A big win for Manchester City. A damaging defeat for Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola's team are back on top. For now.

The Gunners can return to the summit when they face Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime. Join us then for that game and seven others in the English top-flight.

For now, though, good night and thanks for the company.

Manchester City

Man City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Sport: "In the first half, Arsenal were much better than us. We were not intense enough, maybe because I changed something and it was not good enough. In the second half we were much more aggressive and much, much better. And yeah, we did it.

"Before Munu Akanji came in the team was playing much better. From the first minute of the second half we pressed much higher and more intensely. They didn't get that extra man in midfield that they can create. Kyle, Manu, Ruben and Nathan, they did an extraordinary effort to control Saka, Martinelli and Nketiah. It is not easy."

When asked if he thought it was a penalty? *Shrugs*

"He [Erling Haaland] helps us a lot, fighting against Saliba. It is not easy. We spoke a lot about the behaviours of defenders from Arsenal and against them you have to use the contact and the body. And he helped us a lot with the long balls. When a team plays man to man and just leaves the keeper alone you have to use the weapon we have with Erling.

"If they win the game in hand they are top of the league. What they have done is incredible and we are still there. This league will be decided for the last eight or 10 games. There are 15 to go. It is a lot and the Champions League is coming. Many games and tiring for the players. It is important that we are here because six points if we lose and maybe nine points hypothetically, it is not easy. Especially for the way we behave in the second half, with a lot of personality to do it."

Erling Haaland's current tally of 26 goals would have been enough to win the Premier League Golden Boot in 19 of the previous 30 campaigns, including each of the last four.

It is the joint-most by a Manchester City player in a single campaign in the competition, alongside Sergio Agüero in 2014-15.

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Amazon Prime: "At the end it is disappointment because we lost. And I mean WE lost it. It was an incredible battle between two teams and when we had them we gave them the goals. On the other hand, we had three big chances and we did not put them away.

"To beat them we have to be above our level because of the quality they have. We matched them and had them in moments, but the games are defined by individual moments in the box and they were better than us.

"We were really imprecise in starts of play, we didn't read situations well enough and played fast when we didn't have any advantage and put ourselves in trouble. OK, we can accept that. But the way we gave away the goals at this level, it is not possible.

"I didn't see any difference there with City in the second-half. They went man to man in many situations. We got out of the press in some situations but we didn't understand when to play and what type of balls to play in certain areas and we got punished.

"The atmosphere and performance were really good if you take away that we gave Manchester City three goals. I don't know what more I can demand from the players to match that level. They are the best team in the world and we matched that level. After it is just about doing certain things better to beat them.

"I have more belief [to win the league] because I see a team going head-to-head with them. You have to go to the next one and in three days we have another game. I have more belief in my players."

Manchester City

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live:

"Non-stop game - very hard work and an intense game. A good one to watch from home and in the stadium but I don't think you could expect any other thing from the two teams today. Very happy to get the three points, that's it. Very intense, many duels, two teams who love to press high and have the ball. Fortunately we were the ones on top at the end.

"This means everything to us, when you come to these moments against your rival, it just means everything. For our team that's the way to live it. One game at a time, but leave it all there in that one game and make sure you have nothing left to give. We know how talented our team is so in the end it's about giving the best of ourselves because if we get that then it will be very difficult for teams to beat us.

"We're taking it one step at a time and there's still a long way to go. It's in our mind to just keep getting better and better. We're getting into the deep of the season, a lot to play, this is the moment to be here and be present. Important day for the team and I hope we keep doing like this."

Manchester City’s Jack Grealish had one goal and no assists in eight appearances in the Premier League this season heading into the World Cup break, while he has two goals and three assists from nine matches since the competition returned.

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Huge battle - a battle that, especially until we conceded second goal, we had them - we had the feeling we could beat them but we gave them three goals and the game at the end. With certain errors at this level you can't make. The team put the level very high at the same time.

"They were playing long balls and we suffered to get out of those zones and didn't read the situation well enough, they punished us."

On title race: "I have more belief than I had before the game, with the performance and the level the team put in against City. They wanted to play a different game than the one we played and with the crowd we have we can do it.

"They still have it [the belief], I can sense it. They feel they can do it.

"The difference was in the boxes, they had three chances and they put them away. We had chances and we didn't put them away."

This defeat continues Arsenal's losing run against Man City. They have now lost their last 11 Premier League games against City, their longest losing run against an opponent in their league history.

It also continues City's winning Wednesday run. They have won each of their last 23 Premier League games on a Wednesday, the longest winning run on a specific day of the week in the competition's history.

Arsenal have now failed to win in their last 3 games in the Premier League, their last joint longest winless streak was from 4th April 2022 to 16th April 2022.

It has been a morale-sapping dip.

Arsenal

Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard, speaking to Amazon Prime: "The game is decided in the boxes and we were not sharp enough, in front of the goal and in our own as well. They were better. Apart from that, we played a good game, did many good things and had many good periods, but we have to be better in the boxes.

"It is football. Sometimes chances go in, sometimes not. But that is where we need to improve and be more clinical and defend our box. That is not just about one player, but the whole team.

"As we have said all season, work hard and take it game by game. It is the same now. It is one game we have lost here today and now we look to the next one. A new game on Saturday and we must come back and win.

"It was an unbelievable atmosphere and we are so grateful to everyone who came here today and made the game special. We will work hard to give them something to make them happy about."

Manchester City

Manchester City goalscorer Erling Haaland: "City are, 'we' not me, are the champions so you can say so, yeah [that it was a champions' performance].

"Small adjustment in half time from Pep and in the end we have good quality players and we have to get it out of every player and we did today.

"We have to play a little bit more like this sometimes and that is what we did today - I am so proud of every guy here and so happy to be here.

"We can all agree [Arsenal] has been the best team this season so to come and play against them is not easy, but we played an amazing game and got three really important points - we are in it again."

On ending his goalscoring drought: "It has gone 20 minutes since I last got a goal - so I have to keep working!

"It was so positive, happy celebrations, and I am so happy with everything, we needed this one and now we have to go on a run, because that's what Manchester City should do."

Matthew Upson
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Massive win, big performances from big players. They turned up and produced the world class quality that they have in he moment that it was needed.

That's what separated the game, their players were clinical when the chances came, they defended well enough, controlled the game when they needed to and rightly so they're celebrating with their fans.

Seth: Basically, with this defeat, Arsenal have collected just 1 point from their last 3 games: L against Everton, D against Brentford and now L against City! Incredible capitulation!

Thomas: Arsenal not managing a single shot on target from open play its just appalling. Nice to see the standard Arsenal title choke is early this season, normally have to wait until March.

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Massive blow for Arsenal, how will they recover? Yes they have a game in hand but I thought City were excellent in the second half.

They've flexed their muscles and said to Arsenal 'we are the team to beat'.

For Arsenal it's about recovering, they need to win that game at Aston Villa.

Arsenal edged the first half, but City decisively took the second.

Pep Guardiola's team are back on top with a big psychological victory that swings the momentum in this title race their way.

The Gunners need to get over this and quickly. There is still a long way to go.

Video Assistant Refereepublished at 90+5 mins

90+5 mins

Arsenal 1-3 Man City

We're going to have one last VAR check for a penalty after Ilkay Gundogan is tackled in the box by William Saliba.

It's all done very sharpish, though. No pen.

There are a lot of folded arms and glum faces amongst this home crowd.

Long way to go this season. This race is far from run.

Into added time. The hope has been sucked out of this ground. Leandro Trossard tries to restore some but his shot from angle lands on the roof of the net.

As Kevin de Bruyne made his way around the ground after being subbed, he had a fair few bottles thrown at him.

That is something Arsenal will be hearing more about in the future, I'm sure.

Arsenal are in the City half and still plugging away but they're heading down blind alleys until a ball is whipped into the middle for Eddie Nketiah to head wide.

It is a good chance. It would have given the Gunners a chance.