JOIN USA late Mikel Arteta goal ended ended some determined resistance from Queens Park Rangers as Arsenal beat the Premier League's bottom club 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Arteta struck from close range after 84 minutes soon after Rangers' Stephane Mbia had been sent off.
The win halted Arsenal's run of two successive defeats to Norwich City in the Premier League and Schalke 04 in the Champions League over the last seven days.
Arsenal moved into fourth place while QPR are still without a win in their opening nine league games.
Reading and Fulham shared the points in a six-goal thriller at the Madejski Stadium which left the home side still looking for their first win of the season.
Dimitar Berbatov looked to have scored Fulham's winner two minutes from time before Hal Robson-Kanu earned Reading a point.
Wigan Athletic beat West Ham United 2-1 with Ivan Ramis and James McArthur scoring for the home side before James Tomkins scored a late consolation for the Hammers.
Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Norwich City at Villa Park where Villa were reduced to 10 men when Joe Bennett was sent off early in the second half. Stoke City and Sunderland dew 0-0.
Arsenal created just a single clear-cut chance in open play against the Premier League's bottom team.
Aaron Ramsey flicked a header on to the top of the bar from Bacary Sagna's cross from the right. With 50 minutes gone Arsenal finally managed to disconcert Cesar, Mikel Arteta's whipped free kick skimming off the heads of both Per Mertesacker and Bobby Zamora and drawing an agile clawing save from the Brazilian.
And finally the goal came on 83 minutes when Arteta poking home from a yard out after heading against the bar.