Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League for the first time since November as they leapfrogged leaders Arsenal with a vital victory at Emirates Stadium.

The reigning champions turned on the power in the second half in the biggest game of the domestic season as Arsenal paid a heavy price for individual errors.

Takehiro Tomiyasu's poor backpass allowed Kevin de Bruyne to loft a finish over Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after 24 minutes but Arsenal deservedly drew level three minutes before half-time, Bukayo Saka scoring from the spot after City goalkeeper Ederson fouled Eddie Nketiah.

City, lacking spark in the opening phase, improved after the break and had a penalty of their own ruled out for offside against Erling Haaland before they showed a ruthless streak to punish Arsenal.

Gabriel lost possession to allow Bernardo Silva and Haaland to set up Jack Grealish for a deflected finish after 72 minutes before they ended Arsenal's hopes with 10 minutes left.

Inevitably, Haaland was the scorer from De Bruyne's pass to put City top on goal difference having played one game more than Arsenal.

Man City strike telling blow

City have returned to the top of the Premier League by striking a devastating blow on the long-time leaders.

City, by their own standards, have not quite hit the heights this season but they now find themselves looking down on Arsenal once more, albeit the Gunners have a game in hand.

Even here, City lacked their usual fluency in the first 45 minutes and Arsenal arguably deserved more than being on level terms at the interval.

And yet, once they moved through the gears in the second half City carried enough threat to put Arsenal away and return to the position they have occupied so often in recent years.

City gratefully accepted the gifts Arsenal offered and once Grealish restored their lead - a touch off the luckless Tomiyasu sending his shot past Ramsdale - this game was done.

Haaland's goal emphasised City's supremacy and they closed out the win with ease, the celebrations at the final whistle reflecting the significance of the result.

Arsenal must hold nerve

This defeat will be a bitter blow to Arsenal, coming as it did in front of their own supporters.

It continued a recent stumble in which they have lost at City in the FA Cup and at Everton in the league, drawn controversially against Brentford on Saturday and now another damaging defeat here.

Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta must not get too down on themselves, although the scale of the setback here cannot be underestimated in the context of the title race.

The Gunners were excellent in the first 45 minutes but Tomiyasu's poor back pass and Gabriel's concession of possession were the sort of mistakes you simply cannot make against this class of opponent.

Arsenal must regroup and realise they are still right at the heart of the Premier League title pursuit - but no-one can escape the damage done by this result.

Player of the match

De BruyneKevin De Bruyne

with an average of 8.29

Arsenal

  • Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating

    5.91

  • Squad number1Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating

    5.29

  • Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating

    5.25

  • Squad number35Player nameZinchenkoAverage rating

    4.98

  • Squad number20Player nameJorginhoAverage rating

    4.89

  • Squad number12Player nameSalibaAverage rating

    4.78

  • Squad number34Player nameXhakaAverage rating

    4.70

  • Squad number14Player nameNketiahAverage rating

    4.62

  • Squad number11Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating

    4.52

  • Squad number19Player nameTrossardAverage rating

    4.52

  • Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating

    4.43

  • Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating

    4.17

  • Squad number18Player nameTomiyasuAverage rating

    4.03

  • Squad number21Player nameFábio VieiraAverage rating

    3.80

    • Manchester City

  • Squad number17Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating

    8.29

  • Squad number9Player nameHaalandAverage rating

    7.64

  • Squad number3Player nameRúben DiasAverage rating

    7.27

  • Squad number8Player nameGündoganAverage rating

    7.26

  • Squad number6Player nameAkéAverage rating

    7.23

  • Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating

    7.19

  • Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating

    7.14

  • Squad number25Player nameAkanjiAverage rating

    6.94

  • Squad number2Player nameWalkerAverage rating

    6.92

  • Squad number47Player nameFodenAverage rating

    6.83

  • Squad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating

    6.82

  • Squad number26Player nameMahrezAverage rating

    6.79

  • Squad number4Player namePhillipsAverage rating

    6.66

  • Squad number31Player nameEdersonAverage rating

    6.42

    • Line-ups

    Arsenal

    Formation 4-3-3

    1Ramsdale

    18Tomiyasu12Saliba6Gabriel35Zinchenko

    8Ødegaard20Jorginho34Xhaka

    7Saka14Nketiah11Martinelli

    • 1Ramsdale
    • 18TomiyasuBooked at 48minsSubstituted forWhiteat 83'minutes
    • 12Saliba
    • 6Gabriel
    • 35Zinchenko
    • 8Ødegaard
    • 20Jorginho
    • 34XhakaSubstituted forFábio Vieiraat 83'minutes
    • 7Saka
    • 14NketiahBooked at 64mins
    • 11MartinelliSubstituted forTrossardat 76'minutes

    Substitutes

    • 3Tierney
    • 4White
    • 15Kiwior
    • 16Holding
    • 19Trossard
    • 21Fábio Vieira
    • 24Nelson
    • 30Turner
    • 85Cozier-Duberry

    Man City

    Formation 4-1-4-1

    31Ederson

    2Walker3Rúben Dias6Aké20Bernardo Silva

    16Rodri

    26Mahrez17De Bruyne8Gündogan10Grealish

    9Haaland

    • 31EdersonBooked at 36mins
    • 2WalkerBooked at 34mins
    • 3Rúben Dias
    • 6Aké
    • 20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 45mins
    • 16Rodri
    • 26MahrezSubstituted forAkanjiat 61'minutes
    • 17De BruyneSubstituted forPhillipsat 87'minutes
    • 8Gündogan
    • 10GrealishBooked at 62minsSubstituted forFodenat 77'minutes
    • 9Haaland

    Substitutes

    • 4Phillips
    • 14Laporte
    • 18Ortega
    • 19Álvarez
    • 21Gómez
    • 25Akanji
    • 47Foden
    • 80Palmer
    • 82Lewis

    Referee:Anthony Taylor

    Attendance:60,276

    Match Stats

    Live Text

  • Match ends, Arsenal 1, Manchester City 3.

  • Second Half ends, Arsenal 1, Manchester City 3.

  • Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Bukayo Saka.

  • Foul by Leandro Trossard (Arsenal).

  • Kyle Walker (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Hand ball by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).

  • Ben White (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Foul by Phil Foden (Manchester City).

  • Attempt missed. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bukayo Saka with a cross.

  • Substitution, Manchester City. Kalvin Phillips replaces Kevin De Bruyne.

  • Attempt blocked. Ben White (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard.

  • Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Foul by Erling Haaland (Manchester City).

  • Attempt blocked. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leandro Trossard.

  • Substitution, Arsenal. Fábio Vieira replaces Granit Xhaka.

  • Substitution, Arsenal. Ben White replaces Takehiro Tomiyasu.

  • Goal! Arsenal 1, Manchester City 3. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.

  • William Saliba (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Foul by Erling Haaland (Manchester City).

  • Substitution, Manchester City. Phil Foden replaces Jack Grealish because of an injury.

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