Arsenal's title hopes suffered a critical blow as they were beaten 2-1 at Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.
The defeat leaves Arsene Wenger's side nine points behind leaders Manchester United at the top of the table, and three points behind Chelsea.Arsenal went into the game with the best away record in the division, but they fell behind to Daniel Sturridge's 38th-minute header.
Kevin Davies then missed a penalty before Robin van Persie levelled.
But after a lengthy period of Arsenal control, they were undone by another corner, Tamir Cohen nodding in.
With Andrei Arshavin once again left on the bench, Arsenal lacked early spark and in a dreary opening half-hour, the only real chance fell the way of Chung-Young Lee.
Set clean through by Sturridge, the South Korean international neglected to shoot himself, but tried to work the ball to Matt Taylor, allowing Alex Song to recover.
Gradually Bolton began to impose themselves, and they took the lead after 38 minutes. Zat Knight's header was blocked on the line by the chest of Samir Nasri on the line, and an inexplicably untended Sturridge stooped to nod in from close range.
It was Sturridge's seventh goal in nine games since moving to the Reebok on loan from Chelsea.
Cesc Fabregas struck the post with a low drive from 25 yards just before half-time.
Bolton could have doubled their lead two minutes into the second half as Sturridge was upended by Johan Djourou, but Kevin Davies's penalty was saved by Wojciech Szeszny.
A minute later, Arsenal were level, as Van Persie exchanged passes with Fabregas and placed a calm finish past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
As Arsenal sought the win they desperately needed, Nasri shot straight at Jaaskelainen having been set clean though, then couldn't quite get on the end of a Marouane Chamakh nod-down.
Yet again, though, Arsenal were unable to capitalise on a lengthy period of domination, and their title opes were dealt a fatal blow as Cohen was left unmarked to head in a last-minute corner.
The Israel international celebrated by removing his shirt to reveal a T-shirt bearing a photograph of his late father, the former Liverpool player, Avi Cohen.
The defeat leaves Arsene Wenger's side nine points behind leaders Manchester United at the top of the table, and three points behind Chelsea.Arsenal went into the game with the best away record in the division, but they fell behind to Daniel Sturridge's 38th-minute header.
Kevin Davies then missed a penalty before Robin van Persie levelled.
But after a lengthy period of Arsenal control, they were undone by another corner, Tamir Cohen nodding in.
With Andrei Arshavin once again left on the bench, Arsenal lacked early spark and in a dreary opening half-hour, the only real chance fell the way of Chung-Young Lee.
Set clean through by Sturridge, the South Korean international neglected to shoot himself, but tried to work the ball to Matt Taylor, allowing Alex Song to recover.
Gradually Bolton began to impose themselves, and they took the lead after 38 minutes. Zat Knight's header was blocked on the line by the chest of Samir Nasri on the line, and an inexplicably untended Sturridge stooped to nod in from close range.
It was Sturridge's seventh goal in nine games since moving to the Reebok on loan from Chelsea.
Cesc Fabregas struck the post with a low drive from 25 yards just before half-time.
Bolton could have doubled their lead two minutes into the second half as Sturridge was upended by Johan Djourou, but Kevin Davies's penalty was saved by Wojciech Szeszny.
A minute later, Arsenal were level, as Van Persie exchanged passes with Fabregas and placed a calm finish past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
As Arsenal sought the win they desperately needed, Nasri shot straight at Jaaskelainen having been set clean though, then couldn't quite get on the end of a Marouane Chamakh nod-down.
Yet again, though, Arsenal were unable to capitalise on a lengthy period of domination, and their title opes were dealt a fatal blow as Cohen was left unmarked to head in a last-minute corner.
The Israel international celebrated by removing his shirt to reveal a T-shirt bearing a photograph of his late father, the former Liverpool player, Avi Cohen.
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