Robin van Persie lifted the gloom around Arsenal as the Dutch forward’s double, which included a 29-second opener, clinched a much-needed 2-1 win over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.
Van Persie insisted in the club’s match-day programme that he has no intention of following Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri out of the Emirates and then underlined his commitment with a man of the match display capped by a brilliant winner with just eight minutes left.
Arsene Wenger’s side kicked off just two points above the relegation zone after their worst start to a season for 58 years.
But Arsenal will always be a threat while they have Van Persie and the Gunners captain showed his class with a cool finish after only 29 seconds.
Sunderland gave the ball away from the kick-off and when Gervinho crossed low into the penalty area, Van Persie dummied Wes Brown before firing past Simon Mignolet to score the club’s fastest ever league goal and the quickest in the top flight this season.
Former Arsenal winger Sebastian Larsson equalised in sublime fashion as the Swede curled a brilliant shot beyond Wojciech Szczesny in the 31st minute.
But Van Persie saved his best until last as he stepped up to bend a superb free-kick over the Sunderland wall and into the top corner in the 82nd minute.
That was enough to give Arsenal only their third win in eight league games and lift Wenger’s men into 10th place.
Shola Ameobi came off the bench to preserve Newcastle’s unbeaten start to the season with a late equaliser in his side’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham at St James’ Park.
Rafael van der Vaart put Tottenham ahead in the 40th minute when he slotted home a penalty after Steven Taylor tripped Emmanuel Adebayor.
Ba equalised with his fifth goal in three games when he stabbed a Jonas Gutierrez cross goalwards in the 48th minute and goalkeeper Brad Friedel couldn’t prevent it crossing the line.
Jermain Defoe restored Tottenham’s lead with a brilliant turn and shot that flashed past goalkeeper Tim Krul from the edge of the area in the 68th minute.
But Alan Pardew’s team have developed a resilient streak this term and substitute Ameobi equalised with a thunderous left-footed drive across Friedel in the 86th minute.
Earlier, West Brom climbed out of the relegation zone after defeating bitter rivals Wolves 2-0 at the Hawthorns.
Summaries
Arsenal 2
Van Persie 1, 82;
Sunderland 1
Larsson 31;
HT: 1-1. Att: 60,078.
Newcastle 2
Ba 48; Ameobi 86;
Tottenham 2
Van der Vaart 40 pen; Defoe 68;
HT: 0-1. Att: 46,420.
West Brom 2
Brunt 8; Odemwingie 75;
Wolves 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 24,872.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Man. City | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 6 | 22 |
| Man. United | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 6 | 20 |
| Chelsea | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 9 | 19 |
| Newcastle | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 16 |
| Liverpool | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 14 |
| Tottenham | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
| Stoke City | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 |
| Aston Villa | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 11 |
| Norwich | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Arsenal | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 17 | 10 |
| QPR | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 9 |
| West Brom | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 8 |
| Swansea | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 8 |
| Fulham | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Everton | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 7 |
| Wolves | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 7 |
| Sunderland | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Bolton | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 22 | 6 |
| Wigan | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 5 |
| Blackburn | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 5 |
The Championship
Birmingham vs Leicester - 2-0
League One
Sheff. United vs Sheff. Wed - 2-2