Arsenal legend Thierry Henry believes Manchester City's players were motivated after the club was hit by Premier League charges for victory at Arsenal.
City were last week charged with 115 breaches of financial rules with the club potentially facing a raft of punishments.
The reigning Premier League champions will contend the charges insisting they are innocent of all the allegations, but if found guilty, potential punishments include points deductions and even expulsion.
Henry said: "I feel like teams that win titles cannot lose their control in any moment. Man City, you asked questions at the beginning. I wanted, I wished, I hoped that Arsenal would get the win - I said 2-1 for Arsenal.
"But City tonight showed you why they are champions, so far, because nobody took that title yet.
"Since those financial fines, or not fine, or whatever is going to happen to Man City (allegations) I think that little thing did add something extra into City's mind in that dressing room."
Henry went on to add: "It changed it as Pep (Guardiola) can say to everybody they don't want us to win let's show them we're the champions. They played as champions."