Liverpool 0 Arsenal 2 New boys sink Reds
Having drawn a blank in their opening two games, the Gunners were desperate to prove there IS life after Van Persie.
And Podolski did his best to begin erasing memories of the Manchester United recruit by breaking the deadlock in the 31st minute.
Liverpool were constantly troubled by Arsenals quick counters and German international Podolski was on hand to sweep home when Cazorla rolled the ball into his path
The visitors continued to look dangerous in the second half and it was no surprise when Podolski and Cazorla combined again to double the advantage.
This time it was Podolski who turned provider, putting the ball on a plate for his team-mate to squeeze under Pepe Reina.
Reina should have done better and will want to forget how he allowed the low shot to squirm beyond him at his near post with 68 minutes on the clock.
A delighted Podolski said: "It was a good match, I think we played very well and the two goals were amazing.
It was a good day for us and for me, scoring my first goal for Arsenal. It was a great pass, I got the ball on my left foot and scored. Im very happy.
Weve only played three matches, we have five points and we need to play like that and keep winning matches.
With so much expectation resting on Luis Suarez's shoulders following the departure of Andy Carroll, Liverpool are clearly lacking a Plan B.
And the truth is they desperately needed one against Arsene Wenger's surprisingly resolute Gunners.
Suarez toiled away without troubling the visitors, leaving Fabio Borini and Raheem Sterling to deliver Liverpool's best opportunities before the break.
Sterling continues to catch the eye and his excellent turn onto Steven Gerrards knockdown created the half-chance he belted against the outside of a post.
Borini was rather more rash with his openings, two of which he sent sailing over the bar.
Worst of all, Daniel Agger failed to head home a Gerrard corner when he had been left completely unmarked.
The impression Liverpool were in control was a misleading one.
With Cazorla continuing to impress and Abou Diaby thriving in the space Nuri Sahin failed to fill, Arsenal regualrly looked capable of opening their opponents up on the break.
And after Cazorlas shot had been saved by Reina, the Spain midfielder was instrumental in the Gunners breaking their duck for the campaign.
A wayward Gerrard pass allowed Thomas Vermaelen to set up a break from the edge of the Arsenal box.
Podolski fed Cazorla, then kept motoring. By the time Cazorla was in a position to play the killer pass, the German had arrived in support to drill home from 10 yards.
The visitors should have doubled their advantage almost immediately.
Diabys surging run out of his own half was reminiscent of Patrick Vieira in his pomp. He released Olivier Giroud inside the Liverpool box, but the finish was poor and Reina watched it fly wide.
Liverpool emerged with more purpose after the break and Stewart Downing was quickly thrown into the fray.
The winger had a shot deflected wide by Vermaelen not long after Per Mertesacker, who had been booked early on, sent Suarez to the deck with a clumsy challenge that could easily have handed Liverpool a penalty.
As it turned out, Arsenal were merely softening their opponents up for another body blow.
Just on in place of the ineffective Sahin, Jonjo Shelvey failed to track Cazorlas run around the corner of the Liverpool area.
After an excellent one-two with Podolski, Cazorla also left Downing standing before beating Reina from an acute angle.
While Reina was still shaking his head in disbelief, Vito Mannone twice denied Shelvey at the other end and Suarez lifted his shot over after turning onto Gerrards pass.
In the end it was case of a job well done for Arsenal, while Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was left with more questions than answers.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Gerrard, Allen, Sahin (Shelvey 67), Borini (Downing 54), Suarez,Sterling. Subs not used: Jones, Henderson, Coates, Carragher, Kelly. Booked: Skrtel,Shelvey.
Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen (Koscielny 90), Gibbs, Diaby, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Ramsey 72),Cazorla, Podolski (Andre Santos 82), Giroud. Subs not used: Martinez, Walcott, Coquelin, Gervinho. Booked: Mertesacker, Arteta.
Goals: Podolski 31, Cazorla 68.
Att: 44,932
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)
