Alexis Sanchez scored twice to give Arsenal their first win – though controversial – in as many games with a 2-0 victory over Hull City at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners had suffered terrible set-back in their title challenge after consecutive defeats to Watford and Chelsea but will have some positives to take from the match.
Hull City have not had it rosy on the road this campaign and have now gone 12 Premier League away games without a win, the joint-longest current run in the top-flight this season with Leicester City.
Serving the last match of his four-match ban Arsene Wenger was pleased with the outcome which seemed to have eased some pressure on him and the win has moved them up to third in the table, nine points behind leaders Chelsea.
Sanchez opened the scoring in the 34th minutes via a goal that went in off his hand but was allowed to stand. Kieran Gibbs’s shot was scrambled off the line by Andy Robertson but Sanchez followed it up with a shot that struck Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic before rebounding into the net off the Chilean’s hand.
He added the second in injury time from the penalty spot after Sam Clucas had been sent off for handball from Lucas Perez’s header.
Wenger’s men were not really back to their best but the win came timely as they prepared for their Champions League tie against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Referee Mark Clattenburg was said to have apologised to Hull players after the first half for Sanchez first goal.