Arsenal continued their impressive start to the season with a thumping 3-1 victory over Portsmouth in their Premiership clash on Sunday.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Francesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky were on target for the hosts before Nwankwo Kanu got one back against his former club. Arsenal were reduced to 10 men early in the second half but with Portsmouth unable to break through, had a comfortable time on the field before Kanu's goal spiced up things for the visitors.

Portsmouth started the game on the defensive, happy to soak up the pressure and try to his Arsenal on the break. The visitors had a penalty appeal turned down early in the game when Senderos looked to have blocked Matthew Taylor in the box.

However they were soon behind in the 8th minute when David James rushed forward to stop Van Persie but only managed to give away a penalty after the Dutchman turned the ball away from the onrushing keeper. Adebayor stepped up to take the spot kick and coolly converted the chance, sending James the wrong way.

Arsenal the went on the offensive as Adebayor failed to reach Alexander Hleb's teasing cross while Pompey almost scored an own goal when Noe Pamarot tried to clear Gael Clichy's cross. The hosts finally took the lead in the 35th minute when Gilberto Silva's header hit Fabregas, but the Spanish midfielder was the first to react and easily converted the chance from six yards out.

Four minutes into the second half saw Senderos receive his second yellow card for fouling Kanu though replays failed to show any contact. Pompey very nearly took advantage of the set piece when Almunia blocked Utaka's free kick and the rebound fell to Taylor who flayed the ball over the bar from six yards out.

A defensive mistake by Portsmouth saw Arsenal score a third from a set piece. Fabregas passed the ball to Rosicky from the byline even as Portsmouth were busy trying to position themselves in the penalty box and the Czech Republic star smashed the ball past three Pompey defenders and into the net.

Pompey hit back immediately when Kanu tried to control Utaka's cross only for the ball to hit his other leg and deflect back into the goal. The visitors had a great chance to reduce the lead through Glen Johnson but his effort was saved brilliantly by Almunia who made sure that there will be no more hiccups as Arsenal grabbed a deserved win.