Van Persie double helps Arsenal to win

(CNN) -- Robin van Persie scored twice as Arsenal eased to a 3-0 home win over Newcastle and moved up to second place in the English Premier League table.

Van Persie's first first came from the penalty spot in the 18th minute and he rounded off a fine move to score his second shortly before the break. Denilson added the third after an hour.

Newcastle brought on Joey Barton near the end and he made one clattering tackle on Samir Nasri, who was booked shortly afterwards for tripping the England international.

Paul Ince had an uncomfortable return to former club West Ham, where his Blackburn Rovers side were hammered 4-1.

West Ham fans were greatly upset when Ince allowed himself to be photographed in a Manchester United shirt before completing a transfer from Upton Park to Old Trafford in 1989.

They gave him a hostile reception and his time was brusquely treated by the Hammers, whose display took some of the pressure off their manager Alan Curbishley.

Calum Davenport headed West Ham in front from a 12th minute corner and eight minutes later Mark Noble's shot was deflected in off Rovers' defender Christopher Samba.

Jason Roberts pulled one back in the 22nd minute but missed the chance to equalize from the penalty spot.

Carlton Cole handled Steven Reid's free-kick in the West Ham area but Robert Green made a superb stop from Roberts' penalty.

Craig Bellamy and Cole added goals for the Hammers.

Curbishley, whose side find themselves in third place, said: "I've been around long enough to know that when the vultures are around it gets difficult.

"I've never had it before but you just have to deal with it. I'd rather it was directed at me than the players."

Jermain Defoe scored twice as Portsmouth romped to a 3-0 victory at Everton.

Harry Redknapp's side were pointless after their testing start against Chelsea and Manchester United, but at Goodison Park Defoe's partnership with Peter Crouch began to blossom.

In the 12th minute Crouch flicked on a long clearance and Defoe fired in his first goal in nine games.

Glen Johnson linked up with Defoe before scoring the second and England goalkeeper David James then saved Ayegbeni Yakubu's penalty after Johnson fouled James Vaughan.

Defoe's 69th minute strike was his 100th goal in league football.

Redknapp said: "Jermain was great. The goals were two excellent bits of skill from a top-class striker.

"We worked hard on our system all week and getting this result should give the players a lot of belief."

Middlesbrough striker Tuncay Sanli hit a late winner to sink 10-man Stoke 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium.

Gareth Southgate's side went ahead in the 37th minute after Stoke defender Amdy Faye was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Mohamed Shawky.

Brazilian forward Alves fired the resultant free kick high into the net.

Stewart Downing drove a penalty against the Stoke bar in the second half and the visitors equalized when Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte turned a Liam Lawrence cross into his own net.

Stoke's hopes of a point were dashed when Tuncay struck in the 85th minute.

Hull's bright start to life in the Premier League disintegrated as they lost 5-0 at home to Wigan.

Sam Ricketts' fifth minute own goal signaled that Hull might struggle and this was confirmed when Antonio Valencia doubled Wigan's lead in the 13th minute.

Egypt striker Amr Zaki made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute before Emile Heskey rounded Boaz Myhill for the fourth five minutes later. Zaki smashed in a superb effort to complete a great day for Steve Bruce's side.

Bolton manager Gary Megson was frustrated as Kevin Davies had a late goal disallowed in the 0-0 draw against his former club West Bromwich at the Reebok Stadium.