Manchester City seized the initiative in the Premier League title race with a ruthless 3-1 win over Arsenal to send the defending champions above the Gunners at the top of the table.
In a pulsating encounter at the Emirates Stadium which lived up to its billing, City’s title-winning pedigree eventually told as a goal from Jack Grealish and a 26th of the campaign from Erling Haaland clinched a potentially pivotal victory for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Earlier, Bukayo Saka’s penalty, after Ederson was deemed to have fouled Eddie Nketiah, had cancelled out an opening goal from Kevin De Bruyne, who lifted a brilliant first-time finish over Aaron Ramsdale following a poor Takehiro Tomiyasu backpass.
Arsenal, without Thomas Partey due to a muscular injury, deserved their leveller having started positively, but their recent slip-ups against Everton and Brentford had opened the door to City and Mikel Arteta’s side were unable to resist their second-half pressure.
The defeat extends Arsenal’s winless run to three games and puts the momentum behind a City side seemingly galvanised by the charges levelled against them by the Premier League. They go top on goal difference, albeit having played a game more.
Arsenal are back in Premier League action in the early kick-off on Saturday as they travel to Villa Park to face Aston Villa.
Manchester City have another away trip on Saturday as they head to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.