City sink 10-man Arsenal to keep title race alive

LONDON: Manchester City kept the title race alive as the champions won 2-0 at 10-man Arsenal to secure their first away league success over the Gunners for nearly 38 years.

Roberto Mancini's side knew anything less than a victory at the Emirates Stadium would all but end their title hopes after leaders Manchester United moved 10 points clear with a 2-1 win over Liverpool earlier on Sunday.

But second-placed City showed their determination to hold on to the crown with a first league win on Arsenal turf since October 1975.

The turning point came early on when Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny was sent off by referee Mike Dean for a professional foul on Edin Dzeko.

Although Dzeko missed the penalty which resulted from that incident, City exploited their numerical superiority in ruthless fashion with goals from James Milner and Dzeko before half-time.

City had captain Vincent Kompany sent off in the closing stages, but it was too late to spark an Arsenal fightback and Mancini's men, who have won five of their last six league games, will believe they can still overturn United's seven-point lead.

In contrast, Arsenal's spluttering attempts to qualify for the Champions League look more unconvincing by the week and Arsene Wenger's side remain six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.

Javi Garcia almost killed off Arsenal just before half-time when his looping header was nodded off the line by Jack Wilshere.

City were content to sit on their lead for much of the second half and Dean gave Arsenal a glimmer of hope in the 75th minute when he ruled that Kompany's two-footed tackle on Wilshere was worthy of a red card.

But the visitors had to survive only one scare when Joleon Lescott cleared off the line from Theo Walcott. (AFP)