Arsenal were aggrieved at the penalty
awarded for Nacho Monreal's challenge on
Raheem Sterling and Jesus also appeared to
be offside for the third goal, but they did
not deserve to take anything from the
game.
Indeed, the Gunners would have been
beaten by more had it not been for the
saves of goalkeeper Petr Cech and the
wastefulness of the hosts.
City's advantage over second-placed
Manchester United going into the two-
week international break will be
determined by United's result at Chelsea
later on Sunday (kick-off 16:30 GMT).
Arsenal slip to sixth, 12 points behind City,
and face a battle to regain a place in the
Champions League.
Re-live Manchester City's victory over
Arsenal
City march on
City have now won 15 consecutive matches
in all competitions, including a Carabao Cup
victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on
penalties.
Their march to the top of the Premier
League has been built on some
breathtaking attacking play and this win
was no different, even if they were
hampered by their lack of ruthlessness in
front of goal.
City were particularly dangerous on the
counter-attack, their pace, movement and
precision passing a constant threat. Just
behind the front three of Aguero, Sterling
and Leroy Sane, De Bruyne was the
orchestrator.
Aguero and Sterling could have both scored
before De Bruyne broke the deadlock, the
Belgian playing a one-two with
Fernandinho and angling the ball inside the
far post via Cech's fingertips.
City could have been further ahead by the
break, a David Silva ball across goal should
have been finished, while Sterling was
unable to feed Sane when Arsenal were
outnumbered at the back.
Only when Aguero converted a penalty off
the post, early in the second half, was the
result beyond doubt.
Arsenal complained that Monreal's tangle
with Sterling should not have penalised,
but the Arsenal defender hauled down the
England midfielder without winning the
ball.
Some sloppiness crept into City's play -
home keeper Ederson almost dropped Alex
Iwobi's long-range shot into his own net
and they were carved open for Lacazette's
goal.
But substitute Jesus' tap-in, from what
seemed to be a clear offside position, was
no more than Pep Guardiola's side
deserved.
Arsenal left lagging behind
It was to Arsenal's credit that they did not
capitulate - as they have done so often in
the past - but this was a stark reminder of
how far they lag behind the Premier
League leaders.
Though they started brightly, the Gunners
were soon pushed back by wave after
wave of City attacks, a central defensive
trio that included Francis Coquelin
continually stretched.
Going forward, they lacked the incision and
creativity of their opponents. Alexis
Sanchez, pursued by City in the summer,
was tireless in his efforts as a lone striker,
but an isolated figure.
Sanchez was preferred up front to
Lacazatte, the £46.5m summer arrival, but
it was only when the France striker was
introduced that Arsenal looked like taking
anything from the game.
The visitors came down the inside-right
channel, good work from Iwobi and Aaron
Ramsey fed Lacazette, whose shot went
through the legs of Ederson.
Even then, though, the prospect of Arsenal
earning a point seemed unlikely and they
needed Cech to deny Jesus and De Bruyne
before the third City goal made the
scoreline a fair reflection of the game.
What's next?
Manchester City travel to Leicester on
Saturday, 18 November, following the
international break (15:00 GMT). Earlier
that day, Arsenal host biggest rivals
Tottenham in the north London derby
(12:30).
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Man City
31Ederson
2Walker
5Stones
30OtamendiBooked at 73mins
18Delph
17De Bruyne
25Fernandinho
21Silva
7Sterling
Substituted forGündoganat
78'minutes
10Agüero
Substituted forJesusat 62'minutes
19Sané
Substituted forBernardo Silvaat
87'minutes
Substitutes
1Bravo
3Danilo
8Gündogan
15Mangala
20Bernardo Silva
33Jesus
42Y Touré
Arsenal
33Cech
6KoscielnyBooked at 67mins
34Coquelin
Substituted forLacazetteat 56'minutes
Booked at 59mins
18MonrealBooked at 49mins
24Bellerín
8Ramsey
29XhakaBooked at 75mins
Substituted forGiroudat 78'minutes
31Kolasinac
11ÖzilBooked at 90mins
17Iwobi
Substituted forWilshereat
78'minutes
7SánchezBooked at 77mins
Substitutes
2Debuchy
9Lacazette
10Wilshere
12Giroud
14Walcott
35El Neny
54Macey
Michael Oliver
Match Stats
Home TeamMan CityAway TeamArsenal
Possession
Home58% Away42%
Shots
Home9 Away6
Shots on Target
Home5 Away3
Corners
Home5 Away5
Fouls
Home15 Away15