Aguero scored two in each half and even missed a penalty as the Blues coasted home 4-1 in a game that also saw Robert Soldado miss from the spot thanks to a fine stop by Joe Hart at 2-1.
It was an absorbing game from start to finish and, despite the winning margin, one that the visitors fully played their part in.
With several horrendous drubbings in recent seasons, Spurs could have been forgiven for parking the proverbial bus in front of their box in a bid to leave the Etihad with their pride intact on this occasion
...City 4 Spurs 1...
However, those are not principles Mauricio Pochettino holds dear and both sides set their stall to be open, fluid and attacking - and it was the visitors who almost opened the scoring when Ryan Mason burst into the box with just Hart to beat only to be foiled by the left leg of the England goalkeeper.
It was a narrow escape and when Soldado tricked his way through seconds later only to see his shot deflected over, it was an early warning that the visitors weren’t here to be sacrificial lambs yet again.
The Blues, stung into action, threatened with Aguero and David Silva almost finding a way through to goal before City did take the lead on 13 minutes when Bacary Sagna won possession on the edge of the Spurs box, fed Frank Lampard who found Aguero and the Argentine shifted inside before checking inside and rifling a low shot past Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham’s response was instant as Fernando was dispossessed in his own half by Soldado who played in Christian Eriksen and the Dane’s powerful shot beat Hart via the underside of the crossbar to level the scores – they had been behind for just 90 seconds.
In this enthralling battle, however, parity lasted just five minutes when Lampard was pushed over in the box - perhaps a little harshly - and the referee pointed to the spot to allow Aguero to restore the hosts lead with only 20 minutes on the clock. It was his 59th Premier League goal for City, putting him one ahead of Carlos Tevez in our all-time list.
Kun should have had a hat-trick four minutes later but he shot straight at Lloris from point blank range and then he should certainly have completed his treble on 31 minutes when Silva was brought down in the box and the referee awarded the Blues another penalty.
This time, however, Lloris won the psychological battle as he saved the kick and then Aguero spectacularly volleyed the rebound over. The breathless pace of the game failed to abate and Aguero, desperate to make amends, set off on a blistering run that saw him again denied by Lloris just moments later.
There was an irresistible fluidity about the way City had set up with Aguero backed by James Milner, Silva and the livewire Jesus Navas, though the effective holding pair partnership of Fernando and Lampard was ended when Lampard was stretchered off with what looked like a thigh strain before the break
...City 4 Spurs 1...
Mason forced another fine save out of Hart on 42 minutes and at the other end, Lloris was kept busy until the last minute of the first period when Aguero’s ball put Navas clear but the Frenchman pushed his drive over the bar and then foiled a long-range Milner effort a minute later.
It had been quite a half and had it ended 5-3, it would have probably been a better reflection on the endeavours of both teams.
So could the second-half be as entertaining as the first? When Aguero was denied by another splendid Lloris save two minutes in, it suggested it probably would be!
Navas and Aguero were causing Spurs all kinds of problems and both continued to keep Lloris busy as the Blues peppered his goal with shots – and then Silva’s cross almost found Kun at the far post but there was just too much pace on the ball.
It was breathless stuff and just past the hour, the visitors should have drawn level when Martin Demichelis was judged to have fouled Soldado just inside the box (it was a foot outside) and the third penalty of the afternoon was awarded – but Hart was equal to the Spaniard as he dived low to his right to preserve City’s lead. And what a vital stop it turned out to be.
Then Hart made another superb save with his feet before the Blues shifted up a gear as Aguero’s brilliant one-man show continued.
On 68 minutes an incredible fourth penalty of the game was awarded when Kun was felled in the box chasing Navas’ cross – a foul that ref Jonathan Moss decided had prevented a goal-scoring opportunity resulting in a straight red card for Federico Fazio - and this time Aguero made no mistake completing his hat-trick at long last.
And he still wasn’t finished! Seven minutes later he was celebrating his and City’s fourth as he curled a low angled shot past Lloris to probably make Pochettino regret his pre-match assessment that the Blues’ talisman is the best striker on the planet!
There was still time for Milner to strike the post with an effort from 18 yards and though a fifth would have been nice, it didn’t alter the fact that this had been a brilliant display by the champions and, by Sergio Aguero in particular who will remember this game for many years to come.
