Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hailed a "great response" from his team in the 4-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday as the Gunners answered an equaliser from the hosts with three quick goals.
Arsenal dominated much of the game but looked in danger of dropping points for the second straight Premier League match when Jermain Defoe pulled the Black Cats level midway through the second half from the penalty spot.
However, substitute Olivier Giroud scored with his first two touches to make it 3-1 and Alexis Sanchez netted his second goal minutes later to end any resistance at the Stadium of Light.
"We had again a great response," Wenger said. "In the Premier League at 1-1 you have as well many chances to lose the game. And we were questioned. It was, how do we respond to that? Do we panic, or do we give up, or do we feel sorry for ourselves? Or do we go again for it? And we responded well."
The win put Arsenal temporarily three points clear top of the standings, with Manchester City and Liverpool able to join them with wins later. And Wenger said it was important to get back to winning ways after a disappointing 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough last weekend.
"If you don't win two games on the trot, people question you straight away and it gets in the team as well and the doubt creeps in," Wenger told the BBC. "So it's important always after a disappointment to respond with sharpness, and that's what we did today."
But Wenger said he was worried after Defoe's equaliser, which came after Arsenal had spurned several chances for a second goal and had their own penalty appeal waved away when Sanchez was pulled down in the box.
"You think: 'Here we are.' Because we missed so many chances, so many opportunities, so many times the final ball was a bit short or a bit long," Wenger said. "Then of course I was even worried we could lose the game. Because you never know, when a team sometimes feel they missed so many chances they feel we deserve to be punished today. But we have shown great strength to bounce back."
Giroud's instant impact showed he can still have a big part to play for this team despite Sanchez now being the first-choice central striker for Wenger, after the France international made his return in midweek from a toe injury.
Aaron Ramsey also made his return from a hamstring injury in the second half, his first appearance since the opening day of the season, giving Wenger even more selection headaches going forward.
"We have plenty of options up front, and in the middle of the park as well. So it's interesting," Wenger said. "If we keep united, focused and of course all together and motivated, we can win some games."