Arsenal survived a scare in the first half to notch up their first league win their three matches as they beat Everton 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Everton had taken a shock lead in the ninth minute through Leon Osman but a brilliant come back by Arsenal in the second half saw them first equalize through Samir Nasri in the 48th minute before Robin Van Persie put them in the lead 10 minutes past the hour mark while Theo Walcott completed the proceedings with a third in the final minute of the match.

The Gunners went into the match on the back of some disappointing displays against Hull City and Sunderland in their last two matches and looked set to drop more points when Osman scored for Everton after linking up well with Steven Pienaar in the 9th minute.

Arsenal stepped up a gear after conceding the goal and though Kolo Toure and Nasri had decent chances to score, Everton hung on to their lead till the half time whistle. Wenger replaced Toure with Walcott after the Ivorian defender suffered a bruised shoulder and the move paid instant dividends as the Gunners equalized three minutes into the second half after Silvestre played in Nasri for the Frenchman to convert from close range.

Van Persie had a great chance to put Arsenal in the lead minutes later but was unable to hit the target from 12 yards out. The Dutch striker made amends for his mistake in the 70th minute when Howard parried Fabregas' shot straight to Van Persie who was left with a simple header from eight yards out.

Walcott got a deserved goal in the final minute of the game after he exchanged passes with Diaby before slotting the ball past Howard to score Arsenal's third goal of the night.