Manchester City came from a goal behind when an impressive second-half performance saw them defeat Arsenal 2-1 at Eastlands yesterday.

It was the third game of a four match ban for City’s star striker Sergio Aguero and Pep Guardiola had to rearrange the City attack without him.

He chose to leave Kelechi Iheanacho, their other recognised striker, on the bench for the last two games as Kevin De Bruyne assumed the forward role during their midweek win at home to Watford. Yesterday was Raheem Sterling’s turn to fill in for the absent Argentinian up front.

While they may struggle to replace Aguero up top, City were quick and tricky around the edges. With less than five minutes gone, right winger Leroy Sane played a dangerous cross into the box which was missed by Laurent Koscielny as he attempted to clear.

However, there were no City attackers lying in wait and the ball was swept up by Petr Cech.

One throw and three kicks later, the ball was rippling the City net. Goalkeeper Petr Cech chucked the ball to Hector Bellerin who surged forward and found Alexis Sanchez.

The Chilean threaded a pass to Theo Walcott who gave Claudio Bravo the eyes, leaving the City keeper forlorn as the ball rolled past him.

City had a chance to equalise just two minutes later when Kevin de Bruyne, the home side’s best player, crossed with his left foot but Raheem Sterling headed wide.

Guardiola switched his front three at half-time and it paid immediate dividends. The Spaniard stuck De Bruyne up front while Sterling dropped to the right and it was the Englishman’s dart through midfield which saw the ball fall to David Silva.

The midfielder chipped a pass over the top to Sane who slotted past Cech for his first league goal, having sprinted behind the Arsenal defence from his new position on the left.

Guardiola’s side were on top for the next 25 minutes, pushing for a winner. Sane was a constant threat, leaving Arsenal defenders for dead on more than one occasion.

Their attack was incessant and they eventually went ahead when De Bruyne found Sterling with one of the best cross-field balls you’ll see this season. The number seven cut inside from the right, quickly firing the ball left-footed past Cech’s near post.