Arsenal 1-0 Huddersfield Town: Lucas Torreira's late stunner sees hosts overcome Terriers
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Lucas Torreira now has two goals in two home games after scoring against Tottenham last week
Lucas Torreira scored a sublime bicycle kick late on to break Huddersfield's resistance and secure victory for Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
The visitors, who have slipped into the bottom three, had looked on course for a valuable point with a resolute defensive display.
But on 83 minutes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found room at the back post and deftly chipped across the six-yard box for Torreira to acrobatically volley in.
It was a rare moment of quality from the hosts, who failed to create regular chances, despite Alexandre Lacazette having a goal disallowed for offside shortly before the interval.
The France striker was replaced at half-time, with a slightly improved Arsenal scoring their 26th second-half goal of the season to extend their unbeaten run to 21 games in all competitions.
The Gunners briefly moved into the top four but slipped back to fifth after Chelsea and Tottenham won later on Saturday.
Second-half surges and sublime skill
Arsenal patience key against Terriers - Emery
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has now made 14 substitutions at the break in 16 league games this season, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi replacing Lacazette and Stephan Lichtsteiner here.
Once again the Spaniard's willingness to overhaul his side's approach paid off, with both substitutes stretching Huddersfield's backline and ensuring Aubameyang was less reliant on dropping deep to receive the ball.
The Gabon striker was frustrated in the first half - his only telling contribution narrowly diverting Granit Xhaka's cross wide on 28 minutes - as he failed to link up effectively with Lacazette, who slipped when unmarked in the area and shot over the bar moments after Aubameyang's miss.
Lacazette then rounded Jonas Lossl to slot in after running onto Mathias Jorgensen's poor backpass but he was judged offside from Aubameyang's initial header on.
That was one of few flurries of promising play from Arsenal, the other coming just before the goal as Sead Kolasinac started to get in behind down the left.
Even then it took a sequence of sublime skill for Arsenal to find a way through - Matteo Guendouzi finding Aubameyang with a well-judged cross-field pass, the striker touching it away from his man and turning to cross and Torreira applying a sumptuous finish.
It was indicative of Arsenal this season - flawed but fun. They may not be able to rely on these second-half surges and impact substitutions for the whole season but there is plenty of grit and skill in this team.
Arsenal's defensive concerns deepen
In spite of victory, Arsenal will be concerned by yet another injury to a key defender as Shkodran Mustafi was forced off in the second half after appearing to pull his hamstring.
Fellow centre-back Rob Holding was ruled out for the season this week after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Manchester United.
Adding to that dearth of options, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Lichsteiner picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season and will miss the Premier League match at Southampton next Sunday.
It is also understood Arsenal do not have a recall clause in Callum Chambers' loan deal at Fulham, and the Gunners may have to field some makeshift defences over a busy festive period.
However, Laurent Koscielny was on the bench for the first time since rupturing his Achilles tendon in May and fellow defender Nacho Monreal returned from a hamstring injury to replace Mustafi. Arsenal will hope both can regain match fitness quickly.
Terriers battle in vain
Huddersfield were content to let Arsenal dominate possession but constantly hassled the man on the ball, leaving the hosts visibly frustrated.
A sedate start turned scrappy with a sequence of hard tackles by both sides, resulting in seven yellow cards before half-time.
Xhaka, Mustafi and Guendouzi were booked for simulation, perhaps suggesting Arsenal's mounting desperation, from which the Terriers prospered.
The visitors created some openings, if not many clear chances, with an unmarked Alex Pritchard clipping over from the edge of the area in the first half and Laurent Depoitre having a late penalty appeal turned down after what looked to be a fair challenge by Sokratis.
Lossl had a fine match, making a superb diving stop with his left to deny a curling effort from Torreira.
But ultimately a limited Terriers team could not cause Arsenal's defence many problems, with Huddersfield having scored just 10 goals in 16 games now - the fewest by any Premier League side.
Man of the match - Lucas Torreira (Arsenal)
Lucas Torreira did his usual fine job of breaking up play in midfield, drew a fine save from Jonas Lossl and then scored a spectacular winner
'I wanted us to win quicker' - reaction
Arsenal manager Unai Emery, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was a tough match, like many matches, and today it is important because we didn't have rhythm but still won. I'm very happy with the result. It was hard for us to control the match today.
"Patience is the key word. I wanted us to win more quickly but we needed to be patient.
"We can improve more and today we spoke that we want to win matches with more control. But we are very competitive and showed character."
Wagner proud of Terriers' 'fight' against Gunners
Huddersfield manager David Wagner, speaking to BBC Sport: "Obviously it is hard to take but I can see the positives. This was a proper fight which the players gave Arsenal. We did so many things right and limited their qualities. Unfortunately the result is what it is.
"We frustrated Arsenal, how the players did it tactically, and the shift they put in, was brilliant. Our tactics worked but unfortunately this goal was an unlucky one because the rebound and second rebound went to Arsenal."
Arsenal shine in the second half - stats
Arsenal have not led at half-time in any of their 16 Premier League games this season, drawing 12 and losing four.
Emery's Arsenal have made 14 substitutions before the start of the second half in their 16 Premier League matches this season, more than any other side and five more than Arsene Wenger made with the Gunners in the whole of 2017-18 (nine).
Arsenal are now 21 games unbeaten in all competitions (W16 D5 L0); their longest run without a defeat since November 2007 (28 unbeaten).
There were just two shots on target in this game, the fewest in a Premier League match since Watford v Stoke on 28 October 2017 (also two).
There were seven cards shown in the first half of this match (seven yellows), the most in a Premier League first 45 since Chelsea v Aston Villa in January 2011 (also seven yellows).
Aubameyang has been directly involved in 27 goals in his 29 Premier League appearances with Arsenal, scoring 20 and assisting seven.
What's next?
Arsenal host Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday (kick-off 20:00 GMT) before travelling to Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday, 16 December (13:30).
Huddersfield are at home to Newcastle on Saturday, 15 December (15:00).