Mancini blasts Kompany red

Arsenal 0 Manchester City 2

But the real story of the match should be the way City underlined their determination to defend their title with a highly professional performance.

Having seen leaders Manchester United go 10 points clear by beating Liverpool earlier in the day there was real pressure on Mancini’s players at a ground where they lost last season and where Arsenal have been showing signs of a revival. But their response, even taking into account the fact Arsenal were down to 10 men so early, was one of real quality.