A battling performance from Bolton's Reserve side wasn't enough for a share of the spoils as they were beaten 5-0 by an impressive Arsenal outfit.

Goals from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (2), Nacer Barazite and Chuks Aneke (2) were enough for the visitors to take three points back to London, but the margin didn't reflect what was a largely even game. 

It was Bolton who started the brighter, with the side camped inside the visitors' half, and made their presence felt with two fair, crunching tackles from Joey O'Brien and Adam Blakeman.

And with barely eight minutes on the clock, Tamir Cohen, making his first appearance of the season, twice headed over from Danny Ward corners.

Arsenal, whose play at times resembled their first team's, twice tested goalkeeper Rob Lainton from 20 yards through Chuks Aneke and Nacer Barazite as they searched for the opener, before the latter shot just wide after good link-up play with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.

Only a superb tackle from Mark Connolly denied Emmanuel-Thomas a tap in after good wing play from Craig Eastmond, but it was Wanderers who found the first clear-cut opening.

It came through Michael O'Halloran, who scored in his last appearance against Manchester City, with the right winger cutting inside and firing a left footed drive towards goal; an effort which was well saved by Vito Mannone.

Mannone then saved from Tom Eaves before the goalkeeper parrayed a shot from Riga and Tamir Cohen slid the rebound wide from six yards with the goal gaping.

That was the incentive that the away side needed and they netted the opener just before half time.

Arsenal broke in their typical style and when Jay Emmanuel-Thomas found space 25 yards out, he unleashed a sublime left foot curler which would have beaten many a goalkeeper, not just Rob Lainton. It was the striker's third goal in as many games after netting in both his pre-season friendlies.

The second half started rather scrappily until Arsenal carved out a chance for a second, and duely took it; Nacer Barazite latching onto a through-ball from Mark Randall and sending a right foot curler past Lainton's left hand from just inside the box. 

Bolton sought for a way back into the match but were denied when a Tom Eaves shot was deflected over after a powerful run from Danny Shittu.

Arsenal then scored their third when Chuks Aneke received a pass from his strike parter Emmanuel-Thomas and rolled the ball into the net, after Lainton had superbly denied his first effort low down.

And it was the striker again who scored the fourth, collecting another pass from his strike partner and firing low past the goalkeeper, before being substituted to applause from both sets of fans.

Emmanuel-Thomas added his second late into added time after collecting a pass from Nacer Barazite and finding the bottom left corner from 15 yards.

Bolton Wanderers: Rob Lainton, Joe Riley, Adam Blakeman, Danny Shittu (Rhys Bennett, 73), Mark Connolly, Tamir Cohen, Michael O'Halloran, Joey O'Brien, Tom Eaves (Maison McGeechan, 75), Riga (Tope Obadeyi, 73), Danny Ward (c).

Arsenal: Vito Mannone, Havard Nordtveit, Thomas Cruise, Craig Eastmond, Gavin Hoyte (Nico Yennaris, 47), Ignasi Miquel (c), Benik Afobw (Cedric Evina, 82), Mark Randall, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Chuks Aneke (Roarie Deacon, 82), Nacer Barazite.

Referee: Mr Paul Graham.

By Edward Bretherton