Following a slow start to the campaign, it is now six straight wins in all competitions for the Gunners, who have a league match in hand on both leaders Manchester United and Chelsea.

Arsenal always looked good value this afternoon against an out-classed Watford side, who have yet to record a Premiership win.

An own goal from Jordan Stewart set the hosts on their way, before captain Thierry Henry scored one and made another for strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor either side of half-time.

The first decent chance of the match came after nine minutes.

Good work by Henry down the right saw the ball drop to Tomas Rosicky on the edge of the penalty area.

His fierce drive was beaten away by Watford keeper Ben Foster, who then scrambled up to block Adebayor's goal-bound, angled cut-back.

The Gunners were soon on the attack again.

A throughball from Theo Walcott - making a first start for Arsenal - set Cesc Fabregas away behind the defence.

The Spaniard rounded the advancing keeper, but had been forced to dart wide on the left - and his shot flew into the side netting.

Watford, with only four points so far, were struggling to get out of their own half.

There was, however, a few moment of panic on the Arsenal area on 19 minutes.

A poor clearance by keeper Jens Lehmann was charged down and broke for Marlon King down the Watford right.

His centre flew across goal, where Damien Francis just failed to make a clean connection at the far post.

The visitors continued to press - and King should have done better when he volleyed over the top from close range following a knockdown into the six-yard box.

At the other end, Watford skipper Gavin Mahon hacked a loose ball away from Fabregas, who was looking to pounce in the six-yard box following a jinking run from Rosicky which had brought another decent reaction save from Foster.

Arsenal finally went ahead on 33 minutes. Fabregas' deep free-kick was flicked on towards the far post by Adebayor, where, under pressure from Kolo Toure, the unfortunate Stewart glanced the ball past his own goalkeeper.

Despite the somewhat lucky nature of the goal, the home side were nevertheless worthy of their lead.

Henry left his two markers tackling thin air as he skipped into space on the edge of the penalty area - and was just inches away from curling a low shot into the far corner.

The brilliant Frenchman then made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute.

Henry held off the over-close attentions of Jay DeMerit to latch onto a flick from Adebayor.

Once the Arsenal captain was clear and in full flight, there was no stopping him, as he confidently stroked home a fourth goal of the season.

The hosts continued where they had left off at the start of the second half, with Walcott cutting inside from the left and unleashing a curling drive just over on 53 minutes.

Foster then dived bravely at the feet of Adebayor as the Arsenal striker looked to touch in Justin Hoyte's right-wing cross.

With 26 minutes left, Walcott was given a deserved rest, replaced by Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb.

Rosicky was within inches of making it 3-0 when he drilled in a low 18-yard effort, which Foster tipped around his right-hand post at full stretch.

Henry then showed some quick thinking to unselfishly set up Adebayor for a tap-in on 67 minutes.

Fabregas' perfectly-timed pass released the Arsenal captain ahead of the defence down the right channel.

Henry drew the goalkeeper before, so aware of his team-mates, sliding the ball ahead into the path of Adebayor, who slotted into an empty net.

Francis should have quickly pulled a goal back for Watford - but headed straight at Lehmann from six yards following King's cross from the right.

Hleb needed some treatment on his ankle after a late sliding challenge from Mahon, before fit-again left-back Gael Clichy was given a run-out for the last 10 minutes in place of William Gallas.

There was still time for Lehmann to save well down to his left from King's fierce snap-shot - which just about summed up Watford's afternoon.