Brutal David Luiz errors help Manchester City ease past Arsenal

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

David Luiz was at fault for two goals as Manchester City beat Arsenal 3-0 behind closed doors at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday as the Premier League marked its return from a three-month hiatus.

Raheem Sterling capitalized on Luiz's first calamitous error with a close-range strike in first-half injury time. Kevin De Bruyne then scored from the spot after the Brazilian defender was sent off for hauling down Riyad Mahrez minutes after the break.

Phil Foden scored City's third goal in added time when the second-half substitute pounced on a Sergio Aguero effort that pinged off the post and into the midfielder's path.

City's win means Liverpool will not clinch their first top-flight title in 30 years with a victory Sunday against rivals Everton.

Both Arsenal and City took a knee prior to kickoff in protest of racial injustice, sporting kits that featured "Black Lives Matter" in place of the players' names.

Arsenal didn't record a shot on target in an affair marred by Luiz's gaffes and a series of injuries for both sides.

Eric Garcia's second Premier League start ended with a horror injury when the center-half was stretchered off following a collision with City 'keeper and teammate Ederson. Garcia required oxygen as part of his treatment, which resulted in a 10-minute delay late in the second half.

Arsenal midfielder and former captain Granit Xhaka's volatile campaign took another hit when the Swiss midfielder was stretchered off with suspected ankle ligament damage in the eighth minute, forcing gaffer Mikel Arteta to use his first of five substitutes on Dani Ceballos.

January addition Pablo Mari joined Xhaka 14 minutes later after the Spanish center-back collapsed to the pitch clutching his Achilles. He was replaced by Luiz.

Bernd Leno had little to do until the 34th minute, when Sterling cut into the penalty area on his right foot to fire a strike toward the far post that the Arsenal 'keeper lunged at to parry aside. Leno made another cracking save seconds later when David Silva spun to fire an effort on goal.

City then found their verve, moving the ball with greater urgency. Leno was again on call, denying Mahrez's point-blank attempt. Sterling had another go minutes later, narrowly floating a chip above the bar.

Sterling would get his first goal in 12 matches minutes before the interval when Luiz's attempt to chest a ball over the top gifted the England international a straightforward opener.

The visitors went down to 10 men minutes into the second half when Luiz pulled down Mahrez in the area. De Bruyne stepped up to double City's advantage.

Foden snatched a third goal in the 91st minute to cement a result that sees City narrow the gap with Liverpool to 22 points, while Arsenal remain eight points back of fourth place and a coveted Champions League return.