2002-03 : Manchester City 1-5 Arsenal

The Gunners gave Kevin Keegan's men a footballing masterclass, with Thierry Henry providing yet another breathtaking display in attack. Arsenal's performance was so complete that it took them a mere 20 minutes to wrap up the win and extend their lead at the top of the table to five points. The result underlined the Londoners' superiority in the Premiership. First to find the net was Dennis Bergkamp, who ghosted past the hosts' defence to latch onto Lauren's pass and fire Arsenal into the lead from seven yards out. The omens did not look good for City and when Henry eluded their defence, the outcome was as predictable as it was beautiful. The ball moved swiftly from one Frenchman to another, and Robert Pires executed the perfect left-foot shot past Carlo Nash in the City goal. If there was a certain inevitability about that attack, then few could have guessed that Martin Keown would provide the telling contribution for Arsenal's third three minutes later. His 60-yard pass baffled the hapless Richard Dunne, and within the blink of an eye Henry had latched onto the ball, unleashing an wonderful left-foot strike. When in this mood, Arsenal show no mercy. And it was to be no different at Maine Road. City were not given any time to regroup as the Gunners went in search of goals, goals, goals. From a Henry corner, Sol Campbell powered in a header. No wonder Arsenal fans sang "we shall not be moved".
Unbeaten in their last 16 games, at the top of the table before kick-off and 4-0 up by half time, Arsenal are in a league of their own. City had to turn things around and fast, but the closest they came to that was changing ends at the interval. That they restricted Arsenal to a solitary goal after the break - captain Patrick Vieira added his name to the scoresheet - deserves a mention. So too does Nicolas Anelka's late consolation against his former employers. But this game was only ever about one team - leaders Arsenal.


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