After a temporary intermission, normal service for the champions was resumed as Arsenal powered their way past West Bromwich Albion back to the top of the Premiership.

Despite the comfortable scoreline, the newly-promoted side still managed to expose some worrying flaws in the Arsenal defence as they struck twice themselves.

However, the Gunners' rich array of attacking talent means they are still able to outscore most opponents and Sylvain Wiltord led the way with a double-strike at Highbury.

The Gunners had to scramble a late equaliser at West Ham on Saturday to extend their unbeaten league run to 24 games - but their response was immediate.

Arsenal were 3-0 ahead with just 24 minutes gone tonight as Ashley Cole, Lauren and Wiltord all found the target.

However, there was an uncertain stumble for the Gunners after the break once Cole's hapless mistake had handed the visitors a goal back.

West Brom took the match gamely to Arsenal, with Jason Roberts impressive, but although he brought the scoreline back to 4-2 at one stage, Wiltord and substitute Jeremie Aliadiere were also on target to confirm victory.

West Brom managed to hold out gamely until the 39th minute against Leeds and even longer against Manchester United amid their Premiership baptism of fire.

But they were behind with just four minutes gone at Highbury.

Kanu - recalled due to Dennis Bergkamp's calf injury - was the inspiration, with the vision to spot Cole's storming run down the left flank and the ability to lob the ball deftly into the full-back's path.

Cole twisted outside and then inside Darren Moore before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

West Brom at least tried to take the game to the home side, with Roberts going round David Seaman just before half-time only for Sol Campbell to retrieve the situation with a superb last-gasp tackle.

By that stage, however, the visitors were effectively down and out, victims of their haphazard defending and Arsenal's lethal finishing.

With 22 minutes gone, West Brom were hit by a second sucker-punch. However hard they battled throughout, this was still a team with the defensive equivalent of a boxer's glass jaw.

Kanu was again the provider, cutting the ball back for Lauren, who had so much time and space inside the penalty area that he could control the ball before crashing his shot home.

Worse was to follow. With 21 minutes left before half-time, they were 3-0 down and the match was all but over.

This time, Thierry Henry provided the inspiration, chipping a pass towards Wiltord, who had escaped the offside trap and just managed to reach the ball ahead of keeper Russell Hoult, whom he promptly lobbed.

Arsenal were nevertheless guilty of allowing their concentration to slip after the break as they sat back on their lead.

Cole neither cleared a hopeful high punt nor left it for his keeper, and succeeded only in miscontrolling the ball into the path of Scott Dobie, who side-footed the ball under Seaman's body.

Martin Keown was then extremely lucky to escape with a booking when he held back Dobie just as the striker looked set to race clear on goal.

As it was, referee Paul Durkin played advantage and Dobie's shot was tipped over by Seaman.

If he had awarded a free-kick, however, Keown - as the last defender - would surely have had to go for a professional foul.

Another goal was needed to settle growing nerves and it duly came with 12 minutes left as Cole sped forward down the left flank and crossed the ball towards Wiltord, who clipped his shot past Hoult.

There was still time for West Brom to pull another goal back, with Roberts giving Keown yet more problems before firing past Seaman.

However, Arsenal are blessed with attacking talent and teenager Aliadiere, who is the latest to emerge from their production line, completed the scoring late on.

The champions are back on top and, apart from a few defensive worries, they are still setting an imposing target for their rivals to match.

Teams:

Arsenal Seaman, Cole, Keown, Campbell, Lauren, Wiltord (Aliadiere 82), Vieira (Toure 79), Silva, Edu, Henry, Kanu (Parlour 67).

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Luzhny.

Booked: Edu, Keown, Campbell.

Goals: Cole 3, Lauren 21, Wiltord 24, 77, Aliadiere 90.

West Brom Hoult, Clement, Moore, Gilchrist, Sigurdsson, Balis, McInnes (Marshall 62), Johnson, Gregan, Roberts, Dobie.

Subs Not Used: Wallwork, Dichio, Taylor, Jensen.

Booked: McInnes, Clement.

Goals: Dobie 51, Roberts 87.

Att: 37,920

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).