Arsenal have inflicted a first defeat in 15 outings on Manchester City by claiming a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium to maintain their top-four ambitions.

Goals in either half from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud helped the North London outfit claim a first victory in six against the Citizens as Arsene Wenger's side moved back within one point of a Champions League spot.

It was a rather slow start to the contest, with the hosts boasting more of the ball in the opening stages but failing to truly trouble their opponents in an attacking sense.

The Gunners soon found their feet, though, and they came close to making the breakthrough when Giroud latched onto Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross inside the box, but he could not quite direct the game's first shot goalwards.

Just five minutes later Arsenal did manage to edge ahead through Santi Cazorla's well-taken spot kick, which had been awarded by referee Mike Dean following returning skipper Vincent Kompany's bodycheck on Nacho Monreal.

Thirty-six minutes had transpired before City managed to work away their first attempt on goal, yet Sergio Aguero's flicked header did little to trouble David Ospina between the sticks.

Chances proved to be few and far between for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes, ensuring that Arsenal went into the break holding a slender advantage over their rivals.

The league champions came out strong following the restart as they went in search of an equaliser, and they came close to finding one when Jesus Navas forced a solid save out of Ospina, before Fernandinho saw his volley from inside the box deflect over the bar.

Aaron Ramsey, returning to the Arsenal side this afternoon for the first time since limping off against Galatasaray last month, failed to make the most of a big chance for the visitors when he fired over, while up the other end Aguero and Stevan Jovetic squandered openings of their own.

The Gunners found an all-important second with a little over 20 minutes left to play when Giroud, played onside by Frank Lampard, guided Cazorla's dinked free kick beyond Joe Hart.

It could have been even better for Arsenal shortly after if not for the intervention of Hart, who pushed away Alexis Sanchez's effort to keep the scoreline at 2-0.

Wenger's men were able to comfortably see out the remainder of the contest to condemn their opponents to a first Premier League defeat since November, meaning that City now sit five points behind leaders Chelsea.