Manchester City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points after claiming a comfortable home victory over struggling Blackburn.

City dominated from start to finish and took the lead when Mario Balotelli swept in Aleksandar Kolarov’s cross.

A second goal, hammered in from close range by Sergio Aguero, made sure of the points before substitute Edin Dzeko headed in a third just after coming on.

Rovers could muster only two meaningful shots on goal in the whole 90 minutes.

The balance of the match was exactly as you would expect from one between the expensively-assembled, league-leading top-scorers and the comparatively cheap, 18th-placed side with the division’s worst defence.

Ryan Giggs marked his 900th appearance for Manchester United with a dramatic late winner as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side closed the gap on leaders Manchester City to two points.

United took an early lead when Paul Scholes headed home Nani’s cross. Grant Holt levelled for the Canaries late on when he held off Rio Ferdinand to turn and fire into the top corner. But there was still time for Giggs to steal the points when he converted Ashley Young’s cross at the far post.

Arsenal recovered from two goals down to thrash Tottenham in an enthralling north London derby at Emirates Stadium.

Spurs – in the ascendancy over Arsenal for so much of the season – looked to be on course for the first back-to-back league wins at the home of their arch-rivals for 86 years as an early goal from Louis Saha and Emmanuel Adebayor’s penalty put them in a commanding position within 34 minutes.

But Arsenal, under so much scrutiny after their 4-0 Champions League thrashing against AC Milan in Italy and their FA Cup exit at Sunderland, mounted a comeback that combined resilience and character with dazzling attacking football to humiliate Harry Redknapp’s side.

Bacary Sagna’s header and a world-class strike from Robin van Persie put Arsenal level before the interval – and set up a second-half display that left Spurs beaten long before the end.

Tomas Rosicky put Arsenal in front just after the break and the rout was completed by a quickfire double from Theo Walcott, goals that silenced the taunts he suffered from his own supporters in the first half. Spurs, ended with 10 men when Scott Parker was sent off late on. But the points had already been decided as Arsenal’s reward came in the shape of this rousing victory and a place in the Premier League’s top four.