Manchester City cruise past Brentford to keep up pressure on Arsenal
Jeremy Doku’s curling second-half opener sparked a commanding 3-0 win over Brentford at the Etihad, as Manchester City cut Arsenal’s Premier League lead to just two points with three games remaining.
Manchester City kept their Premier League title hopes firmly alive, with a commanding 3-0 win over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium cutting Arsenal’s advantage at the top to just two points. With three games remaining for both sides, the title race is now as taut as it has been all season — and Pep Guardiola’s side are refusing to blink.It was Jeremy Doku who made the difference once again. The Belgian winger, whose dramatic double salvaged a 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday, struck in now trademark style to break the deadlock on the hour mark with a fine curling finish — the fifth time he has found the net in six games. In a season that has demanded heroes, City appear to have found an unlikely one in the electric wide man.
The first half had been a more competitive affair than the scoreline ultimately suggests. Brentford — who made two changes, with Kristoffer Ajer and Aaron Hickey coming in — were organised and industrious, with Kevin Schade marking his 100th Premier League appearance for the club. Igor Thiago had Brentford’s best chance of the match, played in by a pinpoint Michael Kayode pass. The striker bore down on goal but delayed his shot, and when he did pull the trigger inside the six-yard box, Gianluigi Donnarumma kept it out well.
The breakthrough, when it came, was a moment of individual brilliance from Doku. A short corner was played to the winger, who appeared to lose possession as Damsgaard and Jensen closed him down in a wide area. He won the ball back, evaded both Danes and curled a shot off the post and into the net. The Etihad erupted, and from that point, the outcome was never seriously in doubt.Erling Haaland doubled City’s advantage with 15 minutes remaining in characteristically unconventional fashion. Antoine Semenyo beat his man and played a low cross into the box that Brentford could not quite clear. The Premier League’s top scorer managed to backheel the ball onto himself before it ricocheted across the line. It was not pretty, but for a striker of Haaland’s calibre, goals are goals — and the Norwegian needed little invitation.
Caoimhín Kelleher had kept Brentford competitive throughout, producing a stunning save to deny Phil Foden from point-blank range, as the substitute fired a volley towards goal only for the Republic of Ireland international to somehow turn it over the bar. On another day, with another goalkeeper, City might have had five.Substitute Omar Marmoush put the gloss on the result in stoppage time, finishing from a tight angle after being played in by Haaland. The score flattered no one — City were relentless in the second half and fully deserving of their dominant win.
The result was not without controversy. Brentford were aggrieved by refereeing decisions, with two penalty appeals turned down, and City captain Bernardo Silva might have seen red for a challenge on Schade that left the visitors furious, though replays showed a toe on the ball had spared him.Manchester City have now extended their unbeaten Premier League run to 13 games, and have scored three or more goals in more matches than any other side this season — 14 in total. Brentford, by contrast, have won just once in their last eight league outings and will look back on this evening as a missed opportunity to dent City’s momentum, even if the gulf in class made that unlikely from the first whistle.
Arsenal are now next in action, facing West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday, knowing that a win would restore their five-point cushion and go a long way to sealing the title. City, meanwhile, have done everything asked of them — the pressure now sits squarely on the Gunners’ shoulders. Three games, two points, and a title race that refuses to die.
