Free-scoring Man City look in the mood in the Premier League title run-in after breaking a 123-year record following Wolves drubbing... Arsenal will depend on them slipping up in two crucial away games

Royalty was present for the procession, another record fallen to Pep Guardiola. Forty-three home matches unbeaten now, the longest run ever produced by a Manchester City team. The previous best had stood for 123 years.

David Silva watched on with his family, a first return to the Etihad Stadium since leaving without a proper farewell during the pandemic. He wasn't the only great to have sourced himself a ticket for the run-in, though, with Arjen Robben down in the City dressing room after this victory.

Robben played under Guardiola at Bayern Munich, once laughing at how the manager called him at all hours to discuss work, and made sure he congratulated City's squad for dispatching Wolves and keeping the pressure on Arsenal.

The thought of prime Robben cutting in from the right in this City team is scary; how both he and Silva must wish they operated in behind Erling Haaland when he is in this kind of mood.

And City are in the mood, 24 goals in their last six league games since a drab draw against Arsenal that seemed to hand the title advantage over to both the Gunners and Liverpool. Now it's in City's hands and, given the way in which Wolves appeared beaten from the off, Arsenal will be praying that they are not relying on favours come the last day.

West Ham are in Manchester then and no team, in any competition, has beaten City on their own patch since Ivan Toney inspired Brentford to a late win on the eve of last season's World Cup. 

Only seven teams have left with a draw since. West Ham managing that are not odds Arsenal will fancy leaning on.

So this title race – violently swinging from the best ever to boring in the court of public opinion once City clicked into gear – hinges on a couple of consecutive away matches for City. 

Fulham on Saturday before the dreaded trip to Tottenham three days later. Although winning there in the FA Cup four months ago broke their hoodoo, City have still yet to score a Premier League goal at the new stadium. Even a broken Spurs is a tricky Spurs for the champions.

Guardiola is insistent that they must win all three games – which would mean nine straight victories, their longest run since this time last year – to clinch another crown. He is adamant Arsenal will not drop further points, predicting that they beat Manchester United and Everton.

If that transpires then Spurs and Fulham are the games, they are the title race. 

The away record is improved this year, City chalking up 37 points from 17 games – one more than all of last season – but these are two grounds where they were made to work. Julian Alvarez dug out a wonder goal to seal a win at Craven Cottage in the run-in, while Spurs have always had something over them.

It's by no means done but come out the other side of those and Arsenal will be left needing an unlikely snooker or two.