Kieran Gibbs
Full marks for effort, none for quality. Bundled off the ball by Zabaleta in the first half, which led to City's second goal. Tended to switch off at key moments. 5
Abou Diaby
Avoids an even lower score because it was his first match in four months. Did almost nothing right, from slack passing to constantly finding himself on the wrong side of his man. 4
Jack Wilshere
Another gutsy, world-class display in a defeat. The ball was always safe at his feet, and he covered huge distances despite getting painful studs in the leg from Milner. 8
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
An unfortunate casualty of Koscielny's dismissal. Replaced by Mertesacker after just 12 minutes, having held his own against Clichy and played one decent cross-field ball. 6
Santi Cazorla
Forced to live off scraps. Rarely had time on the ball, enjoyed few options when he did get it, and had to cover the right flank for almost an hour. Minimal impact. 5
Lukas Podolski
Arsenal's most potent attacking thrust after going a man down. But it was his foul on Garcia that led to the free-kick from which Milner opened the scoring. 7
Theo Walcott
An irrelevance for virtually the entire afternoon. Playing centre forward appears to be his new method of avoiding defending. Barely got his shirt dirty and offered nothing. 4
Substitutes: Per Mertesacker was Koscielny's early replacement, and was just about adequate. Olivier Giroud was brought on to add some thrust. Instead, he missed two superb chances. But like the string quartet playing on a sinking Titanic, Aaron Ramsey remained remarkably unflustered while all foundered around him.
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Joe Hart
Scarcely put a foot wrong. Then again, he was hardly called upon. His biggest challenge of the afternoon was avoiding frostbite. 6
Pablo Zabaleta
Quietly ruthless and utterly fearless, in defence and attack. A constant threat on the overlap, fought numerous fires in defence and set up City's second goal with a clever low cross. 8
Vincent Kompany
A strangely imprecise performance capped by his reckless, brainless two-footed lunge on Wilshere, minutes after a terrific defensive header to deny Giroud. 5
Matija Nastasic
Rapidly becoming City's most reliable defender. Showed up his captain again: strong in the challenge, strong in the air and his positioning was nearly faultless. 8
Gael Clichy
Should have influenced the game more, given the amount of space he enjoyed after Oxlade-Chamberlain came off. One or two forays, but little of substance. Solid at the back. 6
Javi Garcia
Poor in the first half, improved in the second. A strong tackler, and won the free-kick that led to City's second goal. But still too profligate in possession to be reliable. 6
Gareth Barry
One of his best games of the season. Did a superb pressing job on Cazorla, and linked defence and attack excellently. Spread play quickly and got forward to support the front four. 8
James Milner
Ran and ran and ran. Nothing new there, of course, but added deftness to his determination, and was rewarded with the opening goal after a fine strike. 8
David Silva
Hard enough for 11 men to deal with, but Arsenal's 10 had almost no chance. Instrumental in the second goal, and could well have created more. 8
Carlos Tevez
Evidently prefers playing with Aguero. Efficient but uncharacteristically quiet in the final third, and missed a good chance to make the game safe in the second half. 7
Edin Dzeko
Scored a goal, but failed to nail down a starting place. Missed a penalty, as well as a couple of other chances, and was bizarrely named man of the match by Sky Sports. 6
Substitutes: Joleon Lescott replaced Tevez after Kompany's dismissal, and superbly cleared Walcott's late shot off the line. Mario Balotelli lolloped on for Dzeko and handballed with his second touch. Kolarov came on for Silva with seconds remaining.
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