Kevin De Bruyne draws level with Frank Lampard on Premier League all-time assist list

The Belgian playmaker put in a sensational man-of-the-match display, contributing to three of City's four goals in a statement victory against a distinctly second-best Gunners side at the Etihad Stadium.

After opening the scoring in the 3-1 reverse-fixture win at the Emirates Stadium in February, De Bruyne repeated the feat just seven minutes into the contest in Manchester, receiving a pass from Erling Braut Haaland before driving forward and slotting a curling finish into the bottom-right corner from outside the area.

De Bruyne then resumed assisting duties when he curled a free kick onto the head of John Stones for City's second on the stroke of half time; Stones was initially ruled offside but the goal was given following a VAR review.

Nine minutes after the break, De Bruyne doubled his goal tally and put the Citizens three goals ahead, coolly placing a finish through the legs of Rob Holding and beyond Aaron Ramsdale.

Holding pulled one back for the Gunners in the 86th minute, but Haaland restored City's three-goal cushion with a record-breaking strike deep into added time to wrap up a hugely important victory over the league leaders.

De Bruyne has now recorded seven goals and 16 assists in the Premier League this season, sitting top of the assist charts and five clear of Arsenal's Bukayo Saka (11) in second place.

The 31-year-old became the fastest-ever player to reach 100 Premier League assists when he set up a goal in City's 4-1 win at Southampton earlier this month, and back-to-back assists against Leicester City and now Arsenal have since seen him increase his tally in the competition to 102.

In doing so, De Bruyne has drawn level with current Chelsea caretaker boss and former Man City midfielder Frank Lampard in fourth place on the all-time Premier League assist list.

City's No.17 has also moved just one behind Wayne Rooney in third place on 103 assists, while the Belgian sits nine behind Cesc Fabregas in second place with 11 assists.

De Bruyne is still some way behind Ryan Giggs at the top of the all-time Premier League assist charts, though, with the Welsh winger registering 162 assists during his time at Manchester United.

De Bruyne expressed his delight after win over Arsenal for City's overall display in the top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad, telling mancity.com: "When they play man to man we just have to go a little bit longer because there's no place for short passes. The first half we were really good.

"We could have scored more, but luckily the second goal wasn't offside and it changed the game. In the second half it was probably about 50-50 and I think we didn't give much away to them.

"They're a class team and hard to play against. We had to be at our best today and we were. We set up a little differently. I had more freedom today to go where the space was, depending who was putting pressure from them."

Man City, who have won nine of their last 10 Premier League games, have moved to within two points of leaders Arsenal who have played two games more, but De Bruyne has insisted that there is still a long way to go in the title race.

"It's too long left. It's so hard," De Bruyne added. "A lot of things can happen. It's still seven games, that's a lot of points and we're still behind them.

"I know this team and we will not give in until it's mathematically done. Our schedule is hectic, there's a lot of things going on and now we need to prepare for Sunday and Fulham."

Pep Guardiola's side will make the trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Sunday before facing West Ham United and Leeds United in back-to-back Premier League home matches in the first week of May.