Having scored in the ninth minute he set up strikes for Claudio Caniggia and Tore Andre Flo as Rangers produced their most dominating and fluent performance of the campaign with top performers all over the field.
Barry Ferguson and Claudio Reyna were sensational in midfield while Fernado Ricksen and Arthur Numan worked tirelessly down the flanks. All in all it augurs very well for Thursday’s Euro tie with Moscow Dynamo.
Having performed so well on his debut against Airdrie earlier in the week, it was inevitable that Arveladze would keep his place and within nine minutes he gave another indication of what a great acquisition he can be.
The Georgian star has the kind of insitictive quality which all strikers need and he timed his run to perfection, hitting the six-yard box to connect perfectly with an excellent cross from Caniggia on the right side.
With efficiency and purpose he swept a right foot shot into the left corner, giving Gordon Marshall absolutely no chance and giving Rangers the early breakthrough they wanted.
It was thoroughly deserved as Advocaat’s attacking 3-4-3 line-up had virtually swept Killie away in the opening moments with their slick inter-passing and clever movement.
With Barry Ferguson and Claudio Reyna back in the heart of midfield, Rangers were simply too strong for the Rugby Park side and with three strikes up front in the shape of Caniggia, Flo and Arveladze, Killie were reduced to some desperate defending.
Flo headed just wide in 13 minutes from Reyna’s freekick then Caniggia set up Arveladze again in 16 minutes with an excellent pass after a dazzling run. This time the former Ajax man tried to place his shot in the right corner but Marshall read it and made a good save.
Shota tested Marshall again in 25 mintues when he connected with Fernando Ricksen’s cross from the right but the Killie keeper was again able to make a good save from the new boy’s header.
It was almost exhibition stuff at times as Reyna and Ferguson ran the game and the two men created two good chances just around the half-hour mark which Killie were fortunate to keep out.
Firstly, Reyna’s lovely threaded pass sent Flo through the middle but his left foot shot was blocked by Marshall who had done well to narrow the angle.
Then Ferguson’s beautifully weighted pass released Numan on the left. His cross found the feet of Flo but the towering Norwegian just could not get his sights straight as he pulled a left foot shot wide.
Michael Ball, who was excellent again on the left side of defence, also turned creator in 38 minutes with a superb cross from the left but Caniggia put too much glance on his header and the ball flew harmlessly wide.
Within a minute, however, the Argentinian ace had the goal his play deserved to make Rangers more comfortable in the match and the finish was superb.
Fittingly, Arveladze reciprocrated for his earlier goal when he sent Caniggia scampering through the middle with only Marshall to beat. Claudio waited for his moment then lifted the ball over the sprawling Killie keeper to claim his fifth goal of the season.
Arthur Numan might have made it 3-0 three minutes before half-time when he connected with another exellent Ferguson pass but Marshall made a great save at his near post, pushing the ball wide for a corner.
There was no let-up in the early moments of the second half as relentless Rangers piled more pressure on poor Killie, who will scarcely have a more difficult afternoon all season.
Another magnificent Ferguson pass found Arveladze on the left side of the box in 49 minutes and he seemed destined to score when he cut inside onto his right foot but Marshall, again, made a good block.
The former Celtic keeper was solid again a minute later when he blocked Bert Konterman’s fierce drive. However, he was unable to prevent Flo firing Rangers three ahead in the 52nd minute.
For the second time Arveladze was the provider when he took Numan’s crossfield pass and then found Flo with a perfectly weighted pass. Flo still had some work to do but he brilliantly held off the attentions of Chris Innes before driving a left foot shot into the left corner.
Marshall’s heroics were far from over, however, as he made a brilliant block from Numan’s stinging volley in 52 minutes after Ball’s corner was only partially cleared.
Killie, however, gave themselves a gimmer of hope when substitute Antonio Calderon scored a terrific freekick with his first touch of the ball in 65 minutes.
Konterman gave away the foul 22 yards out on the right side when be barged Kris Boyd and Calderon curled a superb left effort over the wall into the top right corner.
In the grand scheme of thing, however, it mattered little. Rangers were comfortable winners and if they can replicate this form on Thursday night they should have enough of an advantage over Moscow Dynamo to progress to the third round of the UEFA Cup.
Ronald de Boer got the last 20 minutes to keep him ticking over for the Euro tie while Bob Malcolm got his first taste of top team action this season, playing the last seven minutes in place of the mightily impressive Reyna.
Arveladze should have finished off a great afternoon in style when de Boer picked him out with a super pass but he pushed his effort wide. However, his work had already been done.
RANGERS: Klos; Moore, Konterman, Ball; Ricksen, Reyna (Malcolm 84), Ferguson, Numan; Caniggia, Flo (de Boer 70), Arveladze. Subs not used – Christiansen, McCann, Gibson.
Bookings: None.
KILMARNOCK: Marshall; Canero, Innes, Dindeleux, Baker; McLaren, Sanjuan (Calderon 63), Mahood, Mitchell; Dargo (McCutcheon 83), di Giacomo (Boyd 63). Subs not used – Stewart, Hessey.
Bookings: Baker (90)
Ref: Dougie McDonald.
Att: 49,379.
Man of the match: Barry Ferguson – just shaded it from Shota.
Moment of the match: Ferguson’s crossfield pass for Numan in the first half was quite exquisite.