Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Arsenal

Arsenal lost sight of the Champions League places after failing to overcome Bolton in a goalless draw at the Reebok Stadium.

Neither side could break the deadlock but it was not for a lack of chances with both sides proving wasteful in front of goal.

Arsene Wenger's side traveled to the North-West on the back of three straight defeats and came up against a revitalised Bolton side who have won four out of six since the turn of the year.

But the Gunners have never suffered four straight league defeats under Wenger and it was the visitors who made the brighter start to the game. Robin van Persie saw an early header cleared off the line by David Wheater before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sliced a shot wide from a glorious position.

Captain van Persie looked like he was in the mood during the early stages but even he couldn't find the back of the net as he bent a shot high and wide from 20-yards.

David Ngog should have put Bolton ahead midway through the first-half, first testing Wojciech Szczesny from a tight angle before steering a shot wide with his left-foot from eight-yards.

The former Liverpool striker will be cursing his luck but his miss was only bettered by Theo Walcott who slid a shot straight at Adam Bogdan from a one-on-one opportunity moments later.

Arsenal came closest to getting a winner in the second-half with talisman forward van Persie striking the woodwork on two occasions. The Dutchman hit the post on the hour mark after latching onto Bacary Sagna's cross before his late chip over the keeper came back off the frame of the goal.

Gretar Steinsson could have put Bolton ahead after 73 minutes when he blazed a volley over from deep inside the box and Owen Coyle thought his side should have had a penalty in the dying moments when Mark Davies went to ground during an attempt to round the goalkeeper.

The draw is Arsenal's first point of 2012 and leaves them in seventh place in the Premier League, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. The North London side must now look to the weekend visit from Blackburn as they attempt to make ground on those above them.

Bolton meanwhile go two points clear of the drop zone and the clean sheet will ease their defensive worries following the departure of Gary Cahill.