Manchester City Put Hammers To The Sword To Reclaim Top Spot

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MANCHESTER: Manchester City toppled Arsenal to ascend to the top of the English Premiership after defeating West Ham United 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on 03 May 2023.

City were playing catch up with Arsenal, a team that has been at the summit for most of the season, but now City are firm favourites to win the championship. The Citizens are on top of the league with 79 points, hot on their heels is Arsenal with 78 points, but City have a game in hand.

Arsenal are only left with four games and City five games respectively. City removed Arsenal at the top, as they were there for only 24 hours, after thumping Chelsea 3-1 on the previous night.

Manchester City started the game with intent, searching for the opener earlier on by aggressively attacking West Ham’s defensive lines. City came close in the ninth minute when Jack Grealish played a low cross to the edge of the box connecting with Riyad Mahrez, but the Algerian’s goal-bound shot was stopped by a diving Lukasz Fabianski.

West Ham kept weathering the waves of attacks from the Citizens and held their shape and did not give the home side a sniff. Jarrod Bowens had an opportunity to take the lead for United after a ball was played over the top, his shot was stopped in the near post by City keeper Stefan Ortega in the 30th minute. On the other end, Grealish’s fierce shot could not find the back of the net.

City continued mounting pressure on West Ham, Rodri came extremely close in the 32nd minute when his strike hit the inside of the upright with Fabianski beaten. The teams went to halftime with neither team able to break the deadlock, West Ham’s defense was able to stop the free-scoring City in the first half.

The Hammers were finally broken down, when Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick, connected with a powerful header from an unmarked Nathan Ake in the 49th minute giving City the lead.

Erling Haaland doubled the lead for City, in the 70th minute by netting his 35th league goal, Haaland lobbed the ball over Fabianski, breaking a long-standing premier league record held by Andy Cole who had scored 34 goals in the 1993/1994 premier league season.

The Citizens did not stop there Phil Foden completed the scoring with a fantastic volley outside the box in the 85th minute, putting the game away. West Ham’s first-half resistance was not present in the second half.

City are now on the pound seat to win the league, however, Arsenal are still in it with a chance. Next up for City is Leeds United, at the Etihad on Saturday.