Arsenal have won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season after dispatching Brighton in an entertaining encounter at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger's side followed up last week's 2-0 win over West Brom with a 2-0 victory in Sunday's early kick off.
Summer signing Alexandre Lacazette came within inches of handing Arsenal the perfect start when his long-range effort crashed against the post in the second minute. And the home fans did not have to wait long for a goal after full-back Nacho Monreal swept home 16 minutes in.
It wasn't so much Total Football as total chaos with Brighton repeatedly failing to clear their lines but it set the Gunners on their way to victory.
The hosts had numerous chances to double their lead and it was no surprise that Alexis Sanchez had a hand in the second. He took the ball past two defenders before his neat backheel set up a fine Alex Iwobi finish.
Determined to get on the scoresheet himself, the Chilean spent much of the second half ignoring his team-mates and adopting a 'shoot on sight' policy. It did not bear fruit but the Gunners held on for the win to move level on points with champions Chelsea.
1. Arsenal on the right path
After a predictably volatile start to the season that saw fan protests, disappointment away to Stoke and a humbling at Anfield, Arsenal are back on track and are unbeaten since the beginning of September.
Nobody who has watched every minutes of them this season would pretend those early problems have disappeared but fans should not deny themselves a little optimism.
Strong runs often begin with hard fought, if nervy, wins. Flowing performances will follow with the confidence brought by victories. Like many before them, those predicting Armageddon may have to wait a little longer
2. Hemed absence keenly felt
Wherever Brighton fans stand on the debate about Tomer Hemed's ban, they can surely agree his absence was felt today. The suspended forward had two goals in his last three games but had to watch this one on television after stamping on DeAndre Yedlin last week.
Brighton spent much of the match on the back foot but had chances of their own, particularly in the first half. Had they taken one of them against a nervous Arsenal team, this match could have turned out very differently.
3. Still no game time for triumvirate of talent
We're into the third month of the season but Arsenal fans are yet to see Mesut Ozil, Sanchez and Lacazette on the pitch at the same time. Ask Arsene Wenger and he'll attribute that quirk to a combination of Ozil's injury, Sanchez's fitness and Lacazette settling in... but there may be more to it.
Wenger has history when it comes to prioritising technique and agility over physicality and hard graft, but even he may be concerned about that trio's tendency to put to track back.
Wenger knows he has to balance graft and talent throughout the team. It will be extremely interesting to see who he picks as first choice front three when they are all fit.
4. Iwobi adds goals to his game
Even for a player as young as Iwobi, four goals in 38 appearances last season was a disappointing return. For all his neat dribbling and brilliant movement, the Nigerian's finishing often seems a little limp.
There was nothing half-hearted about his goal today, though, as he showed the killer instinct Wenger has long been calling for.
5. The wait goes on for Brighton
Playing Arsenal rarely leads to much joy for Brighton and their new top flight status has not changed that fact. They have only ever beaten them twice and the last time the south coast side avoided defeat against the Gunners was in 1982 when they nicked a 1-0 win in the old First Division.
Since then they've lost two league fixtures and three cup games. You could forgive the travelling support for wondering why they made the trip north.