MANCHESTER City maintained its imperious start to the season with a fifth straight victory Saturday as Bournemouth was swept aside 4-0 to become the latest victim of Pep Guardiola’s table-toppers.

    Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Kelechi Iheanacho, Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Guendogan, on his Premier League debut, wrapped up the points after another scintillating display from the title favorites who continue to lay down a marker to their rivals.

    Among the chasing pack, Arsenal made it three successive league wins for the first time since January when the side eased past 10-man Hull City 4-1 with Alexis Sanchez scoring twice and missing a penalty.

    There was also a double strike at Leicester City where new signing Islam Slimani enjoyed a league debut to remember as the champions rediscovered their domestic form to beat Burnley 3-0.

    Some pundits predicted Manchester City might suffer during Sergio Aguero’s three-match suspension but, after winning the Manchester derby last weekend, they tore into Bournemouth and wasted little time in taking the game away from their opponents.

    City was 1-0 up after 15 minutes when loanee Jack Wilshere conceded a free kick on the edge of the area and De Bruyne cleverly fired a set piece beneath the wall and into the net.

    They doubled the lead 10 minutes later when Iheanacho stabbed the ball home and the Nigerian then turned provider for Sterling soon after halftime.

    Guendogan, who made his first appearance for the club against Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday, rounded off the scoring when he drilled low inside the post.

    There was a sour note to come for City when they had Spaniard Nolito sent off for a head-butt with four minutes remaining.

    That did little to dampen the spirits of Guardiola, however, who heralded another superb display from Belgium playmaker De Bruyne. “We are so lucky we have Kevin with us,” the coach said. “It was a fantastic performance.” (SD-Agencies)