Arsene Wenger has warned his new-look Arsenal team that the real tests are still to come after their 6-1 demolition of Southampton at the Emirates Stadium. A breathtaking display of attacking football in the first-half comprehensively destroyed Nigel Adkins' side, who are still looking for their first point since being promoted to the Premier League.
But with Tuesday's Champions League clash against French champions Montpellier swiftly followed by showdowns against Manchester City and Chelsea, Wenger isn't getting carried away.
"We have two interesting weeks coming up now with Montpellier in the Champions League and then the matches against Man City and Chelsea. We should know much more about the team after them," he said.
"But there is a positive energy in this team and a desire to play well together so it's very exciting for us. We showed a good combination of pace and speed in our passing.
"We were a bit lucky because Southampton conceded two own goals but overall I think it was a level of continuity after what we showed against Liverpool."
Arsenal went into the match on the back of their worst-ever run of home results for 17 years having failed to win any of their last four in the league.
Yet from the moment Saints defender Joos Hooiveld scored an own goal in the 11th minute there was no stopping the hosts. Lukas Podolski's brilliant free kick doubled the lead, with Gervinho adding a third and a deflection off the unfortunate Nathaniel Clyne making it 4-0 in only the 38th minute.
Wojceich Szczesny's blunder gifted Daniel Fox a goal just before the break, but Gervinho's second and a strike from substitute Theo Walcott on the stroke of full-time made it a day to forget for Saints boss Adkins.
"We just played a very good team and got punished for losing the ball. They were ruthless today," Adkins said.
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