Van Persie 16  Bowyer 38

Arsenal strolled to a comfortable victory against a Birmingham City side making their first appearance under new owner, Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung.

It was a rude awakening for Yeung, as Arsene Wenger’s team dominated proceedings in trademark fashion and were denied a more convincing win by a combination of woodwork and profligate finishing.

Arsenal were only ever under threat from a Blues rally with the score still 2-1 as the game entered its closing stages.

But a wonderfully simple goal on the break by Andrei Arshavin put paid to the hopes of Alex McLeish’s men.

The one black spot of the day for the Gunners was the short-lived return of Theo Walcott, who went down under a robust but fair challenge from Liam Ridgewell in the opening minutes.

Walcott continued for half an hour and made a contribution to Arsenal’s fine start, but he eventually had to concede defeat to the injury and limp off.

By that stage, Arsenal were two goals up and purring.

Robin Van Persie gave them a 16^th minute lead with a low left-foot shot from Alexandre Song’s perfectly weighted pass.

And two minutes later, Abu Diaby finished off a fine move down Arsenal’s right to make it two-nil.

Lee Bowyer pulled one back on 38 minutes, lashing the ball into the net after Gunners ‘keeper Vito Mannone dropped a high cross under considerable pressure from Sebastian Larsson.

Van Persie struck the bar with a free-kick contentiously awarded for a Larsson back pass.

But Mannone had to be alert to turn aside a Ridgewell effort as the Blues refused to lie down and die.

Arsenal nerves were only calmed six minutes from the end when Mannone rolled the ball to Cesc Fabregas, who ran at the heart of Birmingham’s retreating defence before releasing Arshavin, whose right-foot shot curled past Hart’s left hand.