First to arrive (8)
I believe the answer is:
earliest
'first to arrive' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for earliest that I've seen before include "Furthest back in time" , "Nearest the beginning in time" , "Soonest" , "Arriving first" , "Ateliers (anag.)" .)