JOHN HARTSON dealt Manchester City's survival prospects a damaging double blow at Highbury last night as Arsenal climbed to fifth place in the FA Premiership.

It was Arsenal's most scintillating performance of the season and Hart son set the standards with a superb breakthrough goal after 29 minutes.

Hartson, at £2.5 million the most expensive teenager in British football, spotted Eike Immel off his line and sent a 25-yard shot dipping over the goalkeeper after Lee Dixon had picked him out.

Immel knew early on he was in for a busy night, and he beat out shots from Nigel Winterburn and David Platt before Dixon doubled Arsenal's advantage four minutes before the break.

The full-back was left all alone on the right - defender Michael Frontzeck's half-time substitution probably reflected his dereliction duty - and Dennis Bergkamp sent him away.

Dixon raced unchallenged into the box before beating Immel at his near post for only his second goal of the season. Bergkamp had earlier hit an upright and later joined the list of those denied by the City goalkeeper.

City received a dramatic life-line in the 54th minute when Georgi Kinkladze and Nigel Clough gave Gerry Creaney the chance to stab past David Seaman.

City were still celebrating though when Hart son restored Arsenal's lead 30 seconds later with a low shot inside the right-hand upright and after that it was only Immel who kept the score at a respectable level.

Three times in as many minutes he saved from Merson and then twice more denied Platt, who could easily have finished with a hat-trick.

City desperately missed suspended captain Keith Curle and manager Alan Ball faces a real battle to keep his side up with five of their remaining nine games away from Maine Road.

Arsenal manager Bruce Rioch did not attend the match and Arsenal coach Stewart Houston refused to divulge Rioch's exact whereabouts. "He is at a game - that's all you need to know," said Houston, who was unwilling to add to that basic information.

The speculation was that Rioch had gone to France and Houston, unhappy when pushed for more information, added: "The manager has gone to watch 22 players play. That's what you do when you go scouting."

Regarding last night's victory, which elevated Arsenal above London rivals Totteaham into fifth place, he said: "It was an outstanding second half, our most creative attacking performance of the season.