Crisis, what crisis? Two goals from Lukas Podolski and one from Olivier Giroud gave Arsenal a comfortable win against Fulham to lift the gloom hanging over the club following the opening day capitulation to Aston Villa.
As rain continually poured, the Gunners passed and probed their way around a weak Cottagers.
Martin Jol's side never really got into the game, although the manager will be pleased Darren Bent took only 20 minutes to get off the mark for the club after coming on as substitute.
Match facts
Fulham: Stockdale 5, Riether 5, Hughes 5, Hangeland 6, Riise 5, Duff 5 (Bent 59 - 6), Parker 6, Sidwell 6 (Karagounis 75), Taarabt 6 (Kacaniklic 62 - 6), Kasami 6, Berbatov 5
Subs not used: Ruiz, Briggs, Boateng, Etheridge
Goal: Bent 77
Booked: Parker, Kasami
Arsenal: Szczesny 6, Jenkinson 7, Sagna 7, Mertesacker 7, Gibbs 7, Ramsey 8, Rosicky 7 (Wilshere 70), Cazorla 7, Podolski 8 (Sanogo 81), Walcott 8, Giroud 7 (Monreal 72)
Subs not used: Fabianski, Frimpong, Gnabry, Zelalem
Goals: Giroud 14, Podolski 41, 68
Booked: Ramsey, Wilshere
Player ratings by Sami Mokbel at Craven Cottage
On the pitch it has been an extremely profitable four days for Arsene Wenger, who saw his side breeze past Fenerbache in the week.
And with Champions League qualification on the horizon, the Gunners had a spring in their step at Craven Cottage.
Olivier Giroud showed the sort of predatory nature that Wenger is still looking for in the transfer market after 14 minutes, pouncing on an Aaron Ramsey effort to control and slip past David Stockdale to open the scoring.
Adel Taarabt was Martin Jol's main threat, operating in the hole, as he tried to pepper Wojciech Szczesny's goal at every opportunity.
But the visitors looked composed and doubled their lead just before the break.
Theo Walcott broke down the right hand side, fired a shot across that Stockdale could only parry to the edge of the area for Lukas Podolski to drill home in the 41st minutes.
Jol tried to force the issue after half-time, bringing on Darren Bent for his debut, but failed to get going for a sustained period.
They couldn't contend with Wenger packing the midfield and Arsenal's fluidity in possession - looking overawed at their opposition's efficiency, especially early on.
Cool: Olivier Giroud was calm in front of goal as he opened the scoring
Make that two: Lukas Podolski thrashes in Arsenal's second before the break
And another: The German international celebrates with Giroud after adding a third
Positive: Darren Bent got off the mark within 20 minutes of coming off the bench
When the Cottagers did create a real opportunity, Dimitar Berbatov and Pajtim Kasami got in each other's way and the moment was lost.
It summed up their afternoon, which - much like the weather - was damp at best.
Podolski put the game well beyond them in the 68th minute. Arsenal broke with Walcott, who moved it left to Santi Cazorla. The Spaniard held the ball up before laying off to Podolski, taking the invitation to skim a drive across Stockdale into the corner.
Slip and slide: Santi Cazorla and Adel Taarabt challenge in the wet
Treacherous: Pajtim Kasami and Per Mertesacker race for a bouncing ball
Ray of sunshine: Taarabt was Fulham's biggest threat, consistently looking to pepper the Arsenal goal
Debut: Scott Parker started his Fulham career, who are his fifth London club
One big positive for Jol is that substitute Bent got himself off the mark in white. Berbatov turned and shot across Szczesny, palming straight into the path of the former Aston Villa striker who bundled in with 13 minutes remaining.
The introduction of Giorgos Karagounis added some impetus. The Greek international was energetic in midfield and drove the hosts on, but it was too little too late.
Jack Wilshere got some more valuable game time under his belt with little going wrong for Wenger on a day they got up and running in the Premier League.
Link: Theo Walcott was intelligent going forward and marshaled by Steve Sidwell
Welcome: New Fulham Chairman Shahid Khan is greeted by fans ahead of game
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