Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud led Arsenal to an important 2-0 win against defending English Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

Cazorla gave the Gunners a 1-0 lead, as he converted a penalty kick in the 24th minute after Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany fouled Nacho Monreal inside the box.

Giroud then gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead in the 67th minute when he converted a beautiful header off a free kick from Cazorla, beating Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

With the win, Arsenal moved up from sixth to fifth place in the English Premier League table, with 39 points in 22 matches. The team is just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United and third-placed Southampton.

City remained second in the EPL table with 47 points in 22 matches, but they are now five points behind Chelsea, who scored a masterful 5-0 win against Swansea City on Saturday at Liberty Stadium in Wales.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini admitted after the match that they were outplayed by a determined Arsenal squad, saying they failed to keep the Gunners guessing with their lack of creativity.

"We were not a creative team. We didn't have the ideas to cause damage in their defense," Pellegrini said via Goal. "We have a lot of time on the ball but, without creativity, it is not possible to score goals. I always give credit to the team that wins the game. Arsenal played very concentrated."

However, Pellegrini said referee Mike Dean should have not awarded a penalty to Arsenal in the 24th minute. While he admitted Kompany made a bad decision, Pellegrini insisted it was not a penalty and added that the crucial call changed the complexion of the match.

"I don't think it was a penalty but it was unnecessary [for Kompany] to do it," Pellegrini said. "The movement of Kompany allows [Monreal] to dive. I am not saying it was a bad mistake of the referee. The penalty changed the game but it was not the reason we lost. After that the game changed and we didn't really have any chances to score."

Arsenal will next face Aston Villa, while Manchester City will collide with Chelsea in a crucial match on Feb. 1.

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