Premier League: Manchester City 3 -1 Arsenal at Etihad

De Bruyne (19′minutes), Agüero (50′minutes pen) and Jesus (74′minutes) have their names on the score sheet  for Manchester City as Lacazette (65′minutes) Arsenal’s only goal in the four goals thriller at Etihad on Sunday..

Manchester City’s opening goalscorer Kevin de Bruyne in the post match interview said, “We know Arsenal are a quality side but I think we contained them quite well. We created more chances and the third goal came at a good time. We should also have scored the second one in the first half. We kept our composure well and it is a great win for us.

“Obviously, it was great to score as it put us ahead and it’s always nice every time you score. Maybe we got the benefit from the referee but the penalty was the second one of its type in the game. He had to give a penalty.

“The more you win, the more other teams want to beat you. It’s been a great start for us so let’s see what other games bring.”

Arsenal didn’t get the rub of the green with decisions but City were by far the better side.

But, Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech after the match said the third goal made the difference. He said, “At 2-1 we got back into the game and we were in it, we had time to search for the equaliser but the third goal makes a huge difference.

“I can’t comment on the penalty because of my angle, but the third goal, I was surprised. David Silva looked far behind everybody but the referee has a better view than me.

“Referees have a difficult job to do. I don’t know if he got it right or wrong but that goal made the difference.”

City has thus remain top of the Premier League and extended their lead over Manchester United to 11 points, ahead of Jose Mourinho’s side’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday evening.

In the first half of the game De Bruyne scored in the 19th minutes. De Bruyne’s left-foot finish from Fernandinho one-two pass gave the home team the lead free.

Pep Guardiola has no doubt Arsenal could challenge his Manchester City side for the title.

The Premier League leaders host the Gunners on Sunday.

Arsenal finished outside the top four for the first time in 21 years last season and their start to the current campaign was indifferent.

But after losing just one of their last seven games to climb to fifth, the Londoners’ season is starting to show potential and Guardiola is wary of their threat.

He said: “We are in November. They won the FA Cup last season. The prestige of the club, the Emirates Stadium – of course they are a contender.

“It is nine points. The difference (between us) is nothing, believe me.

“People consider we are going to play like the last two months all season. When that has happens I can say, ‘OK we have a big chance to be champions’ but nobody can assure you that. We have to fight

Arsene Wenger- who knows a thing or two about being Invincible – has seen his side improve over the past fortnight and he’ll be banking on City transfer target Alexis Sanchez topple the Premier League.

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph, Fernandinho, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Aguero

Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Gundogan, Mangala, Bernardo, Jesus, Yaya Toure

Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac, Xhaka Coquelin, Ramsey, Ozil, Iwobi, Sanchez

Subs: Debuchy Lacazette, Wilshere, Giroud, Walcott, Elneny, Macey.

The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off. The atmosphere inside the stadium is electric, with both sets of fans in fine voice.

Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has also made two alterations to the team that featured in their last league outing, with Per Mertesacker and Alexandre Lacazette making way for Francis Coquelin and Alex Iwobi as they switch to a four-man defence for the first time this season.

Pep Guardiola has decided to make two changes to the City side that started the win away to West Bromwich Albion last weekend, with Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero coming into the starting line-up to replace Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus, respectively.

Arsenal substitutes: Macey, Debuchy, Elneny, Wilshere, Walcott, Giroud, Lacazette.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac; Xhaka, Coquelin; Ramsey, Ozil, Iwobi; Sanchez.

Manchester City substitutes: Bravo, Mangala, Danilo, Toure, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Jesus.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, David Silva; Sterling, Aguero, Sane.