Manchester City storm back from goal down to beat Arsenal

Arsenal went in front against Manchester City but were undone by two second-half goals at Etihad Stadium to lose for the second time in two games.

The Gunners raced out of the blocks with Alexis Sanchez beautifully playing in Theo Walcott to slot past Claudio Bravo.

City enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first half but they were sloppy in possession and slow getting forward, evidently missing the suspended Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero. At the break, though, Bacary Sagna replaced the struggling Pablo Zabaleta and Kevin De Bruyne moved more central, which prompted a change in proceedings.

Within minutes of the restart David Silva's wonderful chipped pass found Leroy Sane who calmly finished for his first City goal.

Arsenal couldn't cope with City as they launched wave after wave of attack and the winning goal inevitably came when De Bruyne's magnificent pass found Raheem Sterling, who cut inside and beat Pert Cech at his near post.

The result takes City to within seven points of leaders Chelsea after 17 games, while Arsenal are a further two back, already having a mountain to climb if they are to win the title.

Arsenal don't deserve Alexis Sanchez. With around 10 minutes to go TV cameras cut to Alexis Sanchez as City prepared to take a corner and he was slumped on his knees, looking glum, pondering the situation around him. It was not a good photo for Arsenal fans and they must be wondering what he was thinking. The contract saga with the Chilean will continue to rumble on but right now you have to think that Sanchez deserves better. He covers an unbelievable amount of ground and he has become a wonderful passer as well as a clinical finisher but too often in the second half he had no support from his team-mates. This is quickly becoming reminiscent of the situation with Robin van Persie, a world class player carrying his team-mates to a title charge as his contract runs down; will Sanchez make a move to a rival in the summer?

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City): The team-sheet had De Bruyne playing up front but from the start it was clear he was on the left, with Sterling up front and Sane out wide. In the second half the Belgian was moved into the middle and he proceeded to run the show. Little flicks and clever passes we have come to expect from De Bruyne but he was chasing everything and putting the pressure on Arsenal, leading City's charge in the second half. His performance was capped off by his sensational cross-field ball to Sterling to set up the winning goal.

Manchester City: Bravo 5, Zabaleta 4, Otamendi 5, Kolarov 5, Clichy 5, Fernando 5, Silva 6, Toure 7, Sterling 6, Sane 7, De Bruyne 8. Substitutes: Sagna 6, Navas 5, Iheanacho 5.

Arsenal: Cech 4, Bellerin 5, Koscielny 5, Gabriel 4, Monreal 4, Coquelin 4, Xhaka 5, Walcott 6, Ozil 3, Iwobi 4, Sanchez 7. Substitutes: Oxlade-Chamberlain 4, Giroud 4, Elneny 4

5' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 0-1 ARSENAL (WALCOTT) - "That's not a shape!" Screams Gary Neville as Arsenal counter and Sanchez picks the ball up around 25 yards out. The Chilean shapes to shoot but actually slips a wonderful ball through to Walcott, who finishes calmly past Bravo. Terrific goal from Arsenal but more horrific defending from City.

6' - CHANCE! De Bruyne fires in a great cross from the left but Sterling somehow fails to hit the target with a header. That's probably the moment you don't want a small winger playing as a striker.

31' - CLOSE! That was nearly one of the greatest own goals of all time. Gabriel goes to clear a loose ball in the box and smashes it against the head of Bellerin which forces Cech into a diving catch. That would have been magnificent.

47' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 ARSENAL (SANE) - Well that didn't take too long. Silva clips the ball over the top to Sane and he fires home his first goal for his new club. It looked offside and Wenger is furious on the sidelines.

62' - SAVE! Sane is absolutely electric. He's played in by De Bruyne and it seems like it's over hit but he somehow gets there and forces a save from Cech.

71' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 ARSENAL (STERLING) - That is a wonderful finish. De Bruyne plays what is arguably the pass of the season as he hits a wonderful half-volley across to Sterling. The winger cuts inside and fires a low shot with his left foot that beats Cech at his near post.

Petr Cech has gone eight Premier League games in a row without a clean sheet for the first time in his career.

Manchester City have won a Premier League game they were losing at half-time for the first time since November 2012.

Arsenal have lost three games from winning positions this season, they only did it twice in the whole of last season.

No player has registered more assists in Europe's top five leagues this season than Kevin De Bruyne (9).