Arsenal beat ten-man Bolton 4-1 at Emirates Stadium to keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Laurent Koscielny bundled home his first Arsenal goal after 24 minutes, only for the French defender's poor back header to allow Bolton to equalise just before half-time through Johan Elmander.
Marouane Chamakh headed the hosts back in front, with Gary Cahill then sent off for a tackle from behind on the Moroccan.
Alex Song netted Arsenal's 1,000th Premier League goal under manager Arsene Wenger and substitute Carlos Vela stroked in number four with seven minutes left.
As expected, the home side made all the early running, with captain Cesc Fabregas, who has a fine personal record against Bolton, having a shot blocked after cutting into the right side of the area.
Andrei Arshavin should have made it 1-0 after latching onto a brilliant through ball by Tomas Rosicky, but Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan - making his first Premier League start in place of the suspended Jussi Jaaskelainen - was out quickly to close the Russian down at the edge of the penalty area.
The Czech midfielder then had a go himself, driving an angled shot just over as Arsenal continued to press.
Bolton - who now play a much-changed style under Owen Coyle - found an opening on 12 minutes when a knockdown by former Gunner Fabrice Muamba fell to Kevin Davies, but the striker's shot on the turn was held by Manuel Almunia.
The home side were ahead after 24 minutes, Jack Wilshere's angled chip across the penalty area picked out Fabregas' run at the far post, and his cutback was bundled in by Koscielny following a rebound from Bogdan.
The Hungarian was being kept busy, as a fine passing move ended with Rosicky drilling in a low, angled shot which produced another fine reaction block from the Bolton shot stopper.
Arshavin clipped the side-netting after he just got ahead of Zat Knight before he was again denied on the breakaway, as this time Gretar Steinsson did just enough to put the Russian off balance.
Bolton snatched an equaliser just before half-time following a terrible mix up in the Arsenal defence. Koscielny's backward header was far too soft, leaving Almunia exposed as Lee Chung-Yong darted onto the loose ball. The Korean rounded the goalkeeper, before chipping back across goal, where Elmander headed in at the far post.
The tempo was lacklustre during the opening exchanges of the second half, as both sides knew the next goal would be crucial.
Song hacked away a loose ball in the Arsenal six-yard box before Chamakh burst clear and on to the edge of the Bolton box, but again Bogdan produced a superb save.
However, there was little the Bolton goalkeeper could do moments later when, as the danger was not cleared after the resulting corner, Morocco striker Chamakh headed in Fabregas' cross at the far post to restore Arsenal's lead after 58 minutes.
Koscielny and Davis, jumping in at full pelt, both needed treatment after a nasty clash of heads as they challenged for a ball on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area.
Despite calls for action from referee Attwell, it was Emmanuel Eboue who ended up in the book for protesting.
The Nuneaton official - who famously allowed a "phantom goal'' during a match between Watford and Reading two years ago - then missed what looked liked a foul by Kieran Gibbs on Lee at the edge of the Arsenal box.
Moments later, the 27-year-old official did reach for his back pocket, this time to show Cahill a straight red card after the England international went through the back of Chamakh right in front of the dugout.
The match suddenly developed an edge, as a few hefty challenges went in from both sides, Arsenal substitute Abou Diaby eventually had to be replaced after suffering an injury in a clash with Paul Robinson.
Song made it 3-1 when he collected a cutback from Arshavin to cleverly chip the goalkeeper from a tight angle, before substitute Vela stroked in number four with seven minutes left - and Eboue was denied what looked a penalty when tripped by Muamba.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle lamented the decision of Attwell not to award what looked like a trip by Kieran Gibbs on Lee Chung-yong in the build-up to the Arsenal breakaway which resulted in Cahill's dismissal.
"Lee was very close to the penalty box. It should have been a free-kick, and it is not given,'' said Coyle. "From the resulting pass Gary Cahill went into the back of the lad and fouled him. I don't think it merited a red.
"All of a sudden we were playing Arsenal with 10 men, and it is difficult at the best of times with 11. We had put so much into the game that at that time we looked like the team who would get the equaliser.''
Coyle added: "As managers we have to watch what we say for fear of getting into trouble and if I was to elaborate on it I would be in trouble because it was a huge turning point in the game.
"I don't want people booked, all I ask is that when my team plays we are treated in the same way as the opposition and I don't feel we were today. The little bitty fouls can go either way and we accept that, but this was a clear free-kick.''
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger felt his young Arsenal team came through another test of character as they dispatched 10-man Bolton 4-1 to keep up with Premier League leaders Chelsea at Emirates Stadium.
"We have had two games, at Blackburn and today, which we certainly would not have taken six points from two years ago,'' Wenger said. "The players can handle these situations.
"Overall it was a competitive game where we dominated and created many chances, but when you play against Bolton, as long as you don't kill the game off, they can score - you can dominate 80% of the game and still lose.
"They marked us very tight, which provoked a very physical game, but they also played well. Bolton had full commitment and we needed to be patient, to get our technique and passing to prevail.
"It was a good test for our two centre-backs, who did very well and I am pleased with the performance of the whole team.''
Wenger was critical of referee Attwell, despite his decision to send Cahill off. He added: "There could have been other red cards. You have to see it again because in the heat of the game it is sometimes difficult to judge, but the challenge on Diaby was a bad tackle. He is not in a very good shape. Diaby cannot move his leg at the moment, so we will see how we get away with it.''
Captain Cesc Fabregas was in fine form at the heart of the Arsenal side, now looking fully match fit following his break after the World Cup and very much committed to the Gunners cause following a summer of speculation over a move to boyhood club Barcelona.
"I was always convinced he loved Arsenal as well and that he loves to play football. When he is on the pitch, he enjoys it,'' Wenger said. "We play the game he loves to play, the game turns around him as well. He grew up in this team, and to make this team win will be a bigger achievement than anything else for Fabregas.''
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 11 Sep 10
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