The Gunners are now anchored just above the relegation zone at the end of a thoroughly miserable day for north London, with Tottenham shipping five against Manchester City.

Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young scored either side of a missed Robin van Persie penalty before Rooney cut loose, Nani and Park Ji-sung also finding the net for the rampant hosts before Young finished them off in stoppage time.

Edin Dzeko scored four times as he and debutant Samir Nasri helped City beat Spurs 5-1 with a ruthless display of attacking football at White Hart Lane.

Nasri supplied the crosses for Dzeko to score his first two goals and he also played his part in the run up to Sergio Aguero's strike, which made it 4-0 with half an hour to go.

Younes Kaboul headed home a consolation goal for Tottenham, who included Luka Modric in their line-up, but the afternoon belonged to Dzeko, who clinched his hat-trick by firing in from six yards on the hour before scoring his fourth - a beautiful curling effort - with the last kick of the match.

In today's other games, substitute Ryan Shotton's last-minute goal gave Stoke a 1-0 win at West Brom, while Leon Best scored twice as Newcastle continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 victory over Fulham, for whom Clint Dempsey replied two minutes from time.