There were no 'happy flowers' at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, although there were a lot of happy faces.
City regularly make a habit of applauding their travelling support after away games, win or lose, although the full-time show of strength in front of the away section at Arsenal felt different. There was a look of determination on the faces of the City squad who had just moved back into top spot, and a sense that a big win had been earned by a collective performance.
Kevin De Bruyne hailed the 'aggressive' second-half performance, and Pep Guardiola said his team are built as a 'crazy team'. Ruben Dias said 'this means everything to us,' while Erling Haaland simply tweeted: "Together. ALWAYS."
ALSO READ: De Bruyne explains Guardiola's half time changes that inspired Arsenal win
Only one month ago, Guardiola launched his extraordinary attack on his own club for being too comfortable, too complacent with winning, challenging his players, fans and even his board to demand more of each other. He's made headlines for suggesting that he doesn't care if City win the Premier League or not, instead focussing on their attitude and application.
Before the title showdown at Arsenal, Guardiola challenged his players to show they are ready to fight to win the title. If Arsenal (or someone else) win the title because they are better, then he can accept it. If City give away their title because their attitude was not right, that's another story.
Over the course of the last month, it seems that Guardiola's messages have got through - helped by two major developments that shook the club in different ways. First, Joao Cancelo's loan exit showed that no player is bigger than the club, and reinforced Guardiola's stance that everybody must be fighting for the same goal in order to be successful.
Secondly, the Premier League's 115 charges against City - carrying the threat of potential relegation or the stripping of titles - allowed the manager to accuse the league's other 19 clubs of plotting against City, and position the Blues as competing against a collective of 19 teams rather than just Arsenal. The chorus of boos against Aston Villa for the Premier League anthem showed that Guardiola's battle cry has brought the club and fans closer together.
That means little if it doesn't translate on the pitch, though, and the disappointing defeat at Tottenham felt all too familiar and a wasted opportunity to capitalise on Arsenal's shock defeat at Everton. But six points from the following six has seen City eliminate the gap to Arsenal, and their streetwise performance at the Emirates indicates that the players are once again singing from Guardiola's hymn sheet.
City players are once again surrounding officials to get their way - one of the manager's more specific criticisms last month. There was time-wasting and mischievous behaviour, whether from Ederson before Bukayo Saka's penalty, or from Kevin De Bruyne when beer cups were getting hurled at him. City embraced the role of villain at Arsenal and used it to their advantage. If they couldn't stop players like Saka, they kicked them. Players are once again demanding more of each other. There was never any sign that a draw was acceptable at Arsenal.
And with their innovative system that saw Bernardo Silva play at left-back, Guardiola has returned City to the top of the table by putting all his most experienced players back in the starting XI. Who'd have thought that would be effective?
In fairness, he has indicated that the mentality issues of some players have improved - Kyle Walker was namechecked in that regard - and there is a feeling in the dressing room that the Blues can really kick on and kick-start a winning run with their Arsenal win. If those experienced players have taken the criticism on board, then City are stronger for it.
Helped by the Premier League charges, City's trip to Arsenal felt like the City of old. The side who were never going to let someone else take their title away. It's been a long time coming, and Guardiola preached cautiousness when it came to making any grand title statements, but it feels like Guardiola's 'happy flowers' have gone.
"We are built as a team to go as a crazy team," he said at Arsenal. "When you wait, float a little bit the opponent. That's not who we are. Second half we were more aggressive, winning duels. When that happens we're a better team."
If City keep up the crazy, they will be tough to stop.
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