Manchester City are not done. A 3-0 win over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday moved them to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League — and with three games still to play, the title race is very much alive.
It took patience. Brentford, as they tend to do, made themselves difficult to break down — but City eventually found their way through, and when they did, they did it with the kind of clinical efficiency that title-winning sides are supposed to produce.
Jeremy Doku opened the scoring, bringing his directness and unpredictability to a Brentford backline that had held firm for long enough to feel uncomfortable. Erling Haaland added the second — because of course he did — and Omar Marmoush completed the rout to make it 3-0. Three different goalscorers. Three different problems for any defence to solve.
Marmoush's contribution is worth pausing on. The Egyptian forward, who arrived at the Etihad in January, is now contributing in moments that matter. City didn't sign him to be a squad player in a comfortable season — they signed him for exactly this kind of run-in.
Arsenal lead by two points. City have three games remaining. The arithmetic is simple enough — win all three and the title is theirs, assuming Arsenal drop points somewhere. Whether Mikel Arteta's side have a game in hand or a superior goal difference adds another layer of complexity to the picture, but the headline is clear: City refused to let the gap grow, and now Arsenal know they cannot afford a slip.
Pep Guardiola's side have been inconsistent enough this season to make their own supporters nervous, but this was not an inconsistent performance. This was a team that looked like it remembered what it was built for.
City's remaining fixtures will be scrutinised like a VAR check in a cup final. Every opponent, every kick-off time, every Arsenal result will feed into a weekend-by-weekend calculation that the whole league will be watching. Three wins from three is the only formula that guarantees anything — and after Saturday, at least, they've shown they're still capable of delivering it.
Arsenal, for their part, have been warned. The gap was two points before this weekend. It's still two points. That's the point.
Manchester City are not done. A 3-0 win over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday moved them to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League
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BBC Sport — Football
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“Stays on Manchester City — different angle, same beat.”
Premier LeagueThe title race had a pulse again before the weekend. Now it has a heartbeat. Manchester City dismantled Crystal Palace 3-0 at the Etihad on Tuesday evening, cutting Arsenal's lead at the top of the Pr
“Stays on Manchester City — different angle, same beat.”
Premier LeagueThe title race had a pulse again before the weekend. Now it has a heartbeat. Manchester City dismantled Crystal Palace 3-0 at the Etihad on Tuesday evening, cutting Arsenal's lead at the top of the Pr
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