Liverpool compounded Arsenal's troubles by winning at the north London club for the first time in 11 years on Saturday, the 2-0 victory coming from an own goal and Luis Suarez's strike after Emmanuel Frimpong was sent off.
Arsenal was reduced to 10 men for a second successive Premier League match when Frimpong was dismissed in the 70th minute, the spark for the heavily depleted team's downfall a week after opening the season with a 0-0 draw at Newcastle.
Liverpool led eight minutes later when Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey inadvertently deflected the ball into his own goal, and Luis Suarez's late strike gave Liverpool its first win of the season following a 1-1 home draw with Sunderland.
''They are such a great side and have been for a long time and it is a difficult place to come but we deserved (the win),'' Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said. ''Last week was a bit of a comedown after everyone had started well - the players, fans and staff were on a bit of a downer and I think we had a little to prove here after that.''
But for Arsenal, boos filled the rain-soaked Emirates Stadium at the end of a week in which Cesc Fabregas was finally sold to Barcelona.
''I feel always under pressure, not more than usual,'' Wenger said. ''I feel the result is very harsh on us ... you want the supporters to be happy.''
Liverpool's visiting supporters should be satisfied after a fluent performance that was overshadowed by Arsenal's travails.
Frimpong's dismissal following a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Lucas Leiva allowed Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish to change his attacking options.
Substitutes Raul Meireles and Suarez made an immediate impact by injecting new energy into the team for the final 20 minutes.
The opening goal, though, was due to good fortune. After Suarez darted into the penalty area, an attempted clearance by Ignasi Miquel came off Ramsey's chest and looped into his own net.
Despite having little time to recover from Uruguay's Copa America campaign, Suarez has now scored in both of Liverpool's matches this season, having also scored against Sunderland.
The striker secured Liverpool's first win of the season in stoppage time, sweeping the ball into the net after latching onto a cross from Meireles.
''It's a hell of a good pair of substitutes to bring on,'' Dalglish said. ''We were really pleased with Andy Carroll's work and Dirk Kuyt's, but when you've got two players of that quality on the bench, it would be wrong not to at least have a go with them.
''I think we deserved a goal. That's why I say the squad is better than last year. This is a great example of how strong the squad is.''
Arsenal's resources, though, are thinly stretched.
Already reeling from injuries and suspensions to key players, Arsenal center back Laurent Koscielny is set to miss two matches after coming off with a back problem after 15 minutes, forcing Wenger to hand the 18-year-old Miquel his league debut.
Defenders Kieran Gibbs and Johan Djourou and midfielder Jack Wilshere are among the players already sidelined with injuries.
Frimpong is now set to be suspended for next weekend's match against Manchester United. Striker Gervinho, who was sent off last weekend, and midfielder Alex Song have two games remaining on their three-match bans.
''We had eight players out and still had a good performance, so it is not all doom and gloom,'' Wenger said.
There is potentially better news for Wenger over the future of Samir Nasri. Despite Manchester City chasing the France midfielder, he played Saturday and quickly silenced the early jeers with an energetic display.
That was epitomized in the 35th minute when he burst forward from past a pair of defenders inside own half, although his shot crept wide.
''I always said that I would try to keep Samir Nasri and I have never changed my mind on it because I played him today,'' Wenger said. ''He loves the club, he wants to play for us. If we decide to sell him, we will do it and we have to stand up for it. At the moment I am happy he is here.''
But amid the turmoil, Arsenal heads to Italy for the second leg of its Champions League playoff against Udinese protecting a slender 1-0 lead on Wednesday and with more than $30 million at stake.
''For now, it is important for us to lift the players,'' Wenger said. ''We live under circumstances where every defeat is an absolutely a disgrace and an earthquake. We are very disappointed that we lost the game, but we are at the start of the season.''
