Aaron Ramsey pounce on a loose ball late in the game to score Arsenal's second goal and secure a 2-1 victory over hard fighting Crystal Palace during their opening match of 2014/2015 EPL season.
Having won the FA Cup last season after a nine year wait for silver wear, Arsene Wenger's side kickstart their season on a brilliant note believing they are capable of winning the Premier League for the first time since 2004.
It was not all rosy however as the FA Cup champions suffered a scare when Brede Hangeland headed in from a corner in the first half to give Palace the lead.
Laurent Koscielny equalised before the break, but the manager-less visitors, who saw boss Tony Pulis leave on the eve of the season due to a row over transfer policy, were able to keep Arsenal at bay for long periods.
The turning point came when Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon was dismissed for two yellow cards near the end and Ramsey, who scored 18 goals last season including a winner in the FA Cup final, was in the right place at the right time to force home another vital goal in the first minute of stoppage time.
Having seen his side rout Premier League champions Manchester City 3-0 to lift the Community Shield last week, Wenger had decided to name an unchanged line-up.
Yaya Sanogo started up front instead of Olivier Giroud, summer signing, Alexis Sanchez, Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy were handed their League debut for the club.
Palace had bigger concerns after Pulis's shock decision to walk out following a dispute with the board over signings.
The former Stoke manager had been frustrated to have been handed just Hangeland, Fraizer Campbell and Martin Kelly. All three were given debuts by caretaker manager Keith Millen and the Palace new-boys were instrumental in their team's stubborn display.
Sanchez made an instant impact on the right and his skills helped Jack Wilshere find Ramsey in the penalty area.
The Wales midfielder went down under Scott Dann's challenge but play continued.
Sanogo was making little headway but Sanchez was full of confidence and the Chile winger tried his luck from distance with a chip that drifted just wide.
Palace were content to defend in numbers and Campbell cut an isolated figure up front.
Sanogo poked a shot poorly wide before Wilshere tested Julian Speroni in the Palace goal for the first time with a low drive diverted round a post for a corner.
Palace's response was to take a 35th-minute lead through former Fulham centre-back Hangeland, who came charging through and rose highest to head home Puncheon's corner.
Arsenal's marking had been poor but they were level just before the break when French defender Koscielny escaped Hangeland and stayed on-side by a fraction to head in Sanchez's free-kick.
Arsenal made two changes early in the second half, with Nacho Monreal replacing Kieran Gibbs at left-back and Giroud coming on for Sanogo, to the home fans' approval.
A third switch soon followed when Wilshere, hurt by Marouane Chamakh, was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Kelly was booked for a foul on Sanchez as Palace defended by any means possible, with Puncheon picking up a second yellow in the final minute.
The 10 men were seconds away from escaping with a point, but they were undone when Giroud won a header at the back post and Debuchy swiveled to fire in a shot that Speroni could only parry to Ramsey, who gracefully fired home the rebound from just two yards.
Ramsey's goal gift the gunners their first victory in the opening game of the English Premier League since the 6-1 victory over Everton in 2009.
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