Manchester City 1 Arsenal 5
The final scoreline was 5-1 but it could have been even more after the Double winners streaked into a four-goal advantage before 20 minutes had elapsed.
Dennis Bergkamp took only four minutes to guide a Lauren pass beyond Carlo Nash, and Robert Pires made it 2-0 with his left foot after Thierry Henry skinned Richard Dunne.
The former Everton defender, criticised for being overweight in the past, simply could not live with Henry as the French sprinter latched onto a long ball by Martin Keown to add further misery to City. It was no surprise when Dunne was later substituted but his chief tormentor was simply in a different gear.
Sol Campbell headed home a corner before City finally managed a couple of attempts themselves through Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler.
Anelka lobbed wide in the second half but, again, it was Arsenal who scored next courtesy of Patrick Vieira who stormed through on goal from midfield to supply a simple finish past the hapless Nash.
Anelka at least managed a late consolation against his former club, even though Fowler looked suspiciously off-side, but The Gunners go five points clear of Manchester United and it would take a brave man to bet against them pulling off another Double this time around.
