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The Gunners produced another stunning start and Robert Pires curled home a brilliant opener before Dennis Bergkamp volleyed in from Thierry Henry's cross.

But Bolton struck back and Ivan Campo tapped in before Stelios Giannakopoulos saw his effort hit the bar.

Kevin Davies missed a golden chance to level when he headed wide from six yards from Stelios' pinpoint cross.

The kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes due to safety reasons because of high winds at Highbury.

But Arsenal wasted no time in turning on the style - which would later give them a share of the record held by Leeds' 1973-74 team and Liverpool's 1987-88 side.

With just six minutes gone Patrick Vieira teed up Henry and the Frenchman made himself some room before lashing a 25-yard drive against the crossbar.

They did not have to wait too much longer to go ahead. Another neat passing interchange between Edu and Bergkamp teed up Pires and he curled a trademark right-footer into the top corner from 25 yards.

KEY MOMENTS 16 mins: Pires gives Arsenal the lead 25 mins: Bergkamp doubles the advantage 40 mins: Campo pulls a goal back for Bolton

Bolton - like so many teams that had gone before - simply had no answer, and Simon Charlton headed an Henry effort off the line before Arsenal doubled their advantage.

Henry went on a run down the left and sent in a cross to the far post that Bergkamp met first time on the volley, using his superb technique to drill the ball past a bemused Jussi Jaaskelainen.

It looked as though Arsenal would run riot but with their first attack of note Bolton halved the deficit. Bruno N'Gotty's shot from Stelios corner was blocked and Campo nodded in from close-range.

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They nearly went into half-time level, but Stelios crashed a header off the bar with Jens Lehmann beaten.

Bolton came out after the break determined to get back on level terms, and Davies missed a golden chance when he headed weakly wide from six yards.

As the half progressed Arsenal improved, and Henry went close with a vicious volley that Jaaskelainen tipped away at full-stretch.

Arsene Wenger's side looked desperate to give themselves the cushion of a third and Pires drove over the bar before Bergkamp rifled a shot wide from 16 yards.

As the clock ticked down Arsenal remained the likelier to score, but they had to settle for 2-1.

Wenger's men could surpass Leeds' feat at Highbury next Sunday when they entertain Manchester United.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Silva (Ljungberg 69), Edu, Vieira, Pires (Cygan 88), Henry, Bergkamp. Subs not used: Reyes, Kanu, Stack.
Booked: Cole.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, N'Gotty, Thome, Charlton, Giannakopoulos, Nolan (Frandsen 76), Campo, Okocha, Pedersen, Davies. Subs not used: Poole, Barness, Vaz Te, Pezzarossi.
Booked: Nolan, Pedersen.

Attendance: 38,053.