It should have been a convincing statement of title intent for this season as Arsenal swept past Southampton with embarrassing ease at Highbury.

Instead, as Jermaine Pennant emerged from the Highbury shadows with a stunning hat-trick, Arsene Wenger's side had to make do with a signal only of their future ambitions.

At least, while Robert Pires also lit up a one-sided rout with a lob of exquisite quality to complete his own hat-trick, they responded to the loss of their title just as Wenger had demanded.

However, timing is everything and this was meant to be the night on which Arsenal set up a final game showdown with Manchester United.

Instead, it was a case of what might have been and all rather overdue for them to finally throw off the shackles of uncertainty which had held back their title ambitions.

Southampton may have managed to stop Thierry Henry scoring but, even though both sides were largely reserve outfits, that was about all they managed to do.

They certainly never managed to cope with 20-year-old Pennant - who was once the most expensive teenager in English football when he arrived from Notts County for £2million.

This was the midfielder's first Premiership start and the last Arsenal player to score a hat-trick on his full league debut was a certain Ian Wright - also against Southampton - in 1991.

Just a month ago, however, Pennant was sent home in disgrace from the England Under-21 squad for breaking a curfew.

He was given a final warning by Wenger and told not to waste his considerable talent. The words evidently struck a chord.

With Arsenal 5-0 up even before the half-hour mark, FA Cup final opponents Southampton were served notice of Arsenal's intentions to end the season with at least one trophy.

Arsenal lived dangerously at the back, but they were a completely different prospect going forward as they tore Southampton apart at will.

With just nine minutes gone, Kanu's neat one-two with Ray Parlour set the midfielder bearing down on the Southampton goal.

While keeper Paul Jones saved his shot, Pires was on hand to smash the rebound into the roof of the net.

After Kevin Davies and Henry had exchanged wasted chances at either end, the Gunners were further ahead just eight minutes later.

Kanu and Henry were involved in the build-up, before Giovanni van Bronckhorst teed up Pennant, who calmly placed his shot just inside the far post.

Southampton hardly helped themselves when Jones' weak clearance went straight to Kanu only for the striker's powerful drive was superbly saved by the Saints goalkeeper.

However, while they survived on that occasion, Arsenal soon took full advantage of the calamitous defending.

With 20 minutes gone, they were 3-0 up and cruising as Henry's deflected shot was only just saved by Jones and Pennant was again on hand, this time to head home the rebound.

Just three minutes later, it was 4-0 as Henry set through Pires, who drove his shot past Jones inside the near post.

There were still 19 minutes left before half-time when Pennant completed his hat-trick.

Henry tormented what passed for a Southampton defence before setting up the right-sided midfielder, who finished with aplomb.

Saints boss Gordon Strachan had seen enough. Off came Fernandes, with Northern Ireland Under-21 international Chris Baird sent on to help shield a reformed back five.

It seemed to stem the tide, enabling Southampton to hit back when Jo Tessem sneaked ahead of the lumbering Stepanovs to convert Wayne Bridge's low cross.

Not for long though. Shortly after the restart, Paul Telfer fell over his own feet trying to cut out a routine ball.

But nothing could have prepared Jones for the sensational chip with which Pires then audaciously beat him from 25 yards out.

Arsenal then relaxed but even when clear-cut chances came Southampton's way, they wasted them as Michael Svensson missed from six yards out and rookie full-back Ryan Garry cleared off the line.

Even when James Beattie came off the bench, he was also denied, with Taylor producing another fine save, while a second effort skimmed just past the post.

Indeed, there was only one small ounce of positive news for Southampton - Pennant is cup-tied after a loan spell at Watford.

Next time around, they will only have to cope with the returning Sylvain Wiltord or Fredrik Ljungberg. Cardiff awaits.

Teams

Arsenal: Taylor, Toure, Luzhny (Tavlaridis 76), Stepanovs, Garry, Pennant (Hoyte 90), Parlour, van Bronckhorst, Pires (Bergkamp 62), Kanu, Henry.

Subs Not Used: Wiltord, Warmuz.

Booked: Henry.

Goals: Pires 9, Pennant 16, 19, Pires 23, Pennant 26, Pires 47.

Southampton: Jones, Telfer, Williams, Michael Svensson, Bridge, Fernandes (Baird 27), Prutton, Anders Svensson (Oakley 55), Higginbotham, Tessem, Kevin Davies (Beattie 76).

Subs Not Used: Aaron Davies, Ormerod.

Booked: Anders Svensson.

Goals: Tessem 35.

Att: 38,052

Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).