Fredrik Ljungberg's astonishing one-man crusade to bring the Premiership title to Highbury is near a triumphant conclusion after yet another match-winning performance by the Swede.

Ljungberg's sixth goal in five league games ended Bolton's resistance and though the title party cannot begin quite yet, Arsenal must be preparing the invitations.

There were many who thought Arsenal's challenge would shrivel to nothing when Robert Pires' season ended in March.

Instead, Ljungberg has provided the impetus to take the Gunners to the very cusp of Premiership glory.

A point will suffice against Manchester United next week, and even if defeated at Old Trafford then victory in the last match against Everton will be enough for Arsene Wenger's side.

The Swede has been the man getting the goals for Arsenal, but Dennis Bergkamp has been the genius providing the chances.

He did so again against Bolton, opening the way for Ljungberg to get the first and then setting up Sylvain Wiltord for the second.

At the final whistle, Arsenal celebrated as though the title was already theirs, and barring an amazing finale to the season, it surely is.

Wenger must have been confident to start with Thierry Henry on the bench after a slight hamstring worry for the French striker, Wiltord returning from a similar injury to take his compatriot's place.

Sol Campbell was named as a substitute too and is on course for a return for Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Bolton's survival may have been guaranteed by Manchester United's victory at Ipswich at the weekend, but Sam Allardyce still named his strongest line-up.

United are traditional enemies of their Manchester neighbours but Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside had rung Sir Alex Ferguson on Saturday night to promise Bolton would do their best to return the favour.

That they failed to do, and though there were some periods of acute discomfort for the Gunners, this was all about a team with everything to play for up against a side in the comfort zone.

Ljungberg had two chances to make the breakthrough before he eventually scored.

First, Wiltord cut the ball back after a long pass by Edu, the Swede hit his shot first-time on the run but ballooned it over the top.

Soon afterwards, Ljungberg nipped in again to meet Ashley Cole's astute pass over the defence but could not get more than an outstretched toe on the ball and Jussi Jaaskelainen pulled off a diving save.

The Swedish midfielder was in more valuable action after 20 minutes, but at the other end.

Martin Keown made a horrendous error of judgment and headed what should have been a routine clearance straight into Rod Wallace's path.

Only Ljungberg's sudden appearance to block Wallace rescued Arsenal - and saved Keown's blushes.

The game had drifted into stalemate, which Ray Parlour attempted to break with a 30-yard shot hit with full power that only missed the top corner by a whisker.

With 10 minutes to go in the first half, Arsenal broke Bolton's dogged resistance with the sort of goal which has become their - and particularly Ljungberg's - trademark.

Wiltord's cross only just eluded Bergkamp, but when Vieira fed the Dutchman again he toyed with a massed group of defenders and then a perfectly-weighted pass found Ljungberg running on to rattle home a shot off the post.

A minute before the break, and Wiltord as good as ended the contest after more outstanding vision by Bergkamp.

He slotted a pass through the defence as Wiltord beat the offside trap and the French striker fired the ball through Jaaskelainen's legs.

Bolton's own French international Youri Djorkaeff had been anonymous in the first half but early in the second he scared the life out of the Gunners with some intricate play on the edge of the box that nearly found him a way through.

Wiltord forced Jaaskelainen into a smart stop, before coming even closer when one-on-one with the Finn, who got the slightest of touches to divert the ball onto the inside of the post allowing Gudni Bergsson to clear.

Michael Ricketts came on for Bobic and was a big-toe's width away from Gareth Farrelly's dangerous cross.

Keep ball became the name of Arsenal's game, and a 22-pass move set the scene as the clock ran down but it was a dangerous tactic, as highlighted by Kevin Nolan first testing David Seaman to the limit with a delicate header and then beating the England keeper but seeing his 20-yard drive crash back off a post.

Ashley Cole nearly rounded it off in style for the Gunners, but his shot struck the underside of the bar and rebounded to safety.

Teams

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, N'Gotty, Bergsson, Charlton, Barness, Frandsen, Nolan, Farrelly, Wallace (Johnson 62), Bobic (Ricketts 56), Djorkaeff.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Holdsworth, Konstantinidis.

Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren, Keown, Adams, Cole, Ljungberg, Edu (Dixon 67), Vieira, Parlour, Bergkamp (Kanu 70), Wiltord (Campbell 90).

Subs Not Used: Henry, Wright.

Goals: Ljungberg 36, Wiltord 44.

Att: 27,351

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).