Emmanuel Adebayor came off the bench to inspire Arsenal to victory over West Ham United at Upton Park.
The Togo international created the breakthrough after 75 minutes when his cross-shot was turned into his own net by West Ham full-back Julien Faubert.
As the Hammers pushed for an injury time equaliser, Adebayor finished off an incisive counter-attack by rounding Robert Green to rifle home the second. West Ham finished the game with 10 men after Carlton Cole was sent off in injury time for a foul on Alexander Song.
Arsenal were quick to test West Ham with a dangerous angled run from England international Theo Walcott but Hammers keeper Rob Green was equal to the low cross shot.
Silvestre almost let in Di Michele with a mis-kick before the Italian's 25-yard drive forced Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia into a neat tip over the bar.
Bendtner tried his luck from outside the area as Arsenal struggled to prise open the West Ham defence, which seemed content to sit back and allow the Gunners to play in front of them.
Walcott took on the responsibility to inject some pace and invention into the Arsenal game with a brilliantly tricky run that carried him past two West Ham defenders and into the box.
Van Persie was screaming for the ball to be pulled back towards the penalty spot but Walcott went himself and his fierce shot deflected off the cross-bar and over.
Green then came racing off his line to pluck the ball away from Bendtner, who was chasing a well-weighted ball over the West Ham defence.
Arsenal had found their rhythm. Cesc Fabregas lifted a delicate ball into the box which Van Persie chested down for Walcott.
The teenager held off his man and seemed certain to score only for Green to pull off a fantastic save, turning the ball behind with a dive low to his right.
West Ham needed something to relieve the pressure and they almost managed to sting Arsenal with a quick-fire counter-attack as Scott Parker sent Bellamy racing clear through the middle.
adventurous style
The Wales international created the angle but Almunia did well to get his leg to Bellamy's low drive and the ball deflected high and over the bar.
With West Ham playing the adventurous style Gianfranco Zola promised when he arrived, and Arsenal's youngsters in the groove, the match opened up into a feast of attacking football.
Bendtner should have done better to meet an inviting cross from the left but he then drew another excellent save from Green as he cut in from the left and attempted a curling shot inside the far post.
West Ham counter-attacked again. Bellamy's pace was causing Arsenal's centre-back pair of Gallas and Silvestre trouble but his final ball aimed at Di Michele was disappointing.
After Scott Parker was booked for a stiff challenge on Fabregas, Herita Ilunga almost picked out Cole with a low cross.
Samir Nasri linked well on the edge of the West Ham box but was closed down well and his shot squirted wide for a corner, which Walcott won but headed over the bar.
At the other end, West Ham forced a corner which Matthew Upson met with his chest but the ball skipped away from him and Almunia pounced.
Gael Clichy was booked for a reckless challenge on Hayden Mullins. Cole met the away-swinging free-kick but directed his header just wide of Almunia's right post.
Nasri was involved again, teeing up Walcott whose low cross forced Collins into a late interception and he managed to lift the ball over the bar and away to safety.
Collins was in action again when Van Persie stole in at the far post but the physical centre-back forced himself in front of the Dutchman and Green mopped up.
double change
West Ham then had three separate appeals for handball in the area turned down before Bellamy launched another counter-attack and was cynically blocked by Alexander Song, who was booked. The intensity was rising.
Bellamy switched wings and burst into the Arsenal box but could not quite tee up Lee Bowyer and Gallas combined with Almunia to clear the danger.
Arsenal went close again when Collins managed to get a foot to Walcott's low drive and Bowyer then blocked Van Persie's follow-up.
With 25 minutes remaining Wenger made a double change with Diaby and Adebayor replacing Nasri and Walcott.
Adebayor had a chance with his first touch as he rose to meet the corner but he could not direct the header on target.
The changes brought added urgency to Arsenal's game and Green was forced into a third magnificent save to deny Van Persie, who had cut in from the right flank to drive a low left-footed shot.
Van Persie then unleashed a stinging free-kick which had Green beaten but cannoned off the far post and rebounded clear.
West Ham could not relieve the pressure and Adebayor finally engineered the breakthrough.
He latched onto a neat ball from Van Persie and rode two challenges inside the area before pulling a low shot back across goal which Faubert turned into his own net.
Adebayor exchanged passes with Bendtner to break into the West Ham box but his first strike was blocked by Green and he fired the rebound over the bar.
As the clock ticked into injury time West Ham laid siege and had another good handball shout turned down after the ball struck Diaby's arm.
Arsenal broke the length of the field and Adebayor rounded Green, who had rushed out of his box, to fire in the second and seal the win. In the closing seconds, Cole was sent off for a foul on Song.
