ARSENAL knocked north London rivals Tottenham off the top of the Premiership, and wrote themselves into the goalscoring record books in the process.

Goals from Barclaycard Player of the Month Sylvain Wiltord after 26 minutes and Thierry Henry four minutes before the break meant the Gunners hit the back of the net for the 44th consecutive top flight match equalling the mark set by City in 1937.

They are now two short of the all-time record set by Chesterfield in 1931.

City's reply came from former Highbury hero Nicolas Anelka.

City's misery was complete when skipper Ali Benarbia abused a linesman six minutes from the end and was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made three changes to the team which drew 1-1 at Chelsea. In came Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Oleg Luzhny, for Lauren, Ray Parlour and Kanu. City named the team which beat Everton 3-1, which meant former Highbury favourite Nicolas Anelka again faced his former club.

Anelka was booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball. He had not helped his cause by giving an interview in the morning newspapers in which he claimed Arsenal had cashed in on him rather handsomely when they sold him to Real Madrid in 1999. But it was the current Highbury darling, Henry, who had the first chance in the third minute when he nipped in behind Marc-Vivien Foe but aimed his delicate lob over Peter Schmeichel's bar. Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman has already had one jittery moment this season in conceding a goal direct from a Gianfranco Zola free-kick at Stamford Bridge, and he almost had another one after five minutes when City won the first corner.

Skipper Ali Benarbia played it short to Shaun Wright-Phillips, the son of former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, and when he received the return pass he curled the ball deep beyond Seaman and saw it cannon back off the crossbar.

Benarbia was a little unfortunate to earn the first yellow card of the night after 22 minutes, mis-timing a tackle from behind on Patrick Vieira, which immediately had referee Clive Wilkes reaching into his top pocket.

The game exploded into life with two goals in as many minutes as first Wiltord gave Arsenal the lead with a record-equalling strike, before Anelka responded with a bullet header.

City's defence was carved open by Bergkamp in the 26th minute and it was in-form Wiltord who score his second goal in four days.

Kevin Keegan's teams are never short of character, however, and it was a sweet moment for Anelka when he grabbed the 28th minute equaliser to silence the boo-boys. Benarbia's deep cross from the right sailed over the head of Keown and Anelka dived in ahead of Luzhny to bury his header inside the far post - his third goal in two games following a two against Everton. The drama was not over yet. On the half hour Henry raced clear and was denied by a brilliant save from Schmeichel, diving low to his right to push the ball around the post.

Then four minutes later Sylvain Distain tripped Henry in an off the ball incident on the edge of the box. The referee had seen it and awarded the free-kick as well as a yellow card for the former Newcastle defender.

It was then left to Henry to curl the set piece around the wall but wide of the goal. Ashley Cole escaped a yellow card for a high tackle on Berkovic after 37 minutes and then turned from villain to hero as he set up Henry to give Arsenal the lead four minutes before the break.

If Arsenal had managed to get bodies in at the far post they would have scored two goals in as many minutes just after the restart.

First, after 47 minutes, Edu's teasing low cross from the left evaded everybody. Then there was a carbon copy after 49 minutes, this time with Henry supplying the cross which nobody could finish.

Vieira had a worrying moment after 55 minutes when he clipped the heels of Berkovic again. Wilkes awarded the free kick but quite rightly kept his cards in his pocket, despite the protestations of the Israeli.

Darren Huckerby had hardly got a touch all night for City and it was no surprise to see him replaced by Shaun Goater after 58 minutes.

The second half was failing to match the excitement of the first, but Arsenal were happy to protect a lead which was sending them back to where they finished last season - the top of the Premiership.

The game suddenly flashed into life after 67 minutes when Anelka brilliantly beat Cole and Keown inside the box to create something from nothing, and his fierce shot was pushed round his post by Seaman.

Arsenal broke free from the corner and Henry raced away to lash the ball beyond Schmeichel - only to have his celebrations cut short by an offside flag. Kolo Toure, whose goal rescued a point at Chelsea, was introduced for Arsenal in place of Edu after 73 minutes and Kevin Horlock came on for City in place of Steve Howey after 78 minutes.

ARSENAL: Seaman, Luzhny, Campbell, Keown, Cole, Wiltord, Vieira, Edu, Silva, Bergkamp, Henry.

MANCHESTER CITY: Schmeichel, Distin, Jihai, Howey, Wright-Phillips, Foe, Berkovic, Benarbia, Jensen, Huckerby, Anelka.

Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucestershire).