Manchester City put on a sensational show of attacking football to beat Premier League leaders, Arsenal, 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium and make a real statement to their title rivals.
A Fernandinho double, along with goals from Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo, David Silva and a Yaya Toure penalty fired Manuel Pellegrini’s side to victory.
And the Gunners, who had the returning Theo Walcott and Per Mertesacker to thank for their strikes, were unable to handle their opponents, who were simply too good.
A scrappy opening saw Man City put the early pressure on the Gunners, who did well to stifle their opponents but they were rewarded for their good start with the lead after 14 minutes as Martin Demichelis’ flick on at the front post from Samir Nasri’s corner found Aguero, who adjusted his body shape and volleyed past Wojciech Szczesny from close range.
But the Gunners equalised when, making the most of a Toure mistake, Walcott’s strike went into the back of the net via Demchelis’ head.
Negredo, before the break, nudged home a Pablo Zabaleta’s cross to make it 2-1.
The goal was a double blow for Arsenal who saw in-form defender, Laurent Koscielny, limp off through injury to be replaced by Thomas Vermaelen.
With 53 minutes gone, though, a 25-yard strike from £30 million summer signing, Fernandinho, appeared to have given the Citizens an unassailable lead.
But Arsenal were reluctant to sit back and accept their fate and as such they peppered their opponents’ penalty area with crosses and through-balls.
And eventually one paid off as a pass from Ramsey found Walcott, who picked out the top corner of Costel Pantilimon’s goal, with an excellent controlled clip.
Unfortunately, such is Man City’s quality in the final third, the Gunners were unable to nab an equaliser before David Silva made it 4-2 by directing Navas’ low cross past Szczesny.
Fernandinho showed his class once again to chip in a fifth, before Per Mertesacker’s diving header gave Arsenal a third.
Toure, with six minutes into added time, made it 6-3 from the penalty spot following Szczesny’s foul on James Milner, leaving neutral fans breathless.
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