Manchester City 4 Arsenal 2

The Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday Sept 12 2009.

Emmanuel Adebayor could face a double FA probe after marring his goalscoring display against former club Arsenal with a stamp on Robin van Persie and incendiary goal celebration in front of the travelling supporters.

Manchester City forward Adebayor, a £25m summer buy from Arsenal, maintained his record scoring in every league game this season as City won 4-2.

But the Togolese striker is almost certain to be the subject of an FA investigation as a result of his conduct in the game.

Adebayor was fortunate to escape the attention of referee Mark Clattenburg on 72 minutes when he appeared to scrape his boot down Van Persie’s face following a challenge by his former Arsenal team-mate.

And although he was rightly booked for running the length of the pitch to celebrate his 81st minute goal in front of the furious Arsenal supporters, the nature of his celebration prompted angry scenes among the away fans and led to stewards having to restore order.

Adebayor’s antics overshadowed a fine victory by Mark Hughes’s team, who maintained their 100 per cent record this term.

And he could now find himself suspended for next Sunday’s Manchester derby if the FA decide to punish him for either of his flashpoints this week.

Arsenal, unfortunate to lose 2-1 at Old Trafford two weeks ago, started brightly and dominated possession throughout the game.

But once again, their build-up play was not matched by their ability to put the ball into the net and neither Nicklas Bendtner nor Van Persie threatened to take advantage of Arsenal’s first-half dominance.

The closest Arsenal came in the early stages was a William Gallas header from Van Persie’s corner that was directed over the crossbar.

City were also finding it difficult to open the scoresheet, but the home side made the breakthrough on 20 minutes from a free kick conceded by Bacary Sagna’s foul on Craig Bellamy.

Gareth Barry’s set-piece picked out Richards 12 yards from goal and the former England defender outjumped Thomas Vermaelen to direct a header onto the post, with the rebound hitting Almunia on the back of the head before nestling in the net.

Arsenal responded well, however, and it was only the heroics of Shay Given that kept City ahead early in the second-half.

A stunning save by the Irishman from Gallas’s diving header was the highlight, but Given was helpless when Van Persie equalised on 63 minutes.

The Arsenal forward rode a rash Joleon Lescott challenge on the edge of the penalty area before beating Given with low right-foot shot from 20 yards.

Arsenal looked set to turn the screw and claim a deserved victory, but when Craig Bellamy made it 2-1 with a counter-attack goal on 74 minutes, City cruised to victory.

Adebayor made it 3-1 when he headed Shaun Wright-Phillips’s cross into the seven minutes later and Wright-Phillips added another from close range on 84 minutes.

Tomas Rosicky pulled one back for Arsenal on 88 minutes, but it was too little, too late.