ARSENAL maintained their 100 per cent home record with a 3-1 win over Birmingham.
Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby had fired the Gunners into a 2-0 lead inside 18 minutes, before Lee Bowyer pulled one back before half-time.
But soaking up plenty of pressure from the battling Blues, Andrey Arshavin wrapped up the victory late on
New Birmingham owner Carson Yeung was in the stands, but in the space of 18 minutes he witnessed the gulf between the two clubs.
But before the first two goals, Arsenal suffered an injury blow when Theo Walcott was left in a heap by Liam Ridgewell.
The Arsenal forward bent his knee back when falling, and had to go off for extended treatment.
As play continued, the home side should have taken the lead when Diaby's left-wing cross was knocked back by Van Persie at the far post, only for Tomas Rosicky to fluff the finish.
The opening goal finally came on 16 minutes, Alex Song slipping a lovely low pass through the left side of the penalty area.
Van Persie took the ball on his right, then switched back inside past Stephen Carr before drilling it into the far corner.
Before Birmingham could recover, it was 2-0.
Emmanuel Eboue put Rosicky clear down the right channel, and his cut-back from the near post was smashed in by Diaby first time.
Arsenal were now in cruise control, but to their credit, Birmingham kept up the fight.Arsenal quickly looked to restore their two-goal cushion, and Hart saved well down at the right-hand post to deny Arshavin.
Neither side made any changes for the start of the second half.
Birmingham, clearly boosted by their goal, had an early chance when the ball flashed across the Arsenal six-yard box but did not fall for a Blue shirt.
At the other end, Arshavin stabbed a close-range effort wide after Diaby's low centre.
It was then goalkeeper Joe Hart's turn to almost be embarrassed when Cesc Fabregas cut out his weak pass, only for the Blues keeper to recover and make a smart low save.
Larsson was, at full stretch, penalised for what referee Lee Probert deemed a somewhat harsh backpass, giving Arsenal an indirect free-kick eight yards out.
Fabregas rolled the ball to Arshavin, who stopped it for van Persie, but the Dutchman's fierce effort skimmed off the top of the crossbar.
With 20 minutes left, James McFadden was replaced by Gary McSheffrey.
Arshavin, however, settled matters with five minutes left when he slotted home from just inside the penalty area after a quick counter attack.
Arsenal: Mannone, Eboue (Wilshere 90), Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Walcott (Arshavin 33), van Persie, Rosicky (Sagna 72). Subs Not Used: Almunia, Ramsey, Silvestre, Traore. Booked: Song Billong. Goals: van Persie 16, Diaby 18, Arshavin 84.
Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, Carsley (Phillips 79), McFadden (McSheffrey 70), Jerome (O'Connor 61). Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Damien Johnson, Bent, O'Shea. Booked: Hart, Ridgewell. Goals: Bowyer 38.
Att: 60,082
Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
