Arsene Wenger conveyed his relief to come through a difficult match against Sunderland 3-1 winners.
The Gunners bounced back from three games without a win in the league to secure a vital three points.
Olivier Giroud’s own goal before half-time gave a glimmer of hope to the visitors, after Joel Campbell notched the opener, but he made amends after the interval to regain the lead before Aaron Ramsey poached a late nerve settler.
Wenger couldn’t hide the importance of the win.
It was a very important game for us tonight because we came out of three disappointing results. We had lost only one game but I think it was a very, very important game for us today, psychologically, for the fact we had not won, for the fact we had lost important players in our side and we had to show that we can win.
We were edgy and nervy in the first half against a very organised team who were dangerous on the counter-attack but in the second half I think we have shown mental strength and desire in our game and more fluency as well.
All was not perfect of course but the team have shown mental strength after a goal before half-time.
There were some jitters late on with the game poised and Arsenal holding the lead only by a goal.
Duncan Watmore threatened whilst Patrick van Aanholt fired over the bar, but Wenger’s men remained resolute, which delighted the Arsenal manager.
I was more nervous today as I knew it was a very important game to our season today. I felt Sunderland would be very good on the day on the counter-attack and at free-kicks. We played to not give many free-kicks away while they played to get free-kicks so they did that well.
Having lost key players like Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin, two players who have started most games in midfield, it was going to take time getting used to a shuffled side.
The Frenchman knew the Black Cats would be tough to beat.
I thought it was important to keep our nerves at first. They were dangerous with Fletcher and Watmore, and their full-backs could have exposed us, so it was important not to concede the second goal. I believe it was also important to get behind their midfield, behind Ola Toivonen and M’Vila and to find space in between their centre backs.
