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Kevin de Bruyne scored his 27th Premier League goal from outside the box since joining Man City in August 2015 - five more than any other player during that timeManchester City delivered a masterclass to overwhelm Premier League leaders Arsenal and strike a huge psychological blow in the title race at Etihad Stadium.
The confrontation billed as a potential title-decider turned into an embarrassingly one-sided affair.
Pep Guardiola's side, now two points behind Arsenal with two games in hand, were inspired by the devastating partnership of Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne.
Haaland set De Bruyne away for a silky opener after seven minutes, and Arsenal then survived a constant bombardment of attacks before John Stones headed home from a corner in first-half stoppage time, the goal given by VAR after originally being ruled offside.
City goal machine Haaland was outstanding and again setting up De Bruyne for the third in the 54th minute, the Belgian passing a classy finish between the legs of Gunners defender Rob Holding.
Holding pulled one back for Arsenal late on before Haaland, denied four times by Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale earlier in the match, sealed a memorable night with his 49th City goal.
City can go top with victory at Fulham on Sunday while Arsenal must somehow pull out of a slump that has seen them go four league games without a win at a crucial stage of the season.
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City look unstoppable
City still have work to do to retain their title but, in the biggest game of the Premier League season, they delivered a brutal message.
Guardiola was as fired up as his players in the early stages, raging in his technical area, even giving an animated lecture to goalkeeper Ederson after De Bruyne put them ahead.
City were at their magnificent best as they tore holes in the Arsenal rearguard, the Gunners miraculously surviving all manner of close shaves after the opener before Stones' header gave them the cushion they deserved.
Haaland had a rare night when his golden touch in front of goal deserted him until virtually the last kick of the game - although Ramsdale played his part in that - but the Norwegian demonstrated just how much his all-round game has improved under Guardiola by giving an exhibition in link-up play, twice assisting for De Bruyne and playing with an air of menace throughout.
And De Bruyne once more showed his enduring class with two classic precision finishes.
The title is not run yet and no-one at City will be complacent, but this performance carried all the hallmarks of a side on a mission to keep their crown and who now have all the momentum with them.
More to follow.
Kevin de Bruyne has scored 64 Premier League goals for Manchester City since joining from Wolfsburg for £55m in 2015More to follow.
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Manchester City
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Squad number2Player nameWalker
Squad number5Player nameStones
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias- Squad number25Player nameAkanji
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne- Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number8Player nameGündogan
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva- Squad number9Player nameHaaland
- Squad number10Player nameGrealish
- Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number26Player nameMahrez
Squad number47Player nameFoden
Arsenal
- Squad number1Player nameRamsdale
- Squad number4Player nameWhite
Squad number16Player nameHolding- Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
Squad number35Player nameZinchenko- Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
- Squad number5Player namePartey
Squad number34Player nameXhaka- Squad number7Player nameSaka
Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus- Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli
- Squad number10Player nameSmith Rowe
- Squad number14Player nameNketiah
- Squad number19Player nameTrossard
- Squad number20Player nameJorginho
Squad number24Player nameNelson
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 2Walker
- 5Stones
- 3Rúben DiasBooked at 45mins
- 25Akanji
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forÁlvarezat 80'minutes
- 16RodriBooked at 88mins
- 8GündoganSubstituted forMahrezat 72'minutes
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 9Haaland
- 10GrealishBooked at 75minsSubstituted forFodenat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Phillips
- 14Laporte
- 18Ortega
- 19Álvarez
- 21Gómez
- 26Mahrez
- 47Foden
- 80Palmer
- 82Lewis
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 4White
- 16Holding
- 6Gabriel
- 35Zinchenko
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forSmith Roweat 71'minutes
- 5ParteyBooked at 76mins
- 34XhakaSubstituted forJorginhoat 60'minutes
- 7SakaSubstituted forNelsonat 80'minutes
- 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forNketiahat 80'minutes
- 11MartinelliSubstituted forTrossardat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Tierney
- 10Smith Rowe
- 14Nketiah
- 15Kiwior
- 19Trossard
- 20Jorginho
- 21Fábio Vieira
- 24Nelson
- 30Turner
Referee:Michael Oliver
Attendance:53,482
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 4, Arsenal 1.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 4, Arsenal 1.
Goal! Manchester City 4, Arsenal 1. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Phil Foden.
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal).
Foul by Julián Álvarez (Manchester City).
Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Thomas Partey (Arsenal).
Rodri (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).
Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Manchester City. Phil Foden replaces Jack Grealish.
Goal! Manchester City 3, Arsenal 1. Rob Holding (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Leandro Trossard following a corner.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Manuel Akanji.
Substitution, Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Gabriel Jesus.
Substitution, Manchester City. Julián Álvarez replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
Substitution, Arsenal. Reiss Nelson replaces Bukayo Saka.
Attempt missed. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Hand ball by Rodri (Manchester City).
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