Arsenal back on track with 4-0 win over Wigan

London:

Thomas Vermaelen's double led Arsenal to a 4-0 victory over Wigan, returning the side to winning ways after two straight losses.

The Belgium center back struck in each half, while captain Cesc Fabregas completed the rout with Arsenal's fourth in injury time.

Portsmouth is still without a point six matches into the season after going down 2-0 at Aston Villa, but newcomer Burnley notched a third win by defeating Sunderland 3-1. Also Saturday: Bolton held Stoke 1-1, Birmingham won 1-0 at Hull and Liverpool was at West Ham in the late match.

Arsenal, which had lost its last two matches to Manchester City and Manchester United, won with its first clean sheet of the season.

Vermaelen, whose left wrist was taped up, jumped above two defenders to meet a curling corner kick by Robin van Persie and directed a powerful header past Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland in the 25th minute. He scored his second in the 49th after exchanging a pass with Eboue, dribbling into some space just inside the area and firing a left-footed shot past Kirkland.

Vermaelen, who joined from Ajax in the offseason, now has three league goals.

Eduardo was credited with the third goal in the 59th minute after first striking a post with a left-footed volley, collecting the rebound and firing another shot. But it appeared that Eduardo's second effort may have taken a deflection off Eboue and the Ivory Coast international claimed the goal while Eduardo was celebrating at the other corner.

Fabregas added another in stoppage time after substitute Nicklas Bendtner's stinging cross from the right was tapped in from close range.

At Villa Park, James Milner scored one goal and created another to condemn Portsmouth to yet another defeat by halftime. Milner scored from the penalty spot after Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov had been brought down by Nadir Belhadj.

Seizing on a flick-on from Milner, Gabriel Agbonlahor then got the better of Tal Ben Haim before firing into the top-left corner.

On-loan Burnley striker David Nugent scored a double on his home debut against Sunderland.

Nugent, who joined from Portsmouth on a six-month deal at the start of the month, found the net twice in the second half after coming off the bench.

"It's important to show people at Portsmouth what they are missing," the one-time England international said.

Burnley went ahead in the 13th when Graham Alexander scored from the penalty spot, but Darren Bent slotted in an equalizer before half time

On Sunday leader Chelsea hosts Tottenham, it's the 152nd Manchester derby between United and City, Everton plays Blackburn and Fulham travels to Wolverhampton.