Facing a side in their first match under a new manager is never easy and it can sometimes bring renewed belief to a team.
Swansea are always a tough team to face anyway and, with Bob Bradley taking charge for the first time, it had the potential to be a very tricky encounter and so it proved with us edging it 3-2 despite having 10 men.
Theo Walcott struck twice to take his tally for the season to seven in all competitions, but it was birthday boy Mesut Ozil who netted the decisive goal with a delightful volley.
Granit Xhaka's straight red card meant playing the final 20 minutes with 10 men and we could have fallen apart at this point, but we managed to hold on to the victory when in a previous season we might have lost it.
It is still far too early to really tell which direction our season is heading, but results are encouraging and as things stand we are second and only behind leaders Manchester City on goal difference so let's hope we can keep up the good work.
Arsenal started brightly and came close to opening the scoring after 12 minutes when Shkodran Mustafi's header hit the crossbar while, at the other end, Leroy Fer failed to take advantage of the space he was given and blazed his effort over.
The Gunners broke the deadlock after 26 minutes and, although Walcott took his goal well, Swansea will have been really disappointed with their defending. Walcott passed to Sanchez, who then lofted the ball over to Hector Bellerin and the Spanish full-back headed back across goal. Jordi Amat controlled it poorly and failed to clear the danger, allowing Walcott to nip in and score from close range.
Sanchez saw his lob sail just off target before Bellerin's shot was well blocked behind for a corner by former Gunner Lukasz Fabianksi. But it wasn't too long before Walcott was adding his second goal. The Swansea defence again failed to clear the danger properly and Walcott controlled the loose ball before turning and sending a shot beyond Fabianski from close range.
Swansea reduced the deficit seven minutes before the break as Gylfi Sigurdsson dispossessed Xhaka and curled a shot beyond Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal.
The visitors then wasted the chance to level matters before the break as Amat sent his header straight into the grateful hands of Cech.
It was hard to know which way this game was going to swing as Fabianski kept out Walcott's first-time strike to keep the Swans in the game. But birthday boy Ozil gave Arsenal some breathing space after 57 minutes. Sanchez sent a deep cross into the box and Ozil met it with a finely struck volley into the top corner.
Swansea refused to give up and cut the gap to just one goal after 66 minutes. Barrow had been giving Nacho Monreal a torrid afternoon and he once again got the better of the Spanish defender before sending in a low cross for Borja to slot home.
The visitors' hopes of a comeback were further boosted when Arsenal midfielder Xhaka was sent off with 20 minutes still left to play. The Switzerland international saw red for a clumsy trip from behind on Barrow.
Swansea had chances to make the extra man count, but were unable to make the most of them. Wayne Routledge crossed for Barrow in plenty of space, but the 24-year-old didn't get enough on his header and it was comfortably saved by Cech. Barrow continued to cause a threat though and got the better of Monreal once again before crossing into the box for Sigurdsson, but the midfielder fired over.
At the other end Walcott then missed the opportunity to complete his hat-trick when his shot hit the inside of a post.
Swansea wasted two late chances to snatch a point as Fer headed straight at Cech, who also produced a diving save to keep out Federico Fernandez.
Arsenal finished the game on top and created a few chances in injury time as Fabianski kept out Bellerin before Walcott somehow skied over from Oxlade-Chamberlain's perfectly-timed pass, but it didn't stop the hosts from holding on for the win.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Swansea fan Lisa Phillips saw enough positives from the game to not be too disheartened by the result.
"I thought we played well even though we didn't have many chances," said Phillips. "Arsenal probably deserved the win, but it was nice for the Swans to have an exciting game for once."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
I am refusing to get carried away with our start to the season but, at this stage, I'll take being second and behind only on goal difference.
We need to be consistent to give ourselves any chance of a serious title challenge, but some of the early signs are encouraging so let's wait and see what happens.
Focus now switches to the Champions League and the visit of Ludogorets. We will definitely go into that one as firm favourites, but we must make sure we don't underestimate any of our opponents this season. Let's keep plugging away and keep on winning!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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