Arsenal 6 Southampton 1
Arsene Wengers team dropped back into the bottom six with a 4-3 loss at Blackburn.
Their defence was an absolute shambles while a midfield without the departed Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri looked ordinary.
It seemed Wenger was beginning to lose his grip on the club.
These are happier times for the Frenchman, though, with his team enjoying a start in complete contrast to the beginning of last term.
On Tuesday, Arsenal begin their 15th successive year in the Champions League and for the time being at least, the Gooners are able to dream again.
This battering of Southampton proved beyond doubt Arsenal still have goals in them, even though they will face tougher defences over the coming months.
It is early days and next Sundays trip to Manchester City will give a clearer idea of this Arsenals capabilities.
Although helped by a couple of own goals, Arsenal were unstoppable yesterday.
Meanwhile, these are tough times for the Saints, who have lost all four games although they were hardly helped by the Premier Leagues fixture computer which handed out early matches with Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.
Gervinho, playing as a central striker, scored twice, the impressive Lukas Podolski netted with a terrific free-kick while Theo Walcott jeered by some fans when arriving as a sub completed the rout against his former club.
The jury is out on £12.8million striker Olivier Giroud, who was relegated to the subs bench, but the other major summer signing, German hitman Podolski, is looking an outstanding purchase.
After leaving French star Giroud on the bench, Wenger admitted he had been delighted with the performance of Ivorian Gervinho.
He said: You know that we transform all our wingers into central strikers!
I decided to play him in that position against Manchester City in pre-season and I liked what he did. He is such a great player and so quick that it is difficult to stop him when he gets going.
Back in Cologne, Podolski is known as Prince Poldi.
Although currently playing out on the left, he could prove to be the perfect replacement for Robin van Persie.
After scoring against Liverpool, Podolski not only looks a class act but is prepared for a bit of a fight.
Arsenals opener illustrated Podolskis bloody-minded attitude. He had initially lost the ball to Jos Hooiveld but showed power and determination to win the ball back.
The German raced forward before threading the ball between Jose Fonte and Nathaniel Clyne towards Kieran Gibbs.
The defenders cross was parried by Kelvin Davis but the ball hit Hooiveld and trickled into the net.
Hooivelds disastrous afternoon was soon ended by a calf injury and it all continued to get worse for Saints boss Nigel Adkins when Podolski managed to swing a free-kick over the wall and into the net.
A difficult challenge for the visitors became an impossible one.
Like the opening goal, they were opened up far too easily with Mikel Arteta sending a delicate chip over the head of Japanese sub defender Maya Yoshida.
He needed to be given his instructions via an interpreter before entering the field.
But Yoshida clearly did not hear what was required, as his slack positional play allowed Gervinho a clear run on goal before a right-foot shot beat Davis at his near post in the 35th minute.
The battering continued with a third goal in six mad minutes although it was tinged with some more good fortune.
Gervinho was given yet more space, he played the ball out to Gibbs and yet again, he played a part in a goal as his cross was turned in by Clyne.
Remarkably, there was one final goal left in an astonishing 45 minutes due to a shocking error by Wojciech Szczesny.
Arsenals No 2 keeper Vito Mannone had every reason to be miffed after keeping two successive clean sheets only to be replaced by fit-again Szczesny.
The Polish star then dropped a deep cross from Jason Puncheon and presented an easy chance for Daniel Fox who booted the ball into an empty net.
The introduction of £12million record buy Gaston Ramirez made a difference to the Saints after the break.
He crafted a chance for Rickie Lambert who should have at least hit the target but screwed the ball wide.
Normal service was eventually resumed with Arsenal grabbing the fifth. Four minutes after arriving as a sub, Aaron Ramsey picked up a clever pass from Santi Cazorla, who continues to impress, and jinked into the box.
His shot hit the post but Gervinho reacted first and scuffed the ball into the net.
This was certainly one of Gervinhos better games and he was given a standing ovation when substituted for Walcott 16 minutes from time.
Walcott, yet to agree a new contract, received some jeers but after after Thomas Vermaelens shot was parried by Davis he stroked in the sixth.
There was no celebration from Walcott against the team which came him his big chance.
Saints chief Adkins said: We just played a very good team and got punished for losing the ball. They were ruthless.
Well try to keep positive because we believe in what were doing.
For the Saints fans, though, it could be a very long season.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Coquelin (Ramsey 67), Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski (Giroud 74), Gervinho (Walcott 74). Subs not used: Mannone, Koscielny, Andre Santos, Arshavin.
Goals: Hooiveld 11 og, Podolski 31, Gervinho 35, Clyne 37 og, Gervinho 71, Walcott 88.
Southampton: Kelvin Davis, Clyne, Hooiveld (Yoshida 28), Fonte, Fox, Puncheon, Ward-Prowse, Schneiderlin, Steven Davis (Ramirez 45), Lallana, Lambert (Rodriguez 76). Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Richardson, Mayuka, Chaplow.
Goals: Fox 45.
Att: 60,097
Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
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