Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus all found the net as Manchester City swiped Arsenal aside with a 3-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

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

In form winger De Bruyne got the goal scoring rolling in the first half when he thumped into the bottom corner.

Argentine Aguero, who became City's record scorer earlier this week, doubled the score from the spot, after Nacho Monreal had barged down Raheem Sterling.

Sub Alexandre Lacazette pulled one back for the Gunners before Gabriel Jesus restored the two goal lead with a tap-in.

Aguero and Sane celebrate (
Image:
REUTERS)
City are 11 points clear of United but have played a game more (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

1. De Bruyne continues to ooze class

De Bruyne celebrates his goal (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

Kevin De Bruyne said at the weekend he gets more pleasure from creating goals than scoring them, but he did both for City's opener, exchanging passes with Fernandinho before burying a decisive left-foot angled finish beyond the reach of Peter Cech, having been denied by the Arsenal keeper moments earlier.

In a team shimmering with talent, De Bruyne sparkles the most, although special mention must be made for David Silva, who once again showed his enduring value to City, at his probing best throughout and rarely squandering possession with the ball at his feet.

2. City rack up a half century of goals

City now have over 50 goals this season (
Image:
PA)

De Bruyne's opener after 18 minutes was City's 36 goal in the Premier League this season and 50 in all competitions.

If Pep Guardiola's side continue at their current free-scoring rate, they will end the season with 133 goals, some feat considering the record in the Premier League is 103, set by Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea in 2010.

Manchester United's Treble-wining side side managed 80 Premier League goals in their historic 1998-99 campaign, with City – now on 38 Premier League goals - comfortably on course to eclipse every English side that has gone before them in terms of finding the back of the net.

3. Sterling's final ball infuriates Guardiola

Serling's passing angered Guardiola (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

At his pre-match press conference on Friday, Guardiola lavished praise on Raheem Sterling for the extra work he had put in on his finishing that had enabled him to plunder 10 goals this season to be City's top scorer.

Guardiola said Sterling's final ball still had to improve, the winger proving just that with a hopelessly overhit pass to Leroy Sane, just after the half-hour, when City had counter-attacked at breakneck speed and seemed certain to make it 2-0.

Guardiola could not contain his anger, throwing his arms up in disgust and Slumping back in his seat in the dug-out.

4. Record-breaker Aguero ditches golden boots in break

Aguero scores his penalty with black boots (
Image:
Manchester City FC)
Aguero in golden boots (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Sergio Aguero was afforded a guard of honour formed by City legends ahead of kick-off, to mark his achievement in becoming the club's all-time leading scorer with 178 goals.

Aguero wore specially commissioned golden Puma boots to mark his historic landmark, but screwed an angled shot wide after just 90 seconds, the early miss perhaps contributing to his decision to ditch the golden boots at the break in place of a more traditional black pair.

The switch had the desired effect, Aguero converting from the penalty spot in the 50 minute for goal number 179 to put City 2-0 up, before he was withdrawn, somewhat reluctantly it must be said, just after the hour, for Gabriel Jesus.

5. Sanchez struggles against the club he was desperate to join

Sanchez didn't have his best game (
Image:
REUTERS)

He expended a lot of energy and covered a lot of ground, as if trying to show City just how much they missed out on when his £60million deadline day move to them fell through.

But, ultimately, Alexis Sanchez failed to deliver on what amounted to a latest audition against a club he may yet still join next summer, most likely as a free agent.

Sanchez gave the ball away several times in the first-half, most shockingly straight from a corner, and struggled to impose himself on the game, his frustration earning him a yellow cars late on for a rash challenge on David Silva.

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