If this is the best the Premier League can do, then you can give Manchester City the title now. Not just this season's, but next as well. And maybe the one after that. While Pep Guardiola remains the doyen of the Etihad it's hard to see how this multi-purpose, multi-talented team can be stopped.
It's less than a year since City needed a miraculous comeback on the final day of last season to win their second title in a row. It's less than a month since they were eight points behind in this title race. They're still not top even now. But the psychological damage inflicted on Arsenal and the rest of the league with this display is going to be hard to quantify.
Under Mikel Arteta Arsenal have a young team full of promise. They have been excellent this season. Despite a recent wobble, they came to the Etihad confident of restating their credentials. They left with their eyes wide open to the gulf in class between these teams.
