Arsenal 2 Bolton 1:Cesc Fabregas netted his first goal since the Champions League qualifiers in August to get Arsenal back on track to finish in the top four of the Premiership.

The Spanish teenager struck just 44 seconds after the restart as the Gunners had to once again come from behind at Emirates Stadium.

The relief around the 60,000-seater venue was clear at the final whistle as Arsene Wenger's men recorded a first Premiership win in five attempts.

A five-point gap now separates the Gunners from a return to elite European club football next season - and with match in hand against Manchester City on Tuesday night, that now should be enough of a lead to defend.

Bolton had gone ahead through former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka, but Tomas Rosicky hit an equaliser before half-time and any hope of a comeback ended when Ivan Campo was sent off late on for two yellow cards.

The visitors - who could have gone above Arsenal - started brightly and forced the first opening of the match.

The ball was only half-cleared to the edge of the penalty area, and El-Hadji Diouf sent a first-time side-foot effort over.

Bolton did take the lead on 11 minutes. Nicky Hunt sent a deep free-kick towards the left side of the Arsenal area.

Kevin Davies went up for a header with Kolo Toure and seemed to lean on the Arsenal defender.

The ball broke for skipper Kevin Nolan, who headed the ball across goal.

Keeper Jens Lehmann palmed it out into the path of Anelka, whose shot was handled on the line by William Gallas, but went in.

Arsenal immediately upped a gear and Freddie Ljungberg put Emmanuel Adebayor into the area, but the Togo striker's shot was blocked by the legs of Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The Swede then sent a 25-yard free-kick just inches over the bar.

Bolton, however, looked dangerous on the break. After 16 minutes, Anelka flashed a low, angled drive across goal. Lehmann was soon called upon again to push away a far-post knock-down from Davies.

At the other end Ljungberg was inches away from connecting with a low cross from Fabregas on the right.

Toure burst forwards and unleashed a stinging shot from 25 yards, which Jaaskelainen beat away to his right. Alexander Hleb was unable to force home the loose ball.

Arsenal were, though, level on 31 minutes.

Adebayor weaved into the right side of the penalty box and chipped the ball over towards the far post.

Hunt waited for it to come down, ready to head back to his keeper.

However, Rosicky read the play and nipped in to steal the ball and poke it past Jaaskelainen from two yards.

Arsenal continued to press and from a 30-yard free-kick, Fabregas tapped the ball to Toure, who sidestepped his marker and unleashed another fierce drive, which Jaaskelainen again beat away.

Arsenal were in full flow now. The influential Rosicky and Hleb combined to put Ljungberg into a crowded penalty area but the Swede dragged his low shot wide.

The Gunners' finally got their second goal in the first minute of the second half.

Gilberto's quick forward pass caught out Gary Speed, whose slip put Fabregas clear.

The Spaniard stepped inside Abdoulaye Meite before steadying himself and smashing the ball home from 15 yards - his first Premiership goal of the season.

Arsenal maintained the momentum and another quick break down the left saw the ball break back across goal for Hleb, whose scuffed shot drifted wide.

Bolton defender Campo was booked for a late sliding challenge on Hleb with 21 minutes left.

It should have been 2-0 when Adebayor picked out substitute Abou Diaby in the six-yard box with a fine chip - but the young Frenchman headed wide.

Campo was sent off with eight minutes left for a second yellow card for a late challenge on Rosicky.

There was, though, still time for Diaby to somehow miss a one-on-one with the keeper.

Thankfully, it did not prove a costly miss as the Gunners closed out the match to push themselves closer to a return to Champions League football next season.