(CNN) -- Arsenal moved into second place in the English Premier League with a 3-0 win at 10-man Manchester City on Sunday.
City had teenage defender Dedryck Boyata sent off inside the first five minutes at Eastlands as he hacked down Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh to prevent him racing clear.
Arsenal took full advantage as Samir Nasri exchanged passes with Andrey Arshavin to put them ahead after 20 minutes.
Joe Hart saved a Cesc Fabregas penalty just before halftime and City, even a man short, had chances to level but found visiting goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in fine form.
But their hopes were snuffed out in the second half once Alex Song had scored a fine second in the 66th minute and the returning Niklas Bendtner rubbed salt in the wound with a fine third.
"We have shown intelligence and calm in important situations, today's result was very important for us," manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports.
Chelsea, who beat Wolves 2-0 on Saturday, lead the standings with 22 points with Arsenal topping the chasing group on 17 points ahead of Manchester United and Manchester City on goal difference.
Earlier on Sunday, United scored a vital 2-1 victory at Stoke City with their summer signing Javier Hernandez scoring both their goals.
The Mexican international once again showed they do not need to rely on Wayne Rooney, who is absent with an ankle injury after the midweek controversy surrounding his massive new five-year deal with United.
He put Alex Ferguson's men ahead in the 27th minute with a clever back-flicked header, but Stoke were rewarded for their usual robust approach when substitute Tuncay Sanli equalized in the 81st minute with a superb curling strike.
CNN
