Arsenal continued their impressive start to the new Premier League season with another dominant display in a 4-1 win over Portsmouth at the Emirates Stadium.

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Having kicked off the new campaign with a 6-1 thumping of Everton on the opening day the Gunners brushed aside a fragile Pompey side thanks to a first-half brace from Abou Diaby and one each for William Gallas and Aaron Ramsey after the break.

A Younes Kaboul header at 2-0 down briefly gave Pompey hope but Arsenal were far too confident to allow that minor set-back affect their game and ultimately Arsene Wenger's side ran out comfortable winners to make it two wins from two - their best start to a new season for five years.

Pompey remain pointless after three games and bottom of the league, although a ray of light may yet be cast on an eminently forgettable start to the season should Peter Storrie and his mystery backer's rescue act come to fruition.

Arsenal dominated from start to finish on a sunny afternoon in North London with Diaby opening the scoring with a super strike on 18 minutes, side-footing first time into the top right-hand corner from Eduardo's cut-back after the Croatian had tormented Marc Wilson on the Gunners' left.

The Frenchman made it two just minutes later as Arsenal continued to delight the home crowd with their quick, incisive passing moves. This time it was Fabregas who split open the Pompey defence by releasing Emmanuel Eboue down the right wing. The Ivorian centred and Eboue slotted home under no pressure whatsoever from the visitors' back line.

Indeed, for all Arsenal's thrilling forward play during the opening period, Portsmouth's abject defending could easily take some of the credit for the early 2-0 scoreline.

Only David James emerged from the first half with any credit at all, the England keeper impressing the watching Fabio Capello and Ray Clemence with two smart saves to deny Robin van Persie and one to thwart Cesc Fabregas.

The afternoon ended on a worrying note for both club and country though, with James - whose 550th appearance was a Premier League record - forced off through injury after 74 minutes.

Arsenal's defending at times was only slightly better than their opponents and a lapse in concentration by Manuel Almunia handed Pompey a real lifeline on 37 minutes, against the run of play and against all the odds.

The Arsenal keeper appeared reluctant to claim a hanging Nadir Belhadj cross, allowing Kaboul to leap high above him and head over the line.

But the goal hardly had a bearing on the game, as Arsenal continued to press ahead with their free-flowing attacking play - and Pompey continued to struggle at the back.

Summer signing Frederic Piquionne had a chance to get on the scoresheet when he nicked the ball off the toes of a dallying Kieran Gibbs soon after the restart but a third goal at the other end was almost inevitable.

Sure enough Arsenal took a 3-1 lead on 51 minutes, Gallas getting his second of the season with a scrappy prod over the line after Van Persie's flick-on from a free-kick had caused chaos in the Pompey box.

Substitute Ramsey made it four on 68 minutes with a fine finish after Van Persie had played the youngster on goal with a cute through pass to wrap up all three points and maintain the Gunners' perfect start to the new campaign.

For Pompey, a long season awaits.