It was sort of the perfect hat-trick: a header, one with the right foot, one with the left, er, elbow. Still, that it not what will be concerning historians in the years to come.
This was the 14th hat-trick of Aguero’s Manchester City career, and his tenth in the Premier League – bringing him one short of Alan Shearer’s record of 11.
How good is that? Well, put it like this, as it stands Aguero has scored as many hat-tricks as Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Mo Salah, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku – combined.
Sergio Aguero slid in at the crucial moment in the second half to bundle the ball over for 3-1, though it did touch his arm
Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno tried desperately to claw the ball back, but it had already gone well over the line
Arsenal players immediately protested for handball as Aguero raced away in celebration and the Etihad began to cheer
The prolific forward soaked up the adoration of the home crown after completing his hattrick in the crucial fixture
The Gunners surrounding referee Martin Atkinson but their protests for handball were ignored by the referee
MANCHESTER CITY: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Aguero
SUBS UNUSED: Danilo, Stones, Delph, Sane, Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Muric
BOOKED: Gundogan
GOALS: Aguero 1, 43, 60
MANAGER: Pep Guardiola
ARSENAL: Leno, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Lichtsteiner, Torreira, Guendouzi, Kolasinac, Iwobi, Aubameyang, Lacazette
SUBS UNUSED: Cech, Elneny, Ramsey, Ozil, Suarez, Mavropanos, Nketiah
BOOKED: Torreira
GOAL: Koscielny 10
MANAGER: Unai Emery
REFEREE: Martin Atkinson
ATT: 54,483
MOTM: X
CLICK HERE to view Sportsmail's Match Zone - including the move for Sergio Aguero to break the deadlock after one minute.
Take Lukaku out and put Steven Gerrard in, and he’s got more. This is a phenomenal, match-winning, title-winning goalscorer. Will he win the title again this year? It won’t be for want of trying.
Aguero’s hat-trick wasn’t spectacular but it was the striker’s art encapsulated – yes, even the one that shouldn’t have been allowed. Raheem Sterling cut the ball back, Bernd Leno pushed it – he should have gathered it, no doubt of that – and Aguero bundled it over the line.
It touched the top of one leg, his flank and most crucially an elbow, but Martin Atkinson let it stand. Arsenal will feel aggrieved at that but it is unlikely to have made much difference to the outcome.
City were comfortable by then – so comfortable that when Arsenal’s new signing Dennis Suarez came on, Pep Guardiola took four steps sideways to pat him on the back and wish him well. You don’t do that if you’re greatly worried.
Of all the goals scored in the first minute since the inception of the Premier League, 1.4 per cent of them have been scored by Sergio Aguero in the last six days.
Sergio Aguero answered City's call on the cusp of half-time and popped up at the back home to slot home and restore the lead
The Argentine remained focused to latch onto Raheem Sterling's squared ball across to score his and City's second goal
New boy Denis Suarez entered the action late in the second half to make his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt
Unai Emery remained animated on the touchline and continually attempt to conduct his men into action
German defender Shkodran Mustafi required some treatment after going down painfully during the physical encounter
A 50 second opener here to
