Jack Wilshere (L) played his first Premier League game for Arsenal in 17 months

BBC

Mikel Arteta's late winner finally ended bottom-club QPR's resistance as Arsenal ended a turbulent week with a vital Premier League win.

Arteta poked in from close range, after his initial header hit the QPR crossbar, as Arsenal bounced back from defeats by Norwich and Schalke.

The winner came moments after QPR's Stephane M'Bia was sent off for kicking out at Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen, reports the BBC.

QPR's Esteban Granero and Jamie Mackie spurned glorious injury-time chances.

England midfielder Jack Wilshere played 67 minutes as he made his first senior Arsenal appearance for 17 months.

In other games, Fulham battled Reading to a 3-3 draw, while, while Stoke and Sunderland played goalless and Wigan survived a late West Ham rally to win 2-1.

In the early kick off Aston Villa and Norwich played 1-1.

EPL RESULTS

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Norwich

Arsenal 1 - 0 QPR

Reading 3 - 3 Fulham

Stoke 0 - 0 Sunderland

Wigan 2 - 1 West Ham