Gunners back on target to down Liverpool

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

Arsenal's Lukas Podolski, right, celebrates after scoring against Liverpool during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012. AP photo

Arsenal ended their goal drought in emphatic fashion as Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla inspired an impressive 2-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday.
 
Arsene Wenger's side had drawn a blank in their first two Premier League matches as they struggled to adapt to life without Dutch forward Robin van Persie, who joined Manchester United last month.
 
But the Gunners, held to goalless draws by Sunderland and Stoke, were back on target at Anfield thanks to two of Wenger's pre-season signings.
 
Germany striker Podolski netted his first goal for the club in the first half to end Arsenal's barren run of 211 scoreless minutes.
 
Then Spanish midfielder Cazorla bagged his first Gunners goal in the second half with a low shot that Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina should have saved.
 
That was more than enough to clinch Arsenal's first win of the season and leave struggling Liverpool with just one point from their first three matches.
 
After Liverpool missed out on long-term transfer target Clint Dempsey and failed to make any other signings on deadline day, this lacklustre display was a painful end to a dispiriting week for Reds manager Brendan Rodgers.
 
Later on Sunday, Manchester United travel to Southampton and Newcastle host Aston Villa.