City hopes blown away by Gunners

Mikel Arteta stuck a dagger into the heart of Manchester City's Barclays Premier League title hopes as Mario Balotelli lost the plot in their 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Balotelli was deservedly sent off in the final minute after referee Martin Atkinson and assistant Peter Kirkup somehow failed to spot his first-half knee-high tackle on Alex Song, and he could now face a lengthy ban.

His eventual dismissal came moments after Arteta's spectacular winner that left City eight points behind Manchester United and sent Arsenal two points clear of Tottenham in third place.

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