Scorers: Manchester City: Almunia (og) 20, Bellamy 74, Adebayor 80,

                                          Wright-Phillips 84

Manchester City’s former Arsenal star Emanuel Adebayor let his heart rule his head when celebrating the goal which virtually clinched City’s victory over the North Londoners.

After his well-documented and acrimonious departure from the Emirates this summer, he was unable to resist running the length of the Eastlands pitch to celebrate his strike in front of the Arsenal fans.

His momentary thoughtlessness, and accusations that he stamped on the head of former team-mate Robin Van Persie, overshadowed what became a thrilling City triumph, after a low-key first-half, which leaves them and table-toppers Chelsea with the only remaining 100% records in this season’s Premier League.

City took the lead in the 20^th minute when full-back Micah Richards’ looping header came back off the post and cannoned off goalkeeper Manuel Almunia’s head into the net.

But the game only truly came to life after the break, as Arsene Wenger’s men began to dominate. And they deservedly equalised just after the hour when Robin Van Persie converted substitute Tomas Rosicky’s pass.

Van Persie could have been red-carded for a nasty tackle on Adebayor but that didn’t excuse the Togolese striker’s retaliation, where he deliberately kicked the prone Dutchman on the side of the head.

Moments later, City regained the lead against the run of play, Craig Bellamy lashing home Richards’ pass with his right-foot.

Six minutes later an unmarked Adebayor headed City’s third, sparking his lunatic celebrations – for which he has since apologised. And Shaun Wright-Phillips rubbed salt into Arsenal’s increasingly open wounds with a breakaway fourth on 84 minutes.

Rosicky, making what would otherwise have been a headline-making return from a 20-month injury spell, grabbed a late goal for the Gunners, which was barely a consolation.

After defeat at Old Trafford, Arsenal have now twice come to Manchester, outplayed their opponents for long spells. And lost.