Manchester City sustained the seven-point gap between them and leaders Manchester United after their first league win at Arsenal in 38 years, as referee Mike Dean sent off two players.
Laurent Koscielny's red card at 0-0 proved instrumental in City's win despite Edin Džeko having his penalty saved by Wociech Szczesny after Koscielny was dismissed for hauling the striker back.
James Milner however gave City a deserved lead on 21 minutes when he smashed a shot past the helpless Szczesny after Thomas Vermaelen dithered in the penalty area. It was City's first Premier League goal at Arsenal since DaMarcus Beasley's consolation in April 2007.
Arsenal vs Manchester City
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(01 of36)
Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny (right) appeals to referee Mike Dean (centre) after he is issued with a red card for a tackle on Manchester City's Edin Dzeko (not in picture) (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(02 of36)
Manchester City's Edin Dzeko (second left) scores his team's second goal (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(03 of36)
Manchester City's Edin Dzeko (left) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(04 of36)
Manchester City's Edin Dzeko (third right) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(05 of36)
Manchester City's James Milner (second right) celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday January 13, 2013. See PA story SOCCER Arsenal. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(06 of36)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looks dejected on the bench (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(07 of36)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on the touchline (credit:PA)
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Arsenal's Lukas Podolski (centre) in action (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(09 of36)
Manchester City's Edin Dzeko celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday January 13, 2013. See PA story SOCCER Arsenal. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(10 of36)
Arsenal's Lukas Podolski (left) in action (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(11 of36)
Manchester City's Edin Dzeko (centre) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday January 13, 2013. See PA story SOCCER Arsenal. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. (credit:PA)
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Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (right) takes a free-kick (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(13 of36)
Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (second right) clears off the goal line (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's James Milner celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday January 13, 2013. See PA story SOCCER Arsenal. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (left) and Arsenal's Theo Walcott (right) battle for the ball (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (left) and Arsenal's Theo Walcott (right) battle for the ball (credit:PA)
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Arsenal's Santi Cazorla (right) and Manchester City's David Silva (left) battle for the ball battle for the ball (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's James Milner scores his teams first goal of the game (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's Pablo Zabaleta (left) and Arsenal's Lukas Podolski (right) in action (credit:PA)
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on the touchline (credit:PA)
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Arsenal's Lukas Podolski, left, gets past Manchester City's Javi Garcia during their English Premier League soccer match at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in London, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (credit:AP)
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Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, 2nd right, heads the ball of the line against Manchester City during their English Premier League soccer match at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in London, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (credit:AP)
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Manchester City's Edin Dzeko celebrates scoring his teams second goal of the game (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's Edin Dzeko, left, scores his sides 2nd goal during their English Premier League soccer match at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in London, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (credit:AP)
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Manchester City's Edin Dzeko celebrates scoring his teams second goal of the game (credit:PA)
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Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (right) saves a penalty from Manchester City's Edin Dzeko (left) (credit:PA)
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looks dejected after his player Laurent Koscielny (not in picture) is issued with a red card (credit:PA)
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Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny looks dejected after he is issued with a red card for a tackle on Manchester City's Edin Dzeko (not in picture) (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's Vincent Kompany leaves the pitch after being shown a red card for a tackle on Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (not in picture) (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(30 of36)
Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (right) reacts after being shown a red card by referee Mike Dean (left) for a tackle on Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (not in picture) (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (right) tackles Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (left) before being issued a red card (credit:PA)
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Match referee Mike Dean (left) prepares to send off Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (centre) after a foul on Arsenal's Jack Wilshire (second right) (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (front) before tackling Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (rear) for which he was issued a red card (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium(34 of36)
Match referee Mike Dean (left) sends off Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (right) (credit:PA)
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Match referee Mike Dean (left) sends off Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (right) (credit:PA)
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Referee Mike Dean shows a red card to Manchester City' Vincent Kompany, bottom right, during their English Premier League soccer match at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in London, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (credit:AP)
Džeko then did score 11 minutes later, tapping in from three yards out after Carlos Tévez's shot was parried by Szczesny with the expectancy that the Premier League champions would build on their lead.
Joe Hart enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon as Arsenal rarely threatened his goal, but the Gunners were given a glimmer of hope when City captain Vincent Kompany also was red-carded in the 75th minute.
Kompany flew into a two-footed tackle on Jack Wilshere in an incident similar to his sending off against Manchester United in the FA Cup last year, and despite winning the ball will now face a three-match ban.
Arsenal however could not muster a tangible fightback and City ended their Emirates hoodoo.