They are so much better than the rest it is almost embarrassing.
Manchester City did not just thrash Arsenal, they humbled and humiliated them in the most ruthless fashion. City were magnificent, untouchable and are undoubtedly heading for a fifth title in six years.
You almost have to do a double take at the Premier League because, incredibly, Arsenal are still top by two points, albeit they have played two more games than City.
But it will surely not stay like that for much longer because City are on another annual march as man-of-the-match Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland were unstoppable.
De Bruyne scored twice, Haaland got his 49th of the season deep into injury time to make it seven Premier League wins in a row and you would not bet against City winning all of their remaining seven games.
In contrast, Arsenal’s promising and exciting season is in serious danger of unravelling and you have to wonder if soulless performances like these might actually have a long term impact.
Arsenal looked a long way from being serious contenders at the Etihad, barely laid a glove on City and the way they have collapsed in recent games - taking just three points from their last 12 - is a poor reflection on their mentality.
One thing is for sure, this felt a million miles away from being a heavyweight top-of-the-table clash. Liverpool used to have epic battles with City when they were going toe-to-toe with City for the title. Arsenal were featherweights.
The sad truth for Arsenal was that hardly any of their players turned up and their big players went missing as soon as the going got tough.
That is the difference between City and the rest. Pep Guardiola’s big players deliver in the big moments. Haaland bullied the life out of Arsenal’s defence and De Bruyne was just on another level.
The opening goal came after just seven minutes and set the tone because it was made by Haaland and finished by De Bruyne. Haaland was far too strong for Rob Holding, the City forward then played in De Bruyne who raced through and hit a low, long range shot which found the bottom corner.
It was a dream start for City, a nightmare for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta’s men never really recovered.
Haaland terrorised Arsenal’s defence every time he ran at them. It was only Gunners keeper Aaron Ramsdale, uncharacteristically wayward finishing and last ditch defending which stopped Haaland getting five.
Arsenal barely had an attack and no-one could complain when City got a second in first half injury time. Partey gave away a silly free kick, De Bruyne sent over a lovely free kick, John Stones rose at the back post and headed home.
The offside flag went up but a VAR check showed White’s outstretched boot played Stones on and the game was over as a contest.
It just got worse for Arsenal after the break. Haaland, having been denied by Ramsdale again, set up De Bruyne whose low shot put City 3-0 up after 54 minutes and it looked like it could get really messy.
Finally, Arsenal showed a bit of fight in the dying stages as, after a raft of substitutions and City taking their foot off the gas, they pulled one back. Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard set up Holding who swept home.
But City were not finished. Haaland finally got in on the act in the fifth minute of stoppage time when his shot was too hot for Ramsdale to handle.
Arsenal look finished whereas Treble-chasing City are just getting started.
