Manchester City are no more the noisy neighbours but the excellent neighbours of English Premiership defending champions, Manchester United.

Any doubts about that were erased at the just-ended Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium won 4-1 by City.

It was an evening on which City just ran riot and were unstoppable, overwhelming their visitors and hammering in four goals before Wayne Rooney’s solitary late strike.

City turned on the heat from early enough, Sergio Aguero unlocking the goal gate in the 16^th minute and grabbing a brace in the 47^th. In-between, Yaya Toure had put his name on the scorers’ sheet on the dot of 45 minutes while Samir Nasir made it four in the 50^th. Rooney’s 87^th minute goal did little to reduce the disgrace.

Elsewhere at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal crushed Stoke City 3-1 to return to the top of the table.

Tottenham are second, City third and Chelsea fourth. Manchester United have been pushed down to the eight position while Sunderland bring up the rear.

•Photo shows Yaya Toure, who compounded Manchester United’s sorrow with a goal.