Vermaelen struck in each half, while captain Cesc Fabregas completed the rout with the Gunners' fourth in injury time, putting them back on track with a commanding performance after two demoralising defeats in a row.

Liverpool twice saw their lead quickly wiped out by West Ham, but Fernando Torres headed in a winner 15 minutes from the end.

Portsmouth are still without a point six matches into the season after going down 2-0 at Aston Villa, while newcomers Burnley notched a third win by defeating Sunderland 3-1.

first clean sheet

Also, Bolton held Stoke to 1-1, and Birmingham won 1-0 at Hull.

Arsenal, who had lost to Manchester City and Manchester United, won with their 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, have three league goals.

Eduardo was credited with the third goal in the 59th after first striking a post with a left-footed volley, collecting the rebound and firing again. 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.

could have scored more

"We could have scored more, we had many chances and we were faithful to the way we want to play," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "Everybody worked hard for the team."

At Upton Park, Torres put Liverpool in front in the 20th, but it was soon cancelled out by Alessandro Diamanti's penalty after Zavon Hines was fouled by Jamie Carragher.

Dirk Kuyt restored Liverpool's lead in the 41st after getting the faintest of touches to ensure Steven Gerrard's header crossed the line.

But that lasted just minutes before Carlton Cole levelled with a glancing header past Reina that again exposed Liverpool's zonal marking.

Other results: Premier League - Burnley 3 Sunderland 1; Arsenal 4 Wigan 0; Aston Villa 2 Portsmouth 0; Bolton 1 Stoke 1; Hull 0 Birmingham 1; West Ham 2 Liverpool 3.