Rampant Arsenal rout 10-man City

Arsenal underlined their credentials as serious contenders for the Premier League title with an emphatic 3-0 win against 10-man Manchester City on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger’s side arrived at Eastlands with a miserable record in recent games against English football’s leading teams, but they proved they can win when the stakes are highest thanks to goals from Samir Nasri, Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner.

The Gunners took full advantage when City defender Dedryck Boyata was sent off after just four minutes and are now in second place – five points behind leaders Chelsea.

Nasri gave Wenger’s team the lead in some style midway through the first half and Cesc Fabregas even had a penalty saved by Joe Hart just before half time.

But Song’s drive put the game beyond City, who suffered a first home defeat of the season.

Substitute Bendtner added Arsenal’s third when he burst on to Nasri’s pass and guided a shot past Hart with two minutes left.

City, now in fourth place, did not take long to demonstrate their pace and power with Carlos Tevez pulling away from Johan Djourou and crossing for David Silva’s flick to be denied by Lukasz Fabianski.

Then James Milner sent Micah Richards charging clear only for Bacary Sagna to hack his cross away.

But after just four minutes, City were reduced to 10 men when Fabregas played Marouane Chamakh through and he was tripped by Boyata just outside the area.

The visitors were angered by challenges on Fabregas by Nigel de Jong, whose tackle broke Hatem Ben Arfa’s leg in his last league appearance at Eastlands, and then Gareth Barry.

City continued to press forward and from a short pass from Silva, Tevez had a low effort held by Fabianski.

Arsenal should have taken the lead with their first decent opportunity but the unmarked Djourou headed over from six yards after being picked out by Sagna’s cross.

But after 20 minutes they did pull ahead though Nasri. City failed to clear from a Gael Clichy cross and Nasri swapped passes with Andrei Arshavin before firing in at the near post.

Richards could have pulled City level after a fine throughball from James Milner but cut inside on his left foot and shot wide from 12 yards.

Five minutes before the interval Arsenal were given the chance to double their lead when Vincent Kompany chopped Fabregas down just inside the area.

But Hart pulled off a fine save from the Spaniard’s penalty to keep the hosts in with a chance.

It was Arsenal’s third missing penalty of the season and Kompany almost put City back in it with a header that flew just over the bar from Silva’s corner.

After the restart, Fabregas passed up another opportunity from Nasri’s pass.

Roberto Mancini threw on former Arsenal star Emmanuel Adebayor after Tevez was forced to limp off through injury.

Just before the hour, Silva almost pulled City level when he was slipped into the area by Milner but saw his cross-shot tipped wide by Fabianski.

Adebayor soon got a chance himself when Silva’s corner was flicked on by Kompany but the Togo forward headed over at the far post.

Midway through the second period, Arsenal doubled their advantage.

Fabregas attempted to thread a pass through to Chamakh and Wayne Bridge’s block fell for Song, who drilled into the top corner of the net.

Mancini then brought on Mario Balotelli, who has been out for two months with a knee problem, for his Premier League debut.

Fabianski again kept City at bay with a fine save from Adebayor’s header from Silva’s cross.

But Bendtner added further gloss to the victory with a third in the 88th minute thanks to a fine pass from Nasri.