Manchester City secured the victory that maintains their growing momentum and applied further pressure on Arsenal through the familiar route of a Erling Haaland winner.
This was a triumph, however, in which City had to demonstrate all their qualities before wild celebrations greeted the final whistle and three priceless points.
Rayan Cherki's goal was the result of a touch of genius and sleight of foot to bamboozle Arsenal's Gabriel and Piero Hincapie before sliding in a perfect finish.
After Gianluigi Donnarumma's error swiftly gifted Arsenal a way back into the game, City had to dig deep to show reserves of resilience before Haaland was once more the match-winner.
City rode their luck in moments, but they are once more looking like an unstoppable force as they move to the shoulders of Arsenal, who have controlled the title race for so long.
At the heart of it all was Bernardo Silva, who has announced he is leaving City at the end of this season, probing in his usual fashion but also showing his fierce competitive streak as he raced back 50 yards as the last man to halt a dangerous Arsenal attack.
He was rewarded with a bearhug from manager Pep Guardiola after the final whistle as he pointed to the Portuguese and urged City's fans to join him in praise.
The celebrations that swept around Etihad Stadium at the end reflected the growing sense that City are poised to strike, with a game in hand at doomed Burnley to come.
