Fredrik Ljungberg's goal-double and Dennis Bergkamp's first strike for three months put Arsenal back in third place in the Premiership and gave manager Arsene Wenger a clear triumph over his former pupil Glenn Hoddle.

The ex-England boss is now supervising Southampton's familiar battle against relegation and this was the first time the Frenchman, who first spotted ex-Tottenham star Hoddle's coaching potential soon after he signed him for Monaco 12 years ago, had been head-to-head.

But despite a battling performance from Hoddle's far-from-innocent Saints - who picked up four bookings in a ruggedly-contested encounter - Wenger showed that he still has some lessons to teach the man who first learned the tracksuit trade at his knee.

The main factor, as often the case, however, is that Wenger has brighter boys in his Arsenal class even though just lately they have been blotting their copybooks.

In fact this was only the Gunners' second win since the turn of the year, a record which has been responsible for them losing touch with Manchester United in the championship race and slipping out of the FA Cup.

But apart from the suspended Thierry Henry, they had all their major players back in action and after a sticky start, the difference between the two sides was always easily discernible.

One of Arsenal's comeback stars, Nigerian striker Kanu, dominated much of the proceedings although not always impressively.

Fined two weeks wages for his late return last week from international duty, he gave a new epic quality to the phrase "out of Africa".

And he should have had a hat-trick instead of extending a personal goal-drought that has lasted since his memorable hat-trick against Chelsea in October.

Saints made a highly promising start after Kanu wasted his first chance in only the second minute, wanting one touch too many after Emmanuel Petit's perfect pass picked him out just inside the box where Francis Benali eventually robbed him.

Arsenal should have been made to pay, but James Beattie put one unchallenged header straight at David Seaman, another one wide after he outjumped Tony Adams and then saw a goalbound shot blocked by Martin Keown before his misery was completed by a thigh strain which took him out of the game in the 17th minute.

And four minutes later it was Arsenal who were ahead with a lovely finish by Ljungberg from the edge of the area after Ray Parlour and Bergkamp combined sweetly to set him up.

The Gunners could have wrapped it up within the next few minutes as they tore the Southampton defence apart only for Paul Jones to bravely block Kanu's shot and then quickly beat out another effort from the Nigerian. Ljungberg rocketed the rebound inches over the empty goal.

Then Kanu over-elaborated again when Ljungberg provided a wonderful left-wing cross, following great work by Patrick Vieira, which was practically an invitation to score from 10 yards. Once more, though, Kanu allowed Saints to close ranks around him as he tried to manoeuvre for an even better position.

But Bergkamp showed him the way within 60 seconds. Over came Silvinho's cross after Tony Adams had channelled the ball down Southampton's exposed right flank and the Dutchman arrived right on cue to plant his header past Jones.

That should have been game, set and match, as Arsenal began to turn on the style but a madcap finale to the first half had the effect of briefly throwing the game back into the melting-pot.

Unpredictable referee Jeff Winter infuriated the Gunners by refusing to give a penalty when Kanu sprawled his considerable length under Benali's challenge.

It led to a series of wild tackles and Winter showed the yellow card to both Vieira and Chris Marsden after they tangled furiously following a series of lunging challenges. Bergkamp was also booked for a late tackle on Jason Dodd - but no free-kick was given.

Hoddle maybe saw a chance to cash in on the confusion and having already substituted the injured Beattie with another managerial figure in the ever-combative Mark Hughes, threw on Claus Lundekvam and ex-Arsenal winger Luis Boa Morte at the start of the second half and switched defender Dean Richards to centre forward.

It paid a quick dividend when Richards headed in at the far post on 51 minutes after Lundekvam applied a crucial touch to Matthew Oakley's corner.

But with Richards limping from one of the game's many meaty tackles, it was the last time Arsenal were really threatened.

Kanu, having been clearly told at half-time to shoot on sight, sent three crackers just inches wide or just too high.

He also provided the cross from which Parlour set up full-back Lee Dixon for a goalbound shot which deflected away off his own team-mate Petit.

And in the end, Arsenal had to settle for a soft third goal to confirm their victory.

Ljungberg was clearly intending to find Vieira's head when he crossed from the left in the 68th minute but although the midfielder outjumped both Jones and Dodd, the ball sailed over all of them and slipped almost apologetically inside the far post.

Teams:

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Adams, Silvinho, Parlour, Vieira, Petit, Ljungberg, Kanu, Bergkamp (Overmars 69).

Subs Not Used: Winterburn, Suker, Manninger, Grimandi.

Booked: Vieira, Bergkamp.

Goals: Ljungberg 22, Bergkamp 36, Ljungberg 68.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Richards, Benali, Tessem (Lundekvam 46), Oakley, Marsden, Colleter (Boa Morte 46), Kachloul, Davies,Beattie (M. Hughes 17).

Subs Not Used: Moss, Soltvedt.

Booked: Marsden, Davies, Kachloul, Dodd.

Goals: Richards 61.

Att: 38,044

Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).