Arsene Wenger avoided losing four straight league games for the first time in his 16 years as Arsenal manager but a goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers here on Wednesday was meagre consolation.

The result, combined with Newcastle's 2-0 win at Bolton's local rival strugglers Blackburn, dropped Arsenal down into seventh in the Premier League and left Wenger's men five points adrift of a top four spot and the accompanying Champions League place.

This draw rounded off a depressing day for the Gunners after they'd announced their England international Jack Wilshere would almost certainly miss the remainder of the season with a stress fracture of his foot.