MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City kept the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League after beating Brentford 3-0 on Saturday.
Cheers rang around Etihad Stadium after second-half goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush helped second-placed City close the gap on leader Arsenal to two points.
City edge closer to title
A well-organized Brentford managed to frustrate City until Doku came up with a moment of magic on the hour — curling a right-footed shot into the far corner. It was a near-carbon copy of his late equalizer against Everton that salvaged a 3-3 draw on Monday.
"I love it. I love to be here again," manager Pep Guardiola said, adding he feels no tension in the heat of the title race.
Haaland bundled the ball over the line in the 75th minute for City's second and his 50th goal of the season for club and country. Substitute Marmoush got the third in added time.
That draw put the title race in Arsenal's hands, but victory against Brentford ensured the pressure remained on the Gunners to get a win at West Ham on Sunday.
"Come on you Irons!" Guardiola said at the end of his post-game news conference in reference to West Ham's nickname.
Other Premier League results
- Third-placed Manchester United drew at Sunderland 0-0
- Bournemouth won at Fulham 1-0
- Brighton beat Wolverhampton 3-0
Sixth-placed Bournemouth won at Fulham in a game where both teams were reduced to 10 men.
Brighton was seventh and beat last-placed Wolverhampton 3-0. A goal after 35 seconds for Jamie Hinshelwood was the fastest Brighton has ever recorded in the Premier League, according to stats provider Opta.