Valenciennes put some daylight between themselves and the Ligue 1 drop zone with a convincing win over basement boys Arles.

Gregory Pujol put the hosts in front in the 20th minute and then had a host of chances to extend their lead before Carlos Sanchez Moreno did finally make it two with 12 minutes to go.

Gael Danic rounded off the victory in the 82nd minute.

The win moved Valenciennes four points clear of the bottom three and left Arles eight points adrift at the bottom of the table.

VA were on the front foot from the off and Pujol freed Jose Saez, whose shot was kept out by goalkeeper Cyrille Merville.

Puyol beat Merville in the 20th minute, though, rounding off a fine counter-attack led by Saez by firing home with his left foot.

Renaud Cohade then headed wide before Arles showed as an attacking force, Kaba Diawara pouncing on a loose pass from Bobo Balde but sending his effort wide.

Pujol almost grabbed a second four minutes after the break, volleying wide from Cohade's cross, while at the other end the ball fell to Franck Dja Djedje from Camel Meriem's corner and his shot was deflected away by defender Milan Bisevac.

Merville then denied Pujol with an excellent save at full stretch to palm away the striker's header, but Sanchez Moreno doubled VA's lead in the 78th minute.

He controlled Rudy Mater's cross with his chest on the edge of the area and struck an angled shot past Merville.

And Danic sealed the win four minutes later. Mater was again involved as this time his ball in from the right picked out Danic at the far post and his volleyed effort went across the keeper and into the far corner.