Olivier Giroud's third goal in as many games saw Arsenal end Tottenham Hotspur's 100% start to the season and win the North London derby.
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The Gunners began well and came close to scoring from two early Santi Cazorla free kicks.
The first was pushed away from goal by a sprawling Hugo Lloris and Cazorla cleverly side-footed the second under the jumping Spurs wall and inches wide of the post with Lloris rooted.
Arsene Wenger's men took the lead midway through the opening 45 minutes when Michael Dawson first played Theo Walcott onside and then allowed Giroud to run across him and neatly flick past Lloris from the England international's low cross.
Moments later it was almost 2-0 when Aaron Ramsey played in Walcott down the right and the winger shot low from a tight angle, with Lloris turning it away.
Spurs saw plenty of the ball but were restricted to shots from distance in the first half as Arsenal continued to look more threatening, with Ramsey blazing over and Walcott expertly dispossessed by Lloris.
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Wenger was forced to withdraw Wilshere before half time because of a reported stomach cramp. The Englishman was replaced by Mathieu Flamini.
The visitors continued to see more of the ball but they could not really test Wojciech Szczesny, while Lloris was again called upon to prevent Giroud doubling his and Arsenal's total in the 64th minute.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, Spurs introduced record signing Erik Lamela for his debut as another summer addition, Etienne Capoue, was stretchered off.
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The closest Spurs came to an equaliser was in the 75th minute when substitute Jermain Defoe's volley was deflected towards the corner and Szczesny adjusted himself to tip it wide.
Minutes later Arsenal could have wrapped up the victory when Giroud cut back for Walcott, whose shot was tipped away by Lloris, with the rebound cleared away from Nacho Monreal by Kyle Walker.
Five minutes of injury time were added and although Spurs lumped balls into the area, they were unable to snatch a leveller, with Walker mishitting the best chance of the final moments.
The win sees Arsenal join Tottenham, who lose their 100% record, on six points. The Gunners, Spurs and Stoke City have the same goal difference but it's Arsenal who lead the trio as they have scored more goals.
Pascal Lemesre
