A brace from the red-hot Emmanuel Adebayor and one from strike partner Eduardo da Silva gave Arsenal a 3-1 win over Manchester City.

With Manchester United not in action until later in the day, against Tottenham, the win saw the Gunners reclaim top spot - at least for a few hours.

Arsenal were imperious in the first half at Eastlands, full of neat, incisive passing but City were allowed to keep an interest in the game right until Adebayor's late second sealed all three points after Gelson Fernandes had pulled one back immediately after Arsenal's second went in.

But such was Arsenal's dominance, the result never really looked in doubt and Arsene Wenger's title chasing side were deserved and comfortable winners in the end.

Arsenal took the lead as early as the ninth minute, Adebayor continuing his impressive scoring streak with a close range effort after good work on the right from Bacary Sagna. The goal was the Togo striker's 17th of the season so far.

The Gunners doubled their lead 17 minutes later as they made their far superior possession count through Eduardo's stunning strike. The Croatia international controlled Adebayor's knock down on his chest with his back to goal before swivelling and volleying into the corner in one swift movement. There was a hint of off-side, but few in the crowd could have failed to marvel at the Brazilian-born striker's execution of the opportunity.

At that point, City were in real danger of getting swamped by the visitors' delightful passing game, but they did well to immediately respond to going two down.

The goal stemmed from a grave error by Gael Clichy - who had two minutes earlier supplied the cross which led to Arsenal's second - as the Frenchman dithered on the ball when he should have cleared his lines. Vedran Corluka took full advantage, robbing the ball of him before pulling it back to Fernandes who slotted into the corner.

Adebayor - so strong in the air, but also quick with his feet - proved a constant threat to the City defence, and when his second of the day - his 18th of the season - hit the back of the net, there was a hint of inevitability about the goal.

He had to wait until the 88th minute for it, but his crisp low shot was never going anywhere other than past Joe Hart after Cesc Fabregas and Alexandr Hleb had forged an opening with City committing too many men forward in search of a late equaliser.

The result completed a miserable week for City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who failed to deliver any of the big name signings he had promised during the transfer window and saw his side fail to beat rock-bottom Derby in midweek.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport