Arsenal went top of the Premier League table for the first time this season after a 3-1 win at Bolton Wanderers while Liverpool were held to a home goalless draw by Stoke City yesterday.

Thanks to goals from Emmanuel Eboue, Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson, Arsenal overcame Kevin Davies' 14th minute goal for an impressive success at Bolton.

Arsenal now lead the table with 12 points, one better than Liverpool, which was unable to follow up wins over United and Marseille in the previous week as the newly-promoted Stoke secured a clean sheet through the inspired performance of keeper Thomas Sorensen.

Chelsea, sitting third with 10 points, can reclaim top spot with victory over champions Manchester United on Sunday.

Gianfranco Zola started his West Ham United reign with a 3-1 victory over troubled Newcastle United as Blackburn bounced back from a couple of recent heavy defeats to snatch a 1-0 home win over Fulham in a hard-fought encounter.

The day's early kick-off saw Sunderland beat local rivals Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Stadium of Light courtesy of a Michael Chopra double.

Liverpool had started the campaign as co-leaders on points and thought they made the perfect start to victory after just two minutes when Steven Gerrard had the ball in the back of the net from a free-kick.

The captain celebrated what he thought was his 100th goal for Liverpool only for his efforts to be controversially ruled out for offside.

Liverpool controlled possession from that on but struggled to find the breakthrough.

The Reds manager Rafael Benitez was left frustrated and fuming over the referee Andre Marriner's decision.

"Nobody knows why it was disallowed," he said, "With the position the referee was in, how could he disallow it?"

"It was unbelievable and we have to talk about it because it was a key decision. It is impossible to explain."

At the Reebok stadium, Bolton took a 14th minute lead when Kevin Davies rose powerfully to head home a corner.

But Arsene Wenger's Arsenal demonstrated their title credentials as Eboue equalized from close range and Bendtner bundled home Denilson's cross a minute later.

Denilson sealed the win with three minutes left, side-footing Emmanuel Adebayor's low cross.