( CNN ) -- Arsenal moved to within three points of leaders Chelsea at the top of the English Premier League after Cesc Fabregas inspired them to a 2-0 victory at Bolton to spoil new manager Owen Coyle 's first match in charge . Captain Fabregas produced an impressive display on his return from a hamstring injury and scored his 10th league goal of the season in the 28th minute after a neat one-two with Eduardo . His surging run then led to substitute and fellow-Spaniard Fran Merida scoring the second 12 minutes from time as former Wanderers player Coyle 's reign at the Reebok Stadium got off to a losing start . With these two teams due to meet in the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday , Arsene Wenger 's side could well take over at the top of the table in the next few days . Bolton remain second from bottom , with Coyle having swapped one relegation battle with Burnley for another . Earlier in the day , Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen put the seal on his side 's long-awaited return to winning ways as they overcame Fulham 2-0 at Ewood Park . Nelsen applied the finish to Benni McCarthy 's 54th-minute free-kick to put Rovers within touching distance of their first three-point haul since November . Defender Chris Samba had earlier settled the home side 's nerves with a fortuitous 24th-minute opener after he ricocheted home an attempted clearance by former Blackburn winger Damien Duff . In the day 's other match , Aston Villa failed to cash in on slip-ups by their Champions League-chasing rivals after being held 0-0 at home by West Ham . Villa could have closed the gap on the top four after Manchester City , beaten at Everton , and Tottenham , held at home by Hull , both dropped points on Saturday . But a combination of a below-par performance and some fine saves by Robert Green meant they had to settle for their first goalless draw of the league campaign .
Arsenal move to within 2 points of Chelsea at the top of the English Premier League . Returning captain Cesc Fabregas scores three goal and makes the other in a one -0 win at Bolton . The result spoils the debut of new Owen Coyle manager Owen Coyle following his switch from Chelsea .