London: Robin van Persie gave Arsenal's stuttering Premier League campaign a boost on Sunday by curling home a late free kick to earn the team a 2-1 victory over Sunderland.
The Netherlands striker added to the opener he scored for the north London club after just 29 seconds by stepping up in the 83rd minute to hit the winner with a sublime effort from 25 yards for his fifth goal of the season.
Sweden winger Sebastian Larsson had equalized for Sunderland against his former club in the 31st minute with a free kick just as impressive as Van Persie's, but the struggling visitors failed to hold on in the face of a spirited late effort by the hosts.
Arsenal's third straight victory at the Emirates lifted them to 10th place in the table as Arsene Wenger's team looks to rebound after a poor start to the season that included an 8-2 defeat at Manchester United.
The Gunners look as if they will invariably have to lean heavily on Van Persie, the team's captain and attacking fulcrum, to have any chance of climbing back into the top four - where they have been habitually finished during Wenger's 15-year reign.
The Dutchman's first goal, which came when he ran onto Gervinho's through-ball and fired a low shot into the corner, was the quickest in the Premier League in nearly four years.
And after taking the lead, Arsenal appeared ready to run away as Van Persie chipped a superb angled shot back off the far post in the 12th minute before curling just wide from 25 yards soon after.
Sunderland's defence appeared at a standstill as Gervinho fired over from a good position before a dip by the hosts allowed Sunderland to get back in it at the Emirates stadium.
Sunderland scored against the run of play after Mikel Arteta was penalized for handball, with Larsson stepping up to whip a shot into the top corner beyond the reach of Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Szczesny then scrambled across his line to make a point-blank stop to Lee Cattermole's close-range header before Jack Colback volleyed over from 10 yards.
Arsenal re-established their authority in the second half but failed to seriously test Sunderland 'keeper Simon Mignolet, increasing the frustrations of the home crowd.
Russia forward Andrey Arshavin came close to putting Arsenal ahead after the substitute embarked on a run in the 73rd that took him past four players before poking his shot narrowly wide.
Van Persie, however, stepped up to rescue Arsenal with a late winner that showed how important he will be to the Gunners following the off-season departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.
Recent reports have suggested Van Persie may look to leave the struggling club, who are uncharacteristically 10th in the table after eight games.
Before the match, Van Persie said he was "committed" to Arsenal but hasn't confirmed he will sign a new contract. His current deal ends in 2013.
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