English Premier League: City gun down Gunners

Overwhelm Arsenal 6-3 at home to stake title claim

LONDON: Manchester City asserted their Premier League title credentials with an extraordinary 6-3 defeat of leaders Arsenal on Saturday that took them to within three points of Arsene Wenger’s side.

Sergio Aguero gave City a 14th-minute lead and Alvaro Negredo restored the hosts’ advantage after Theo Walcott had marked his first start for Arsenal since September by equalising.

City lost Aguero to injury early in the second half, but a brace from Fernandinho, a David Silva strike and a Yaya Toure penalty secured victory, with Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner replying in vain.

City have now won all eight of their home games this season, while scoring an impressive 35 goals.

Samir Nasri’s right-wing corner was headed on by Martin Demichelis and Aguero hooked home a waist-high volley at the back post to notch his 15th goal in 13 games.

Arsenal capitalised in the 31st minute, with Walcott bobbling a shot home from a Mesut Ozil pass. Negredo then scored in the 39th minute by tucking in a low cross from Pablo Zabaleta to restore the hosts’ advantage.

To make matters worse for Arsenal, centre-back Laurent Koscielny had to be stretchered off after cutting his knee as he slid in alongside Negredo.

City saw Aguero limp off early in the second half, but extended their lead in the 50th minute when Fernandinho picked up a loose pass from Ozil and curled a sublime finish around Wojciech Szczesny.

Ramsey then dinked a pass behind the City defence for Walcott, who collected the ball and shaped a graceful shot into the top-right corner.

Silva converted a low cross from Jesus Navas and Fernandinho dinked home his second goal before Bendtner headed in an injury-time consolation for Arsenal, only for Toure to complete the scoring from the spot after Szczesny tripped James Milner.

Lloris fears Suarez factor could derail Spurs

Hugo Lloris admits Luis Suarez presents the biggest barrier to Tottenham’s efforts to continue their recent revival with victory over Liverpool on Sunday.

Andre Villas-Boas’ Spurs side will face the Reds at White Hart Lane knowing victory will bring them level on points with Brendan Rodgers’ team.

A victory would enhance belief at the north London club that the season is back on track but goalkeeper Lloris knows they must cope with the threat of Suarez, the top-flight’s in-form striker who has scored 15 times already this season.

“They have a very good team with a superb striker in Suarez,” said Lloris.

“It’s true that, at the moment, maybe he’s the best player in the Premier League, but we have to show good resilience when we come up against him and against the team as a whole.”

Sunday's Fixtures

Aston Villa v Man United

Norwich v Swansea

Tottenham v Liverpool