Arsenal's 1-0 win Sunday over visiting Manchester City all but ended City's English Premier League title hopes for this season. However, the most surprising note about the result was that Arsenal had lost four of its previous five matches versus its fellow and current top four teams in the EPL this season, while City had won all four of its previous against the same group.
Here are some other statistical nuggets from the Arsenal-City clash:
• City is now eight points behind city rival Manchester United in the title race, City's largest deficit of the season. The Sky Blues had been five points ahead of United as recently as Dec. 3, but more damaging is that no team in EPL history has won the title from City's current position (eight points behind with six matches remaining).
• City's 37-year winless drought at Arsenal continued with Sunday's defeat. City's last away win in league play against Arsenal was 3-2 in the old English First Division in October 1975.
• City has now failed to score in its past five EPL visits matches at Arsenal. Who scored City's last EPL away goal against Arsenal? American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, in a 3-1 City loss in April 2007.
• City striker Mario Balotelli was sent off for his second yellow card in the 90th minute, continuing his poor disciplinary record since joining the club for the 2010-11 season. In all competitions for City, Balotelli now has 22 yellow cards and four red cards.
• Mikel Arteta scored the match-winning goal for Arsenal in the 87th minute. Arteta has scored two goals in nine EPL appearances against City, though Arteta's previous goal came for Everton in a 2-0 win over City in March 2010.