MANCHESTER, (AP):

Arsenal finally ended its streak of poor away performances against top teams, as Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud scored in each half yesterday, for a 2-0 victory over Manchester City that dented the hosts' title hopes.

Cazorla converted a penalty in the 24th minute and then sent in a pin-point free kick that Giroud headed in for the second in the 66th, as Arsenal ended second-place City's 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

City dominated possession, but Arsenal, for once, showed the kind of defensive fortitude that so often has been missing in big away games in recent seasons. Arsenal lost 6-3 at City last season, to go with a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea, and 5-1 defeat at Liverpool.

With the loss, City fell five points behind leader Chelsea. Arsenal climbed above Tottenham into fifth place, one point behind Manchester United.

In Sunday's other game, West Ham also gave its European ambitions a boost, as a superb second-half display saw the Hammers beat struggling Hull 3-0.

West Ham climbed above Liverpool into seventh while Hull manager Steve Bruce has now overseen just two wins in 15 league games.