Monday 19 December 2016 06:01, UK
Manchester City came from behind to beat title rivals Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon in a match that threw up a number of intriguing talking points.
Arsene Wenger's side had appeared on course to record a vital win at half-time of the Nissan Super Sunday contest, but the hosts launched a second-half comeback to claim victory.
As a result, City have now moved above the Gunners into second place in the table, while the visitors have slipped to fourth place, although both teams still have much work to do to catch leaders Chelsea.
So what will be consuming Wenger and his opposite number Pep Guardiola's thoughts after the game?
In the continued absence of suspended striker Sergio Aguero, Guardiola opted to use the pace of Raheem Sterling in attack against Arsenal.
It was a ploy that almost paid early dividends, only for the England international to head Kevin De Bruyne's left-wing cross wide when it seemed easier to score.
Sterling generally found it hard to influence the game in the first period and Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry said at half-time: "Sterling doesn't really know what he has to do when he's playing in that position." With City trailing at the interval, Guardiola decided to move the 22-year-old out to the right flank, with De Bruyne taking his place as their central striker.
And the change worked out perfectly for City, with Sterling playing a key role in Leroy Sane's equaliser early in the second period before the forward won the game from his goal from the right side of the box.
Given the hit-and-miss nature of the player's finishing, you suspect he will now be stationed on the wing more often, rather than through the middle.
Arsenal appeared well set to claim all three points after a dominant first-half showing, capped off by Theo Walcott's fine early strike.
However there always remained the suspicion the Gunners would struggle to preserve their clean sheet after the break, and so that proved.
The home side upped the tempo, scoring twice as Arsenal's back four failed to keep a clean sheet for a 12th match in a row, a worrying trend Wenger alluded to after the game when he said: "If you want to play at the top, you have to keep clean sheets."
There were glum faces among the home fans at the break at the Etihad, and with good reason too, with City having not come from behind at half-time to win a league match for more than four years.
An hour later, though, and City were cheered off the pitch at the full-time whistle having finally put an end to that stat after demonstrating impressive character in order to turn the game on its head in the second half.
One suspects it will be that aspect of their victory which will most please their ever-demanding manager, who himself labelled the result "huge" after getting the better of "one of the best teams in the Premier League".
And all without top scorer and main man Aguero, too..
Heading into Tuesday night's clash at Everton, Arsenal had not lost any competitive match on the road since going down to Barcelona in the Champions League last February.
And approaching the interval at Goodison Park, that long unbeaten run did not appear under any undue threat with the visitors seemingly cruising to another comfortable win at Everton.
But the Toffees launched a strong response, just as City managed on Sunday afternoon as the Gunners threw away a one-goal lead on their travels for the second league match in succession.
And one wonders just how costly those dropped points could prove come the end of the campaign...
Guardiola opted to stick with the same back five against Arsenal that had kept a clean sheet in their midweek home win over Watford, meaning big-money summer acquisition John Stones had to once again settle for a place on the substitutes' bench.
However, while City may have recorded another victory, it has only served to paper over the continuing cracks in their leaky defence, which was horribly exposed for the visitors' opener after just five minutes.
"If there were any gremlins in the City defenders' minds they'll appear now. They are not comfortable against good play," said Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville after that early goal from Walcott.
So it will be fascinating to see what back four Guardiola opts to go with at Hull City on Boxing Day...
