MANCHESTER – Manchester City striker Erling Haaland struck four times as they remained on course to land a fourth successive English Premier League title with a 5-1 thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 4.
Hours after Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth, Pep Guardiola’s men responded with a resounding victory that pulled them to within a point of the north Londoners at the top of the standings, but with a game in hand.
Arsenal have 83 points with two fixtures remaining in one of the tightest title races in years, while City have 82 with three games to play.
"Nine (more) points, we will be champions. Seven points, six points, three points, Arsenal will win the Premier League," Guardiola said.
“I didn’t have the feeling we were really good. Especially in the first half, we lost a lot of simple balls. But against teams with high pressing, we can counter-attack – always we are a dangerous team.”
Haaland, who boosted his league scoring lead to 25 with his first career four-goal haul, converted from the spot in the 12th minute after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s late tackle took Josko Gvardiol down in the box.
The 23-year-old Norwegian doubled City’s lead in the 35th minute when he soared high to head home at the far post from Rodri’s cross.
“That’s a beautiful goal. My father (Alf-Inge Haaland, who played for City) is going to be happy with that one. A nice celebration, I enjoyed that one. Not bad, 25 goals this season. We keep going,” Haaland told Sky Sports.
“We’ve got a not-so-bad manager who pushes me. I try to develop every day. I had some problems (this season), but let’s not focus on them.”
Haaland converted again from the spot just before half-time after he was clipped from behind by Nelson Semedo in the area.
Hwang Hee-chan pulled one back for Wolves in the 53rd minute with the visitors’ only shot on target. But a minute later, Haaland smothered any hopes of a comeback with his fourth.
The goal-scoring machine, who missed nearly two months earlier this season with a foot injury but seems to be finding form again at the perfect time, controlled a diagonal pass in the air from Phil Foden before slicing inside and curling a shot into the far corner.
Substitute Julian Alvarez completed City’s scoring in the 85th minute.
Haaland has faced criticism for not matching the standards of his stunning first season in Manchester, scoring 52 goals as City won the treble.
However, the Norwegian took his tally for this season to 36 goals in 41 appearances with a devastating display of finishing.
“Erling is back to business. Penalties are a guarantee, but the second and fourth (goals) were unbelievable,” said Guardiola.
“He was injured, to get back to best form you need time. But happy for his performance, for his exceptional goals, in the penalties as well because we know how some days it is not easy... really pleased for him.”
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie Redknapp was effusive in his praise of the hitman, who came off in the 82nd minute for Alvarez.
“We all want so much from a forward. Sometimes we talk about the finesse and little touches that he doesn’t do so well, but he’s an animal in front of goal,” the Sky Sports pundit said.
“The mentality he has. He scored four goals and you could see he was furious that he’d come off. This guy is built differently. He is a phenomenon. I love watching him.”
Wolves, whose manager Gary O'Neil was serving a touchline ban, looked nothing like the team who edged out City 2-1 in September.
“I thought we damaged ourselves mostly,” he said. “If you make errors against these guys, they’ll punish you. We made too many errors and City were very clinical. It was a tough afternoon.”
City, who remain well on course for a Premier League and FA Cup double, play two away games at Fulham and Tottenham. They then close their league season at home against West Ham United.
Arsenal travel to Old Trafford next to play Manchester United before hosting Everton on the final day. REUTERS, AFP
