Originally Posted by Wenger after Bolton Vs Arsenal

We lost at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday but quite frankly I wonder how we didn't get something from the game. I am sad for my players because they gave a lot and played well. However we did not control the decisive moments in the game, specifically the first goal.

In football you have to be realistic. You can't go to Bolton and allow them free movement on corners, but that is what happened with Faye's early goal. After that it was difficult for us because - once again - we were chasing the game.

It's a pity because we were full of energy after coming back to beat Hamburg on Tuesday night. On Saturday we hit the woodwork three times but in the end we came back with nothing. It's frustrating because in my opinion it was our best chance to take points off Bolton in the past five years.

We were under pressure for much of the game on Saturday because they scored first. Then we gave Nicolas Anelka too much freedom for his first goal and I think his second one was just offside.

Having said that, it's difficult to fault the effort of my players. It is a learning process for them, it shows that you can play good football and still lose 3-1.

People have asked me whether we are out of the title race and I know that Saturday's game was important in that respect. It was a good opportunity for us to close the gap on the top two - especially after Manchester United and Chelsea drew 1-1 at Old Trafford.

It's too early to say what kind of impact that missed opportunity will have on us but losing at Bolton was certainly a big blow.

There are certainly positive signs though. In every game we show fantastic potential and yet too often we do not get what we should get. That is down to experience and the learning process but at the same time I feel this side has great quality and I feel there is a lot to come from them.

It's important to be positive with them when they do not get rewarded because the results will eventually come.