A second-half penalty from Robert Pires was enough to see Arsenal past the Blues - but they had referee Mike Riley and a huge slice of luck to thank for their narrow win.

Riley also awarded a second spot-kick to the Gunners, but this was not converted after Pires - apparently trying to tee up Thierry Henry by passing the ball square from the spot - appeared to touch the ball and City eventually won a free-kick in the ensuing chaos.

And Arsenal were left to breathe a huge sigh of relief as Darius Vassell's 80th-minute header was ruled out for offside.

Blues striker Andy Cole and defender Nedum Onuoha missed out, with David Sommeil and Antoine Sibierski stepping in.

City had not beaten Arsenal since 1991 and had not won at Highbury since 1975, but began the game four points above their opponents in the table.

Skipper Sylvain Distin did well to clear over his own bar in the seventh minute after Bergkamp had set up Lauren to send in a low cross from the right - and Stuart Pearce’s men had an even luckier escape after 13 minutes.

Henry raced onto a clever through-ball from Lauren before winning the ball from Stephen Jordan and cutting it back for Pires, who somehow shot over the bar from 10 yards when he appeared certain to put the home side in front.

City were solid in defence, and Vassell worried the Arsenal back line with his pace. The former Aston Villa striker twice got the better of Pascal Cygan before providing chances for Kiki Musampa.

But Musampa’s first effort, in the 28th minute, was struck weakly into the arms of Jens Lehmann, while his second - a fierce left-footed strike from 20 yards six minutes later, flew narrowly wide of the left post.

Henry and Lauren represented Arsenal’s greatest threat going forward. Following a cross-field pass from the Frenchman, Lauren broke into the penalty area but could only steer a 10-yard effort straight at David James 12 minutes before the break.

The match had been tetchy throughout, and it appeared inevitable that there would be a flashpoint.

It duly arrived two minutes into the second half when Pires appeared to shove Danny Mills after the pair had contested possession, but Riley showed both players only a yellow card.

City did not lose their concentration, however, and Musampa again found space in the box, latching onto a fine long pass from Sommeil before forcing a smart save from Lehmann at his near post.

City continued to look secure in defence, and they were incensed at the penalty decision which allowed Pires to give Arsenal the lead on the hour mark.
Henry ran onto Kolo Toure’s pass and tumbled under the challenge of keeper James.

City’s players believed the Frenchman had fallen too readily, but Riley awarded the spot-kick which Pires fired into the roof of the net.

But City maintained their spirit and Musampa, a regular threat on the left, created a chance for Sibierski which the forward hit too close to Lehmann after 65 minutes.

Arsenal had the chance to kill the match 18 minutes from time when they won another penalty, this time Bergkamp falling under pressure from Jordan and Musampa.

Pires messed up the routine and it gave Stuart Pearce’s men new belief that they could steal an equaliser.

And City thought they had done so when Vassell headed substitute Lee Croft’s right-wing cross past Lehmann, only for Riley to disallow the goal for a marginal offside.

Cesc Fabregas went close for Arsenal and Matthieu Flamini hit the outside of the post as Wenger’s side maintained their 100% record at Highbury in the Premiership this season.

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