Arsenal 2, Fulham 1.

Arsene Wenger believes yesterday's dramatic first-day victory over Fulham could already have been a turning point in Arsenal's season.

The Gunners looked to be heading for a shock defeat at Emirates Stadium, where new boy David Healy had fired the visitors into the lead after just 52 seconds following a Jens Lehmann mistake.

However, after being thwarted by a superb performance from stand-in Fulham goalkeeper Tony Warner - who started after Antti Niemi injured himself during the warm-up - a late penalty from Robin van Persie levelled matters, before Alexander Hleb won it for Arsenal in the final minute.

Wenger knows the importance of a good start for his young squad, now without inspirational Thierry Henry who was sold to Barcelona over the summer.

With the first leg of a crucial Champions League qualifier coming up next week, the Arsenal manager feels the recovery can have positive repercussions.

The Frenchman said: ''We had a horrible start and were playing against a good Fulham side, a good goalkeeper.

''Apart from that, we were resilient, didn't give up for 90 minutes, were physically and mentally strong.

''This is the kind of result that can change a season for a team. It's a positive start.''

The Arsenal boss - who rates summer signing Eduardo da Silva as '50-50' for the midweek trip to Prague - was in good spirits following the victory.

He added: ''I read I'm cracking up under the pressure.

''I think it's linked that I have to make an ECG for my life insurance, and I came out of a hospital somewhere.

''If I'm sick, I'm ignoring it, so it's all good. I wasn't stressed because the players gave everything."

Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez was less than impressed by what he saw as ''blatant simulation'' from some of the Arsenal players.