Robin Van Persie's late strike helped Arsenal to grab their 10th straight win and send them back to the top of the Barclays Premier League, despite throwing away a two-goal lead at home to Sunderland.

A superb piece of skill on the edge of the box from Arsenal substitute Theo Walcott set up the Dutchman to drill in the winner with 10 minutes left.

The hosts had raced ahead inside the opening quarter of an hour through a brilliant free-kick from Van Persie and Philippe Senderos' close-range effort.

However, Sunderland pulled a goal back through Ross Wallace, and were then level after the break when Kenwyne Jones headed in. Van Persie - with his third goal of the week - may have won it late on, but Wenger will know there will be more similar tests to pass if they are to indeed become genuine title challengers again this season.

Arsenal started brightly and it was no surprise when they took the lead after seven minutes. Grant Leadbitter pushed over Cesc Fabregas in a central position 20 yards out. Abou Diaby lashed the loose ball into the net just after the referee's whistle - but the home side did not have to wait long for a goal.

Van Persie, on target in Romania earlier this week, set himself for the resulting free-kick - and promptly smashed a superb left-footed effort in off the underside of the crossbar.

Craig Gordon, the Sunderland keeper, could not do much about that simply unstoppable shot, but the big Scot soon produced a fine reaction save.

Right-back Bacary Sagna skipped away down the flank, and his centre sat up perfectly for Emmanuel Adebayor. The Togo striker leap above the defence to power a header goalwards, but Gordon acrobatically tipped the ball over.

However, after 14 minutes, it was 2-0, with Gordon again let down horribly by his defence. Sunderland failed to clear their lines from a corner on the left. The ball was sent back across into the danger area.

Diaby's mis-kick saw it roll through to Philippe Senderos - who stabbed a low shot into the bottom right corner for a first Arsenal goal since January 2006.

The visitors were in danger of getting torn apart at every attack. Sunderland were fortunate not to have been further behind after 20 minutes when Alexander Hleb's cross was swept in at the far post by Diaby - only for the assistant to flag for what looked a poor offside call against Mathieu Flamini in the middle.

Sunderland snatched a lifeline in the 24th minute. A long punt up field saw Jones get ahead of full-back Gael Clichy. His angled shot was well saved by Manuel Almunia.

However, the loose ball fell to Ross Wallace on the edge of the area, who controlled it on his chest before calmly stroking it into the net. Sunderland were understandably lifted by the goal, and suddenly found themselves with a spell of possession in the Arsenal half.

However, the Gunners were dangerous on the counter attack. Van Persie let fly with a fierce effort from 25 yards following a quick break, which Gordon tipped over.

From the resulting corner on the right, Senderos lost his marker at the far post, but somehow the Swiss defender headed wide from four yards.

However, Sunderland were back on level terms within three minutes of the restart. The ball was worked out to Liam Miller on the left. His deep cross looped into the Arsenal six-yard box, and Jones got up above Clichy to send a downward header past Almunia - to the clear delight of the massed travelling ranks behind the goal.

Arsenal were within inches of going ahead again when Kolo Toure picked the ball up and cracked a 30-yard screamer goalwards, which came back off the inside of Gordon's right-hand post.

Walcott, sent on with 33 minutes left, had his moment to grab the headlines when Hleb got inside down the left and cut the ball back to the far post, but he completely missed his kick from four yards.

However, the former Southampton trainee redeemed himself when he showed great close control to step his marker on the edge of the box and put in Van Persie, who drilled a low shot past Gordon into the bottom right corner.

Sunderland finished the game with 10 men when Paul McShane was shown a straight red for clattering into Hleb with his knee when the Arsenal winger was on the floor. Walcott struck the base of the post in stoppage time with an angle drive from the right, but by then it did not matter.