After just three minutes, Erling Haaland scored his 50th goal of the year from the penalty spot.
A spirited 2-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage has sent Manchester City to the top of the Premier League for the first time since February 17.
Fulham battled tenaciously with the reigning champions the entire game and kept Pep Guardiola's team on their toes until the very end.
When Erling Haaland scored his season-high 50th goal from the penalty spot after just three minutes, far more seasoned top-flight teams might have lost their composure.
Carlos Vinicius, who has had difficulty scoring since replacing Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was suspended, as a regular starter for Fulham, managed to equalize just over 10 minutes later.
In the first half, it took a stroke of brilliance from Julian Alvarez to give the visitors the lead again. He expertly curled in the game's winning goal.
As the game drew to a close, Fulham had the best chance to score again, but City held on to surpass Arsenal.
After Tim Ream, a stalwart of the Fulham defense this season, was adjudged to have brought down Alvarez in the box, Haaland made no mistakes with his potent penalty just three minutes in.
The goal effectively stopped Fulham's forward momentum, and they switched to a defensive formation in an effort to contain City's attacking danger.
In the 14th minute, Jack Grealish's low shot was stopped by Leno, but Fulham quickly equalized against the odds.
In the 15th minute, Vinicius, who had only scored two goals this season, blasted a beautiful finish past Ederson.
The forward, who has recently come under fire from the home crowd for his lack of end product, was in the correct spot when Harry Wilson flicked the ball into his path, and his left-footed strike was accurate.
Ream, the field captain for Fulham, was injured in the 20th minute after he slipped while attempting to make a tackle and landed awkwardly on his arm.
Leno had to make another save to tip a Grealish attempt over the bar, and Antonee Robinson denied Alvarez at the far post as City continued to put pressure on the Fulham defense.
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