MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City is in need of assistance to secure the Premier League title. However, their recent 3-0 victory over Brentford has at least positioned them to capitalize if the opportunity arises.
Dropping any points on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium—just days after a setback against Everton—would have allowed Arsenal to take a significant lead toward the trophy. Fortunately for City, they continued to fight.
Pep Guardiola’s side shook off early-game jitters to score three second-half goals, reducing Arsenal’s lead to just two points. Now, they are hoping for assistance from West Ham United, who are scheduled to face Arsenal on Sunday.
The first half against Brentford had its challenges, but the second half proved to be a breakthrough. Guardiola and his team are now keenly observing developments in East London, hoping for one final twist in this thrilling title race.
“We are competing with a team that is in the Champions League final and has not lost a match, while we’ve been at the top of the league for most of the season,” Guardiola noted. “It’s now beyond our control—it relies on them dropping points.”
“All we can do is focus on winning our game on Wednesday against Crystal Palace, play in the FA Cup final, and face Bournemouth next—admittedly, that won’t be an easy match—and then Aston Villa. The calendar is tight, but it’s straightforward: just two weeks left in the season. I love being in this title race again.”
City’s current standings are largely due to Jérémy Doku.
The 23-year-old Belgian international mentioned in a recent interview that he needs to enhance his goal-scoring to be considered among the top wingers globally—and he seems to be on the right track.
In April alone, he has netted goals against Chelsea, provided an assist in a narrow win over Burnley, scored the equalizer in the FA Cup semifinal versus Southampton, added two goals in a dramatic 3-3 tie with Everton, and scored the opener against Brentford.
His 60th-minute goal mirrored his 97th-minute equalizer from the previous match at Hill Dickinson Stadium—cutting in from the left to find the top corner with his right foot.
Defenders may anticipate this move, but stopping it remains a daunting task.
“He’s always had the talent to take on defenders, but until this season, he struggled with the final pass or scoring,” Guardiola remarked. “To grow as a player, you need to win matches. Making good crosses isn’t enough; you have to score and turn games in your favor.”
“Doku has taken an impressive leap in mindset, deciding to be a game-winner. Great players have that mentality.”
After Doku’s critical opener, Erling Haaland scored his season’s 50th goal across all competitions with a clever back-heeled finish, relieving the tension for the City supporters at the Etihad.
This goal came just five minutes after Matheus Nunes survived a VAR review regarding a potential foul on Kevin Schade when the latter was through on goal, with only Gianluigi Donnarumma left to beat.
Brentford’s appeals were dismissed by referee Michael Salisbury, while Keith Andrews chastised the fourth official for the decision. That moment proved pivotal for City.
“It baffles me how Schade could fall without any contact,” Andrews stated. “I can’t wrap my head around that.”
“What I heard from the referee was that there wasn’t enough contact. For someone as fast as Kevin Schade, it’s unclear how much contact is necessary. It’s frustrating.”
Brentford remains in contention for a European spot, while City has their sights set on West Ham.
City had previously lost points to them in March, and Guardiola is hopeful that Nuno Espírito Santo will lead West Ham to perform similarly against Arsenal. West Ham is currently in the relegation zone and needs a favorable result.
With two weeks left in the season, the outcome is indeed looming.
Post the West Ham match, Arsenal will face already-relegated Burnley and then Crystal Palace, who have their sights set on the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano just four days later.
Guardiola is quite certain about the team that can either open or shut the door on City’s title hopes. After discussing Brentford’s performance, Doku, and Haaland, he ended his press conference by crossing his arms in a playful gesture associated with West Ham fans, exclaiming, “come on you Irons” with a knowing smile.
City has done their part against Brentford. Now, they are hoping for a helping hand from West Ham.