Arsene Wenger declared after his players conceded six goals to Manchester City that Manuel Pellegrini's side were "not unbeatable" and no better than Everton and Southampton.
Arsenal's 6-3 defeat, which asked searching questions of their title credentials, ended with Per Mertesacker screaming at Mesut Ozil for not applauding the Arsenalfans and a frustrated Jack Wilshere raising a middle finger at the City supporters.
Wenger said of the on-field row: "The Germans will sort that out between themselves - don't worry.
"City are one of the teams to beat but not more than any of the others. We have played Everton and Southampton and they are as good as City."
Wenger claimed his side could have scored six themselves, but there is little excuse for Arsenal's inferiority to a City team who have now scored six or more goals in three games this season - the first time that the club has achieved that in the top flight since 1937-8. "I don't think it was [our] best performance because Arsenal scored three goals and it was too much with the amount of chances they had," Pellegrini said. "We had four or five more clear chances to score goals. But it's better we score six goals and the other team don't score."
Of Wilshere's gesture, which may result in the Football Association giving him a one-game ban for improper conduct, he added: "If he did it and is banned we will have to accept it."
Premier League scores Manchester City 6, Arsenal 3 Cardiff City 1, West Brom 0 Chelsea 2, Crystal Palace 1 Everton 4, Fulham 1 Newcastle 1, Southampton 1 West Ham 0, Sunderland 0 Hull City 0, Stoke 0
Today's matches Aston Villa vs. Manchester United Norwich vs. Swansea Tottenham vs. Liverpool
