Andrei Arshavin scored the winner as Arsenal beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 in the English Premier League on Saturday, dpa reported.
Theo Walcott had given Arsenal the lead, but Mama Biram Diouf levelled, raising the spectre of dropped points at Ewood Park yet again for Arsenal.
But six minutes into the second half, Arshavin struck the winner to take Arsenal to seven points from three games this season.
Arsenal had been coming under a little pressure early on, Christopher Samba heading just over, when Walcott put them ahead after 20 minutes.
It was a typical Walcott goal, cutting in from the right as the ball was worked across from the left, running on to Robin van Persie's through-ball and firing the ball across goal and in at the far post.
The shot was powerful enough to burst the net, leading to a brief delay at the beginning of the second half as the hole was noticed and repaired.
Blackburn levelled after 26 minutes, Samba bringing the ball out from the back and spreading the ball left for El-Hadji Diouf. He darted into the box and squared for Mame Biram Diouf to knock in at the far post.
Arsenal then lost Van Persie to injury, the Netherlands forward limping off to be replaced by Marouane Chamakh.
They never really settled, and certainly didn't produce anything like the fluency they showed against Blackpool last week, but Arsenal regained the lead six minutes into the second half.
Cesc Fabregas's shot from Bacary Sagna was blocked, but Arshavin followed in to make it 2-1.
From then on Arsenal were in control, and underlined their title credentials as they went, temporarily at least, to the top of the Premier League.
Chelsea, the only side to win their opening two fixtures, were set to play Stoke City later in the afternoon.
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