Thierry Henry scored his 100th Arsenal goal as the reigning Premiership champions re-established a five point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table with a crushing 4-0 victory over Birmingham City here at St Andrews.
Henry's double strike plus goals from Robert Pires and Lauren gave Arsenal a comfortable win after floodlight failure delayed kick-off by more than 30 minutes.
Blues boss Steve Bruce - whose team remained six points clear of the relegation zone - gave a debut to new signing and France 98 World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry, on loan from Bordeaux until the end of the season.
And the former international striker went close when he was narrowly off target with a first-time attempt following a cross from Wales midfielder Robbie Savage.
But in the sixth minute Henry was released by Dutch international Dennis Bergkamp's through ball and the Frenchman's searing pace took him past the Birmingham defence before he calmly beat Belgian keeper Nico Vaesen for his 19th goal of the season.
Bruce's side fought hard and another of his debutants, former Ipswich midfielder Jamie Clapham, tested David Seaman, with a 25-yard shot which the England number one caught cleanly.
However, in the 29th minute Arsenal went 2-0 up. Birmingham central defender Michael Johnson, under challenge from Sylvain Wiltord, failed to get enough power on a clearing header.
The ball broke to the onrushing Pires, who volleyed the ball into the top corner from 18 yards.
After half-time the luckless Johnson was also involved in Arsenal's third, which came in the 67th minute.
Birmimgham cleared an Arsenal corner but the ball went straight to Bergkamp. His return cross found Lauren, whose header deflected off Johnson and looped over Vaesen.
Barely three minutes later Arsenal produced a sublime fourth goal. Bergkamp found Pires who cut inside off the left flank and went past a couple of defenders.
He found Wiltord and his delightful lay-off teed up the advancing Henry who slotted the ball past the helpless Vaesen for his 100th Gunners goal in 181 appearances.