Arsenal produced a vintage display to beat relegation-threatened Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage - and keep the pressure firmly on Premier League leaders Manchester United.
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Moritz Volz is tackled by Tomas Rosicky
A first-half brace of headed goals from Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor had put the Gunners, now unbeaten in 11 games, in control, with Czech winger Tomas Rosicky volleying home a well-worked third late on.
Fulham had started brightly, but lacked bite in attack and remain in deep trouble at the wrong end of the table, and it could well take more than a few more bodies during the transfer window to save Roy Hodgson's side.
• Wenger hails his lethal weapon
Arsenal, though, continue to look set for a sustained challenge, and trail United on goal difference as the title race looks set for an exciting finale over the next four months.
Fulham - who have yet to secure the signing of striker £5million Marlon King from Watford amid reports of a failed medical - had pushed American Clint Dempsey forwards at the head of the attack.
And it was a positive start by the hosts.
Korean Seol Ki-Hyeon got inside full-back Gael Clichy down the right after five minutes, but then stumbled at the vital moment. Eventually Danny Murphy blasted the loose ball wide from 20 yards.
Arsenal were struggling to get a firm hold of the game, but did work the ball around quickly whenever possible.
Cesc Fabregas dragged his shot off target from the edge of the penalty area.
The blustery conditions also did little to help the Gunners' passing game, but Fulham used the wind to their advantage as they continued to look the sharper going forwards.
However, as the quarter-hour mark past, Arsenal started to find their rhythm and were ahead on 19 minutes.
Clichy broke down the left, before sending over a high cross into the Fulham penalty area.
Togo striker Adebayor got up in between two markers to nod the ball into the bottom right corner for his 14th goal of the campaign.
Arsenal have not lost this season whenever their African frontman has found the net, and were now in command.
After what had been a decent start, Fulham were left shell-shocked by going behind.
The Cottagers tried to regroup, but their attacks were well marshalled by Arsenal captain William Gallas - the former Chelsea defender roundly booed by the home fans at every opportunity.
It was 2-0 after 38 minutes when Mathieu Flamini did well to win the ball back just outside the Fulham box, and stabbed it wide to Alex Hleb on the right. Hleb set himself before sending over a weighted cross to the centre, where Adebayor was on hand to head in his second goal of the match.
Fulham created their best chance three minutes before the break when Steven Davis got down the left flank and cut the ball back to the edge of the box. Murphy arrived on queue - but his side-foot effort flew just over the bar.
Arsenal started the second half well and brilliant close control from Eduardo saw the Croatian weave into the penalty area from the right touchline.
His cut-back found Rosicky - and the Czech international was unfortunate to see a first-time effort come off the outside of the near post.
Arsenal centre-back Philippe Senderos - in again for Kolo Toure, away at the African Nations Cup - had to go off for treatment to a blooded nose following a clash in an aerial challenge with Dempsey.
Fulham had yet to muster a shot on target, and the frustrations of the fans were being to get through to the players, who lacked cohesion when trying to build an attack.
On the hour, the hosts made another change when Northern Ireland striker David Healy replaced Seol.
Fulham did then have the ball in the net through Dempsey at the far post - but he was one of three players offside.
Keeper Antti Niemi needed treatment after being accidentally caught with a boot in the face by Adebayor as the striker chased a long ball into the penalty area.
Arsenal almost conjured up a magical third following a fine interchange between the quick-footed Hleb, Rosicky and Fabregas - but the Spaniard's first-time shot was just wide.
Hodgson made his final throw of the dice on 78 minutes when he sent on striker Shefki Kuqi for Alexei Smertin.
It was game over soon afterwards, though, when Eduardo brook down the left, got to the goal-line and pulled the ball back across the six-yard box - where Rosicky flew in to volley home.
• Wenger hails his lethal weapon
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed 'lethal' Emmanuel Adebayor after a brace from the Togo striker helped his side beat struggling Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage.
The Gunners remain behind Premier League leaders Manchester United only on goal difference, and produced a workmanlike display to extend their unbeaten run to 11 matches.
Wenger is grateful Adebayor did not follow Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song to the African Nations Cup after Togo failed to qualify.
The Arsenal boss declared: 'In the past, he has sometimes ended up going out to the flanks because he so wants to be involved in play - but that drags him away from where he can be lethal.
'We have been telling him that for a while and he was more focused on being central today which is good.
'He has an unbelievable jump, he times his jumps very well and he's terrific in those situations.'
Wenger quipped: 'I must confess I wasn't devastated when Togo didn't qualify.
'It would have been difficult without Adebayor although we do have players who are coming on very well like Eduardo, (Nicklas) Bendtner and (Theo) Walcott.
'He has personality and he is now focused on his achievements here.
'He is also the main striker now and he gives us an added dimension with his headers.'
Arsenal always looked in control having weathered a bright start by Fulham in blustery conditions.
Croatian forward Eduardo had moved out to the left in the second half, and it was his run and centre which lead to a third, when Tomas Rosicky volleyed in from close range with nine minutes left.
Wenger said: 'We were in control for 90 minutes. We gave a strong response, scored early goals, kept things tight defensively and were technically very good.
'It shows that the team wants to do it this season, especially after a disappointing result last week against Birmingham and that they can come back in a very strong way.'
Wenger added: 'We scored three goals from crosses, which is quite unusually for us - but that shows we have a variety now in our game which allows us to deal with any kind of resistance we get.'
Despite another home defeat, Fulham's plight at the wrong end of the table was not deepened by results elsewhere.
Manager Roy Hodgson, though, knows he needs more bodies in if the Cottagers - currently five points adrift - are to beat the drop.
A £5million move for Watford striker Marlon King is 'on-going', with Hodgson maintaining he was 'unaware' of any complications with the deal, amid reports today of a failed medical.
The Fulham manager said: 'It is an on-going situation and everyone is still talking about it - the clubs and the agents, the player.
'We just hope that the matter will be resolved in the coming days and we hope it will be.'
Hodgson, who is also in negotiations with Korean forward Cho Jae Jin, insisted: 'I am not aware of anything other than it being an on-going situation and the clubs discussing the matter.'
The Fulham boss lamented his side's inability to build on what had been a positive opening.
He said: 'We had started quite brightly and seeing we were playing against a good team, we were quite comfortable.
'But the first goal meant they had their tails up and once the second went in, the second half was always going to be difficult.
'We are not creating many opportunities or pressure and in the wide areas we didn't win enough challenges.'
Hogdson added: 'We have to get to winning matches because the later we leave it, the harder it will become.
'I think we can do it.
'People are realistic. But I have to say I don't think the players have given up and if we bring in some new faces, that will improve the spirit even more.
'As far as I'm concerned, it's a work in progress and we're up for that work. We know where we have to improve.'
Always scores during 2nd half.
