ARSENE Wenger this evening (Saturday) hailed an “important win” for Arsenal after they overcame a battling Sunderland side in a crucial 3-1 victory.

It was a stuttering display on a blustery afternoon at the Emirates, and the Gunners boss admitted it was a “nervy” first half against the resurgent Black Cats.

But the win, their first in four league matches, catapults Arsenal above both Manchester clubs to second place in the Premier League table.

Wenger said: “It was not perfect. I was more nervous today as I knew it was a very important game to our season."

Acknowledging the visitors’ counter-attacking threat, he added: "You have to give credit to Sunderland who were well organised and always dangerous on the break."

And the margin of victory was flattering for the hosts, who are suffering their customary mid-season injury crisis.

A lethargic start underlined how they may suffer without first-choice central midfielder Santi Cazorla, who has been ruled out for four months, and star forward Alexis Sanchez, who is facing at least three weeks on the sidelines. Both were injured last week against Norwich. Sunderland initially looked far the brighter team. Forward Fabio Borini had perhaps the best chance after being fed a diagonal pass by the impressive Duncan Watmore but his shot did not trouble Arsenal keeper Petr Čech.

But Sam Allardyce’s team failed to capitalise, and it was Arsenal’s Joel Campbell, later singled out by Wenger for his “very positive” contribution, who took the wind out of the visitors’ sails to put the Gunners ahead in the 33rd minute, latching onto an inch-perfect Mesut Özil pass.

It was the German international’s 16th assist of the season, and his languid brilliance continued throughout the 90 minutes, drawing spontaneous cheers of approval from the stands as he left opponents sprawling in his wake.

Sunderland’s efforts were rewarded after Olivier Giroud allowed them back into the game just before half-time, shinning Yann M’Vila’s free-kick past Čech into the back of his own net.

The Frenchman managed to atone in the second half when, to his obvious relief, he scored a diving header from an Aaron Ramsey, propelling Arsenal back in front.

Theo Walcott returned from injury to replace a frustrated Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and was a lively addition to the attack, although too often failed to get in behind the Sunderland defence.

The game remained in the balance and tensions ran high but a series of superb saves from Čech helped the Gunners to cling on before the industrious Ramsey finally sealed the victory by poking home a third Arsenal goal in injury time.

After a gruelling November it was a crucial win for Arsenal into second place below surprise league leaders Leicester City, with no more injuries to add to the tally before a do-or-die Champions League clash with Olympiakos in Greece on Wednesday.

ARSENAL: Cech, Bellerin, Monreal, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Flamini, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Walcott 64), Ozil, Campbell (Gibbs 76), Giroud (Chambers 80)
Subs not used: Ospina, Debuchy, Gabriel, Iwobi
Attendance: 59,937