Manchester City's first league win at Arsenal in 37 years was aided by Laurent Koscielny's early red card but nonetheless deserved as goals from James Milner and Edin Dzeko secured a 2-0 victory in the capital.
Arsenal were not happy with referee Mike Dean over Koscielny's dismissal and City even less so when with 15 minutes left captain Vincent Kompany was sent-off for a challenge on Jack Wilshere deemed dangerous by the match official.
Less than ten minutes had elapsed when Arsenal hit the self-destruct button. Gareth Barry's looping header back into the home side's box saw Dzeko turn Koscielny, who reacted to the danger with a challenge agricultural to the extent that it was met with a red card and penalty award.
Dzeko stepped up but saw his spot-kick strike Wojciech Szczesny's outstretched legs before coming back off the far post and rolling into the arms of Arsenal's relieved goalkeeper.
It was a reprieve that was to prove only temporary as City forged ahead on 20 minutes when from a quick free-kick Arsenal were again caught napping. After the ball was worked to Carlos Tevez his cute slide-rule pass was dispatched with venom and accuracy courtesy of James Milner's angled drive from around 12 yards.
With ten-man Arsenal looking disjointed and on the ropes City went for the jugular and delivered the knock-out blow of a second goal just five minutes later. Trademark Pablo Zabaleta appetite for the fight brushed an insipid Kieran Gibbs off the ball before he set Milner on his way down the right. Tevez's prod for goal from his team-mate's low delivery forced Szczesny into a save but he could only parry straight into the feet of Dzeko no more than a yard out.
Thereafter the rest of the first half proved to be the proverbial stroll in the park for City as only Wilshere's presence on the goal-line prevented Javi Garcia from adding a headed third from Milner's corner.
After the interval Arsenal at least dug a little deeper but still it was City who conjured the first real opportunity when Milner stood one up at the back post only for Dzeko to head over.
Wilshere drove the play forward wherever possible and it was from one of his bursting runs that Gibbs saw his drive from the edge of the box blocked by the industrious Milner.
Referee Dean was busier than either goalkeeper though for the most part of an ill-tempered rather than malicious contest that saw Thomas Vermaelen, Milner, Wilshere, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Garcia and Gareth Barry all pick up bookings.
With 20 minutes remaining and City content to hit Arsenal on the counter-attack, Tevez was guilty of profligacy when after he was played through by Dzeko an over-elaborate attempt to round Szczesny allowed the keeper to save.
Substitute Olivier Giroud will be disappointed with a headed effort wide from a set-piece but it will be Kompany's red card that will be given more column inches. The Belgian's tackle on Wilshere looked to take the ball but Dean ruled it to be two-footed and dangerous.
City spent the remainder of the contest largely on the back foot but for the most part Arsenal were restricted to no more than half chances, with substitute Joleon Lescott earning his win bonus when clearing Theo Walcott's late effort off the line in a rare moment of genuine danger.
Roberto Mancini's side kept their heads though to stay within seven points of neighbours and league leaders Manchester United.
Former Manchester United striker Brandy opened the scoring for the Saddlers in the 18th minute before Downing doubled their advantage just before half-time.
James Baxendale put the result beyond doubt after 56 minutes, with Bailey Wright's late header unable to prevent Preston's winless run at home in the league extending to nine.
The visitors went close after just five minutes with North End goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann denying both Jamie Paterson and Andy Butler with fingertip saves.
Preston striker Joe Garner, making his home debut, was denied a 16th-minute penalty by referee Carl Boyeson despite being upended running on to Stuart Beavon's low cross.
Walsall took full advantage moments later when Brandy turned in Will Grigg's cross before Downing added a second in the 38th minute with a header from an Adam Chambers delivery.
Baxendale completed the win after the break when Luke Foster's loose touch allowed Grigg to pick him out, before Wright's stoppage-time consolation for Preston.
The Cumbrians spent much of the second half defending their lead, although Robson almost had a second in the six minutes of added time when he hit the crossbar with goalkeeper Joe Murphy struggling to get back in position.
The hosts' first attack saw them take the lead as Jon-Paul McGovern's cross from wide on the right was met by Robson and his header from eight yards looped past Murphy into the top right-hand corner - the winger's seventh goal of the season.
John Fleck missed a clear chance to put the Sky Blues level when he fired across the face of goal from well inside the area, then Franck Moussa was unlucky to see his deflected 25-yard strike beat Mark Gillespie but bounce back off a post.
However, Carlisle had their share of attacking in a lively first half and it took an instinctive save from Murphy to deny Brad Potts when the midfielder was put through one-on-one by an adroit Liam Noble pass.
The home team were down to nine men for a time after the break, with debutant Sean O'Hanlon and Chris Chantler off the field having treatment for head cuts, and they were forced to defend ever deeper as Coventry applied late pressure.
Leon Clarke had their best chance in the 80th minute when Blair Adams picked him out at the far post, but the unmarked striker got in a tangle with his header which he put wide from inside the six-yard box.
