Arsenal beats Southampton 6-1 in Premier League

Published Sep. 15, 2012 5:13 p.m. ET

foxsports

Arsenal scored three goals in seven first-half minutes Saturday in sweeping aside Southampton 6-1 in the Premier League, with Gervinho netting his first two goals of 2012.

Arsenal was helped by two own goals as it jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the 38th minute but it was still the type of high-scoring display that could help fans forget about the departure of Robin van Persie to Manchester United - at least for a little while. After opening the season with two scoreless draws, Arsenal now has two impressive wins in a row after beating Liverpool 2-0 away before the international break.

Last-place Southampton remains without a point after four rounds.

Lukas Podolski scored for the second game in a row, curling in a free kick in the 31st to make it 2-0 for the Gunners after Jos Hooiveld had netted an own goal in the 11th. That opened the floodgates for Arsenal, with Gervinho making it 3-0 in the 35th and Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne deflecting a cross into his own net three minutes later.

Danny Fox scored a consolation goal for Southampton just before the break and played better in the second half - but it was Arsenal which added more goals. Gervinho netted his second when he tapped in a rebound after Aaron Ramsey's shot hit the post, and Theo Walcott completed the rout in the 86th after being set up by Santi Cazorla - who again had a dominating presence in midfield for Arsenal.