Arsenal defeated Aston Villa 4-2 at Villa Park to go top of the Premiership for a few hours at least. Villa have not beaten Arsenal at home since 1998 and there seemed little likelihood of that record being broken as the Gunners deservedly went in at the break 2-0 ahead.
And despite a spirited fightback by the hosts in the second half the Gunners always had the edge to claim a worthy three points.
Andrey Arshavin opened the scoring six minutes before half-time and Samir Nasri volleyed number two on 45 minutes.
Ciaran Clark, with the first of a brace, gave Villa hope immediately after the restart but Marouane Chamakh quickly restored Arsenal's two goal advantage.
With twenty minutes remaining Clark claimed his second to set up an interesting finish but Jack Wilshere sealed the win with a diving header in injury time.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Venue: Villa Park Attendance: 38,544
Aston Villa scorers: Clark 52, 70 Arsenal scorers: Arshavin 39, Nasri 45, Chamakh 56, Wilshere 90
ASTON VILLA 01 Friedel 02 L Young 03 Warnock 05 Dunne 21 Clark (yellow card) 29 Collins 06 Downing 07 Young 08 Pires (Delfouneso 46) 25 Bannan (Herd 86) 10 Carew (Ireland 66)
Substitutes 22 Guzan, 23 Beye, 30 Lichaj, 09 Ireland, 28 Hogg, 31 Herd, 14 Delfouneso
ARSENAL 21 Fabianski 03 Sagna 06 Koscielny 18 Squillaci 22 Clichy 07 Rosicky (Djourou 90+4) 08 Nasri (Gibbs 85) 17 A Song 19 Wilshere 23 Arshavin (Denilson 85) 29 Chamakh
Substitutes 53 Szczesny, 20 Djourou, 28 Gibbs, 14 Walcott, 15 Denilson, 10 Van Persie, 52 Bendtner
