Arsenal temporarily returned to the top of the Premier League after ending Manchester City's unbeaten home record with a 3-1 win at Eastlands.The Gunners hit the 60-point mark from their 25th top-flight encounter of the campaign although Manchester United, with a superior goal difference, could regain the number-one spot if they triumph at Tottenham later on Saturday.

Emmanuel Adebayor reached the 20-goal mark for the Gunners when he netted the opener against City after just nine minutes.

His strike partner Eduardo da Silva added a second on 26 minutes, only for Gelson Fernandes to quickly reduce the deficit.

City created some half-chances after the break but never seriously looked like scoring, and eventually Adebayor sealed victory two minutes from time.

Jens Lehmann, replacing the injured Manuel Almunia in the Arsenal goal, was called into action early on when Dietmar Hamann played the ball forward to Stephen Ireland but it was the visitors who then took the lead.

Bacary Sagna took advantage of Martin Petrov carelessly losing possession and delivered a cross into the path of Adebayor, who swept the ball home with the aid of a deflection off Micah Richards.

Teenage striker Danny Sturridge spearheaded the attack as City pushed for a prompt equaliser but they were undone again on 26 minutes as, from Adebayor's header, the swivelling Eduardo combined chest control with an overhead kick to produce the second goal.

But two minutes later, the hosts were back in the game as Gelson netted from close range after a cross by Vedran Corluka, who had caught Gael Clichy napping on City's right flank.

Arsenal would have restored their two-goal advantage before the break were it not for a superb stop from Joe Hart, who dived to his left to parry down Adebayor's header from a Sagna delivery.

Sturridge was replaced by Darius Vassell 10 minutes after the restart but it was the Gunners who continued to dictate the pace.

Adebayor set up Cesc Fabregas in a good position in the 58th minute but his effort failed to trouble Hart and went over the bar.

There was a sight of goal for City midway through the half when Vassell got on the end of a ball from Hamann, only for Lehmann to kick it clear.

Elano, who had been quiet, latched on to the rebound but lofted his effort over the bar.

On 80 minutes, Adebayor almost got his head to a chip into the box from Fabregas, who then flashed a long-range effort wide.

City had to gamble but in turn left gaps at the back which were eventually exploited two minutes from time when Adebayor swept home his second goal of the afternoon to complete a solid afternoon's work.

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