Striker Robin Van Persie's double helps fire Arsenal into second place in the league [AFP]

Portsmouth ended a run of six successive league defeats when they won 3-0 at Everton while Hull City's flying start ended emphatically when they were thrashed 5-0 at home by Wigan Athletic.

In Saturday's other games, West Ham United beat Blackburn Rovers 4-1, Middlesbrough beat Stoke City 2-1 and Bolton Wanderers' game against West Bromwich Albion finished goalless.

Arsenal 3 Newcastle United 0

Arsenal dismantled Newcastle 3-0 behind two first-half goals from Robin Van Persie, emphatically bouncing back from last weekend's surprise loss to Fulham.

Denilson added the third goal as Arsenal produced an attacking masterclass at Emirates Stadium that easily could have led to an even larger scoreline with sharper finishing.

Arsenal, which also routed FC Twente 4-0 in a Champions League qualifier on Wednesday, seemed rejuvenated by the return of Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas and played with all its trademark flair and finesse that was missing during last Saturday's 1-0 loss at Craven Cottage.

Newcastle woes

For Newcastle, the loss compounded its troubles after losing key midfielder James Milner to Aston Villa this week.

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan said he had only had 14 fit senior players for the game, and elected to include Joey Barton on the substitutes bench for the first time this season.

Barton, who was recently released from a jail sentence for assault, was greeted by loud boos by the home fans when coming on in the final minutes after the match had already been decided.

With the win, Arsenal has six points after three rounds, while Newcastle has four.

Van Persie dominating

The Gunners should have gone ahead in the second minute when Gallas missed a clear chance from just two metres out.

Instead, Van Persie made it 1-0 with a penalty kick in the 18th, after Charles N'Zogbia blocked Emmanuel Adebayor's cross with his hand.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given guessed right and dove to his left, but Van Persie's well-placed shot was still out of reach.

The Magpies should have drawn level in the 37th when Jonas Gutierrez broke free down the left flank and found Michael Owen completely unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

But the England striker sent his shot wide.

Adebayor then squandered a clear chance by also sending a shot wide at the other end, before Arsenal made it 2-0 in the 41st minute after some exquisite passing.

Adebayor's square ball into the area was backheeled by Emmanuel Eboue into Van Persie's path and the Dutchman smacked the ball into the roof of Given's net.

Newcastle seemed temporarily revived at the start of the second half, as a Nicky Butt header rebounded off the bar and Danny Guthrie had a low drive from 20 meters (yards) that stung goalkeeper Manuel Almunia's palms.

But Arsenal sealed the win in the 59th with another textbook attack, as Samir Nasri and Adebayor's intricate passing set up Denilson for a close range finish.

Everton 0 Portsmouth 3

FA Cup winners Portsmouth claimed their first league win in seven attempts as Everton were booed off by their own fans.

Jermain Defoe turned sharply after a Peter Crouch knock-down to fire Pompey ahead after 11 minutes.

Brilliant goalkeeping by David James and soft finishing prevented Everton equalising and they were punished when Glen Johnson doubled the lead before the break.

David James saved a Yakubu Aiyegbeni penalty early in the second half and Portsmouth finished with a flourish when a Defoe chip came down off the bar and just over the line, though Crouch was on hand to make doubly sure.

"We played a new system (using wingbacks), the players have worked hard on it all week and that result should give them a lot of belief," Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp said.

"I've been wanting to do it for a long time, we've got the personnel to do it with pace at the back and two attacking fullbacks."

Hull's fairytale start to the Premiership is over

Hull City 0 Wigan Athletic 5

Newcomer Hull suffered its first Premier League loss when it was thrashed by Wigan 5-0.

The Tigers had four points after their first two games but went behind to Wigan after just five minutes when Sam Ricketts scored an own-goal. Antonio Valencia doubled the visitors' lead in the 13th.

Amr Zaki scored twice after the break, either side of a strike from Emile Heskey, to complete the easy win for Steve Bruce's side.

"It was a harsh reality check," said Hull coach Phil Brown.

"If I said we looked a decent side today I'd be a foolish man.

"We had a lot of chances and missed them all while Wigan had five shots on target and scored five."

Middlesbrough 2 Stoke City 1

Stoke had Amdy Faye sent off for a bad tackle after 36 minutes and from the resulting free kick Afonso Alves lashed Boro into the lead.

The hosts remained on top but missed several chances, including a penalty when Stewart Downing hit the bar, and looked to have blown it when a Justin Hoyte own goal levelled.

Tuncay Sanli then sprang the offside trap for a late winner.

West Ham United 4 Blackburn Rovers 1

West Ham went in front with a Calum Davenport header after 13 minutes before Christopher Samba's own goal made it 2-0.

Blackburn pulled one back immediately through Jason Roberts but missed their chance to level when the same player saw his penalty saved by Robert Green at the start of the second half.

Stoppage-time goals by Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole added the gloss on West Ham's triumph.

Bolton Wanderers 0 West Bromwich Albion 0

Good goalkeeping by Scott Carson kept West Brom in the game and they could have won it late on when Kim Do-heon hit the bar and Ishmael Miller failed to take advantage of the rebound.

Bolton had two late goals ruled out for offside.

Chelsea face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, when Liverpool are in action at Aston Villa, while champions Manchester United take a break after playing in the European Super Cup on Friday.

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