run up the white flag when going behind to the gunners. Arsenal's record too intimidating to cope with. Bolton, on the other hand, don't fear anyone as the other two big teams had recently found. Allardyce made a significant change, swapping the pace of Diouf for the power of Les Ferdinand. This immediately began to worry an Arsenal defense missing the similar presence of Sol Campbell. After an hour Bolton gained a corner and JayJay Okocha whipped it towards the penalty spot. Rahdi Jaidi, no small man himself (in fact, he's probably not two small men either..) bulleted a header under the bar. To use a phrase in one report I read 'that ball stayed headed'. A great match was now developing as Ferdinand and Pedersen gave Arsenal more problems than they appeared to be able to deal with. What you can't do though is let your guard down for second against a team of Arsenal's quality and that's more or less what Bolton did. A mere couple of minutes after the equaliser Ljungberg got free in the box and played a low cross in. Now, you don't go 42 games unbeaten without a bit of luck either and that's what Arsenal got - the cross came in behind Pires and he stuck his trailing foot out to try and redirect it. the ball bounced off his foot, onto his other shin and into the net.

Bolton still didn't give up and pushed forward again. On 80 minutes Gardner was booked (wrongly, in my view) and Sam threw such a wobbler that he had to be restrained by the fourth official. Then with 5 minutes left a Ferdinand flick landed at Pedersen's feet. Now, I don't know what's happening with Pedersen these days. For most of his Bolton career, this would be something that would end up with the ball nowhere near the goal but this season it seems Henrick can do no wrong. He controlled the ball neatly with one foot before tapping a deft shot past Lehman into the side netting. That's the kind of goal the bloke at the other end scores isn't it?

Just like at the Reebok last spring, Arsenal had found themselves unable to get the better of Bolton. The question is not whether Bolton could have won - it would have been equally unfair to Arsenal to lose. The question must be what do the last three games say about Bolton? Three Champions League teams played, 5 points, 5 goals scored, no losses. Are Bolton as good as that? Well, at their best they obviously are yes. This season, Bolton on a good day seem capable of matching any team in the land. The obvious thing is to wonder about consistency. As good performances in the next few games will suggest Bolton are as good as they appear to be and Bolton fans can begin to wonder exactly how far they might go. A tail off will suggest Bolton are still guilty of playing up to the opposition...