FA Premiership/ Arsenal 3 Manchester City 1: Arsenal's season of despair may yet end in hope. This second consecutive victory means they leap-frog Liverpool into third place and have an eight-point cushion over Bolton and Everton to virtually guarantee Champions League football next season.

Most uplifting of all was the contribution of Cesc Fabregas who, after waiting eight months for a goal, scored for the second time in four days with a beautifully struck volley from just outside the penalty area.

Shortly before last night's match, Arsene Wenger was handed a fine of £2,500 and warned about his conduct at an English FA disciplinary hearing. Wenger had been charged following a row with referee Steve Bennett at half-time in the draw with Portsmouth in December. The Arsenal manager was fined £10,000 earlier in the season after a touchline argument with Alan Pardew, the then West Ham manager, and is also awaiting his hearing for a separate FA charge following his remarks about an assistant referee in the League Cup final defeat by Chelsea.

His frequent brushes this season with the FA's disciplinary department have somehow been reflective of a season when frustration has been the overwhelming emotion at Arsenal.

The opening moments last night were controlled by Manchester City, with Stuart Pearce opting for a five-man midfield and only Darius Vassell in attack following a hip injury to Emile Mpenza. The first chance came in the fourth minute when Vassell fed DaMarcus Beasley whose shot was blocked by Kolo Toure.

Arsenal, though, soon began to find their stride and used the width provided by Alexander Hleb and Tomas Rosicky to counter City's packed midfield.

Pressure from Diaby forced Beasley into the mistake of losing possession in his half and City were ruthlessly punished. The play was switched down the right to the overlapping Emmanuel Eboue and his cross was rifled past Andreas Isaksson in goal by the left foot of Rosicky.

Diaby, though, soon required treatment for a head wound after he was caught by Richard Dunne and, despite being patched up, the bleeding continued and he was replaced by Julio Baptista.

The substitute almost made an instant impression with a curling free-kick, which appeared goal-bound until it was deflected to safety by Dunne.

The statistics said Arsenal had enjoyed two-thirds of possession, but the game was suddenly level after 41 minutes following a mistake by Jens Lehmann. The Arsenal goalkeeper mis-hit an attempted clearance into the path of Joey Barton who instantly fed Michael Johnson. Beasley had reacted quickly to the unexpected error and raced into space to collect Johnson's pass and finish past Lehmann.

Before last night, Arsenal had scored four times in their previous five matches and it was noticeable that they began to lack ideas in the opening stages of the second half.

In the end, it took a moment of brilliance from Fabregas to put Arsenal ahead. The ball bounced to the Spaniard at waist height on the edge of the box and he neatly adjusted his feet and volleyed beyond Isaksson. Arsenal then finally put the game beyond City in the 80th minute when Hleb's determined run provided a simple finish for Baptista.

• Guardian Service

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas (Denilson 85), Silva, Rosicky (Senderos 90), Diaby (Julio Baptista 30), Adebayor. Subs not used: Almunia, Djourou.

MANCHESTER CITY: Isaksson, Onuoha, Dunne, Distin (Corradi 78), Ball, Jihai (Samaras 78), Hamann, Barton, Johnson, Beasley, Vassell (Ireland 90). Subs not used: Weaver, Trabelsi.

Referee: M Halsey(Lancashire).