EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR'S slick double put Arsenal back on top of the Premier League. The Gunners' top scorer struck early and late with the 20th and 21st goals of his superb season as City's slump continued. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger raved: "When the team plays well Adebayor scores.
He is outstanding at the moment and we need him in this form." Adebayor, though, praised his side's graft as much as their craft. He said: "We knew the game was going to be tough and difficult and you could see that. "We are pleased with the performance. They played quite well and have a lot of talented players.
"When we scored the second goal you thought the game was finished but they made it difficult. But we responded very well. " The in-form striker slotted home via a slight deflection when Bacary Sagna's surging run teed up the Gunners' first attack on nine minutes. Eduardo provided the classiest moment of the day with a smooth turn and brilliant over-the-shoulder second goal. But Fernando Gelson sidefooted an instant reply on 28 minutes after Vedran Corluka robbed the dozing Gael Clichy.
The home side, though, rarely threatened from that moment.
And, though City improved after the break, their toothless raids contrasted with Arsenal's series of menacing breaks. Flamini and Adebayor missing the clearest of the visitors' decent chances on the break. But it was Adebayor who thumped the Gunners' 88th minute clincher after Sven Goran Eriksson's men gave Alexsandr Hleb far too much space down the right. Wenger said: "We had a good start and went 2-0 up but lost concentration and eased up and were punished when they made it 2-1.
"We have good confidence within the side because we know how we want to play." City chief Eriksson said: "I am disappointed because we allowed them to go 2-0 up and in the first 20 minutes we gave them too much respect. "Maybe we were a bit nervous but early on we did not compete and there was only one team in the match. "Once they were two goals up they could take it a bit easy and play on the counter-attack. "We have to learn quickly and wake up and do better because we desperately want to play in Europe next season."
Man City: Hart, Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Ireland (Mpenza 83), Hamann (Geovanni 75), Gelson, Petrov, Elano, Sturridge (Vassell 55). Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Jihai. Booked: Petrov, Elano.
Goals: Gelson 28.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb (Justin Hoyte 89), Fabregas, Flamini, Diaby, Adebayor, Eduardo. Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Bendtner, Traore, Walcott.
Goals: Adebayor 9, Eduardo 26, Adebayor 88.
Att: 46,426.
Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
