Arsenal’s season on a roll, thanks to Podolski’s pair

LUKAS PODOLSKI claimed a brace as Arsenal kicked their Premier League campaign into gear with a 3-1 win over Fulham at a sodden Craven Cottage.

Arsene Wenger’s side were beaten at home by Aston Villa on the season’s opening day, but they beat Fenerbahce 3-0 mid-week in the first leg of their Champions League play-off and carried that momentum into yesterday’s game.

Downpours in west London made for a saturated playing surface, but it did not stop Arsenal taking the lead in the 14th minute when Olivier Giroud gathered a low shot from Aaron Ramsey and stabbed the ball past Fulham goal- keeper David Stockdale. Podolski made it 2-0 four minutes before half-time when he side-footed home after Stockdale saved from Theo Walcott, and the Germany forward sealed victory in the 68th minute by gathering a pass from Santi Cazorla and arrowing a shot into the bottom-right corner.

Darren Bent pulled one back for the hosts in the 77th minute, tapping in a low cross from Dimitar Berbatov.

In-form striker Daniel Sturridge scored his eighth goal in his past seven league games to give Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Villa at Villa Park.

Elsewhere, Stoke came from be- hind to deny promoted Crystal Palace their first points of the season with a 2-1 win at the Britannia Stadium.

Marouane Chamakh sidestepped Robert Huth to put Palace ahead in the 31st minute with his first league goal since September 2011, but two goals in four secondhalf minutes from Charlie Adam and Ryan Shawcross gave Stoke the points.

Hull City fared rather better than their fellow promoted side, with Robbie Brady’s 22nd-minute penalty enough to secure a 1-0 win at home to Norwich City despite a first-half red card given to new signing Yannick Sagbo for an off- the-ball tussle with Russell Martin.

An 88th-minute goal from centre-back Jose Fonte earned Southampton a 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland, who had taken a third-minute lead with a header from former Juventus midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez had to content himself with a 0-0 draw in his first competitive home game, as West Bromwich Albion claimed a point at Goodison Park.

Newcastle United again left Arsenal target Yohan Cabaye out of their squad as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to West Ham United.