It is bad enough for Wenger that his side has won just one of their last seven meetings with Bolton, but what really bothers the French coach is the way Sam Allardyce's outfit get the upper hand.

Playing highly-aggressive and direct football, which Wenger considers an afront to his purist principles, Bolton have consistently managed to stifle and often defeat the Gunners.

The Lancashire club dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup last year and also claimed a convincing 3-1 win in the Premiership earlier this season.

Arsenal get the chance to set the record straight on Sunday when Bolton arrive in London for an FA Cup fourth round tie.

Wenger is convinced his side's chances of getting the upper hand could rest on how much protection they are given by referee Mike Dean.

He said: "It is down to the referee to get the law respected, it is not down to Bolton. You need it every game.

"We have not had the best of games every time we go up there to Bolton, but we were a bit unlucky this season.

"They scored two amazing goals but we had the best part of the game.

"Maybe one or two years ago we were not ready to face this type of opponent, but the team has improved a lot on this side."

Despite his obvious dislike of Bolton's style, Wenger concedes that Allardyce has assembled a talented group of players capable of troubling opponents with their talent as well as their tenacity.

"They are always a good character test but they are a good side as well. People sometimes forget that," Wenger said.

"Bolton can play. You cannot say that Gary Speed is not a football player. Nor Ivan Campo, or Kevin Nolan, or Nicolas Anelka, or El-Hadji Diouf. They are good football players."

This is the third season in a row that Bolton have been drawn against Arsenal in the FA Cup and Allardyce is convinced he can frustrate Wenger again.

"It is not beyond us," Allardyce said. "We came within a few seconds of getting a victory at Highbury last season.

"We always seem to be drawn with each other in the FA Cup. This time around we are away from home and Arsenal have not lost at the Emirates Stadium.

"They are in superb form as they showed against Liverpool in the last round.

"A draw would be a very satisfying result. Arsenal have a heavy schedule and would not relish a replay."

Wenger has to cope with a increasingly lengthy injury list after Emmanuel Eboue, ruled out with an ankle injury, joined Alexander Hleb, Robin van Persie, William Gallas, Freddie Ljungberg and Johan Djourou on the sidelines, while midfielder Gilberto Silva is suspended.

Despite those absentees, Wenger has so far opted not to sign reinforcements in the transfer window and played down reports that he had made a bid for Southampton left-back Gareth Bale.

"He (Bale) is a potentially great player, but I am not in the race because I have two left-backs, Wenger said. "We will not buy anyobody."