Arsenal humble Manchester City: Myles Lewis-Skelly signals a new era in dominant 5-1 win at the Emirates

Overcoming Liverpool's advantage atop the table won't be easy, but Sunday's display shows Gunners are up for the challenge

LONDON -- A true humbling not seen since "Not Like Us," this was the last act missing in Arsenal's case for greatness. Here was a swaggering display of superiority from Mikel Arteta's men against the team that has been their benchmark -- through remote, their revival. There might not be enough time for Arsenal to claim Premier League supremacy this season but putting their rival out for the count like this is a sign of the greatness to come.

A celebration shouldn't define a performance like this, a moment for the crowd that would usually be no more meaningful to the final score than the pre-match fireworks. And yet when Myles Lewis-Skelly aped Erling Haaland's celebration with brazen self-confidence, it was apparent that something had changed for Arsenal. There was nothing to fear from their tormentors. There was nothing Manchester City could throw at them that they could not deal with. In an instant, they realized they were much the better team. Cue the Kendrick. 

They had beaten City before and they will probably beat City again. Those past triumphs, even those brave defeats and the draws that might have been something more, were markers on the journey to equalling the champions. Arsenal still looked up to City, set them as the standard. No more. They are now perfectly prepared to clown on the champions. Gabriel will celebrate in Haaland's face because he does not fear the reprisals. The home crowd will serenade City's big man in the most robust of terms.