Gunners shoot down Pompey

Abou Diaby set them on their way with two first-half goals in the space of three minutes.

Younes Kaboul pulled on back before the break - but William Gallas and substitute Aaron Ramsey ensured a comfortable finish as the Gunners maintained their 100% Barclays Premier League record.

The Gunners went ahead after 18 minutes when the ball was worked out to Eduardo on the left. His cutback to the penalty spot picked out Diaby, who smashed a shot into the top right corner, giving England goalkeeper David James no chance.

Before Pompey could recover, they were 2-0 down. Emmanuel Eboue broke down the right on to a pass from Cesc Fabregas, before rolling the ball across the six-yard box where Diaby slotted it past James once again.

Out of nothing, Pompey had a goal back on 37 minutes. Manuel Almunia hesitated on coming to collect a high cross into the six-yard box from Nadir Belhadj - and Kaboul got up to nod the ball into the net as the Gunners appealed for a foul on the keeper.

Kieran Gibbs was then caught out by Frederic Piquionne, but fortunately for him, the on-loan Pompey striker could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

Arsenal restored their two-goal advantage on 51 minutes with a fortuitous effort from William Gallas.

Andrey Arshavin swept a deep free-kick into the penalty box from the left and Robin van Persie flicked it on to the far post, where Thomas Vermaelen volleyed the ball back goalwards. It hit Gallas, first on the boot, and then on the face before dropping inside the far post.

Ramsey beat the offside trap to make it 4-1 on 69 minutes when he latched onto van Persie's pass and beat James, who had to go off during the closing stages because of injury.