Arsenal v Mags (30th August 2008) - oh no

London, England (Sports Network) - After two shaky performances to start the season, Arsenal put together a dazzling effort in beating Newcastle, 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Robin van Persie scored two first-half goals and Denilson added a third on the hour mark to give Arsenal six points from its first three games, while the loss is the first of the year for Newcastle.

Arsenal came out attacking from the start and they put a good deal of pressure on the Newcastle defense early in the game. The Gunners were then rewarded with a well-deserved opener in the 18th minute when Emmanuel Adebayor’s cross struck the hand of Newcastle’s Charles N’Zogbia inside the penalty area.

Van Persie then stepped to the spot and fired a left-footed shot low inside the right post to give Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given no chance.

The Dutchman tested Given again in the 31st minute when he curled a free kick towards the top left corner only for Given to react well and tip the ball over the crossbar.

The keeper could do nothing about Arsenal’s second goal, however, which came four minutes before halftime courtesy of a brilliant build up. Adebayor took the ball on the right wing and slipped a pass inside the box to Emmanuel Eboue, and he played the ball to the front of goal with a neat back heel. Van Persie got to the ball eight yards from the net and he slammed it into the roof of the cage for a 2-0 Arsenal lead at halftime.

Newcastle put together a good spell shortly after the break that included a Nicky Butt header off the crossbar, but Arsenal came right back and added a third goal.

Samir Nasri dribbled the ball into the box and drew three defenders before dropping it to Adebayor. He then played the ball first-time to Denilson, who darted through the defense and beat Given low inside the left post.

Portsmouth lost its first two games to start the season, but rebounded with a big 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park. Jermain Defoe scored two goals for Pompey, while Glen Johnson added one.

Amr Zaki scored a pair of goals for Wigan in a 5-0 drubbing of Hull City, Bolton and West Brom finished 0-0, West Ham handed Blackburn a 4-1 defeat at Upton Park and Middlesbrough downed Stoke City 2-1 as Tuncay Sanli scored the game-winning goal in the 85th minute.