Edinburgh were buoyant following their first win of the season against Connacht last time out but were helpless to stop the Italians pulling away after the break, Nick Williams' try and Olivier's boot settling things while Tim Visser replied in vain for the visitors.

Aironi showed a desire to use the boot early on and it was full-back Ruggero Trevisan who had the first effort at the posts, only to see his audacious 50m attempt fall a metre short and wide.

But the hosts' attacking play was rewarded on 15 minutes as clever play from scrum-half Tito Tebaldi allowed his half-back partner Olivier to go over before the fly-half converted his own try for a 7-0 lead.

Edinburgh replied five minutes later as a good break from David Denton provided Greig Laidlaw with a penalty opportunity in front of the posts, the scrum-half duly accepting to peg the Italians back.

And with their tails up the Gunners took the lead three minutes later, prop Traynor crashing over after a flowing move to edge in front, Laidlaw wayward with his conversion attempt.

Both sides then spurned chances to score before Aironi struck just before half-time, scrum-half Tebaldi going over following a ruck.

This gave the Italians a four-point lead at the break but it could have been more had Olivier's boot been in better form, his conversion striking an upright before seeing a penalty go short and wide.

But his blushes were saved two minutes after the restart as he sliced his way through the Edinburgh defence before offloading to No.8 Williams to go over, Olivier converting.

Some constant Edinburgh pressure led to Harry Gilbert marking his debut with a penalty before Visser finished off a flowing Gunners move which Harry Leonard couldn't convert to remain three points behind their Italian hosts.

But Aironi were in no mood to let their lead slip, Olivier knocking over another penalty before missing a second attempt for a six-point lead with 15 minutes remaining.

And it got better moments later as Olivier made up for his missed penalty with a long-range drop goal.

Leonard knocked over a penalty for the Gunners with four minutes left but it was too little too late as Aironi celebrated their first victory of the season.