Pep Guardiola shouted “Come on you Irons” as he urged West Ham to slow Arsenal’s title charge after Manchester City kept up the pressure with a 3-0 win over Brentford.
Following goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, and Omar Marmoush, Guardiola concluded his post-match press conference with a pointed “Come on you Irons,” ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming game at the London Stadium on Sunday. City’s win, which saw them initially appear unsettled against a Brentford side with European ambitions, was ignited by Doku’s superb curled opener on the hour mark. This breakthrough allowed City to assert dominance, with Haaland bundling in a second before setting up Marmoush for a late third goal.
The result places City just two points adrift of Arsenal. While a recent 3-3 draw at Everton means his side no longer dictates their own destiny, Guardiola expressed his enjoyment of another thrilling title race and the potential for a treble, a stark contrast to finishing 13 points behind Liverpool in the previous season.
“I love to be here again,” he said. “We finish second again this season minimum so I love it. I didn’t enjoy last season and that moment when we were fighting to qualify for the Champions League was so difficult.
“But the Carabao Cup is in our pocket and the FA Cup Final at Wembley is the most beautiful day of the season and I love it.”
Doku, who scored twice at Everton on Monday, was once again City’s leading light. He terrorised Brentford right-back Michael Kayode and his superbly struck goal was key in opening up the game.
“This season he made a step forward that players must do to try to do better and better and it belongs absolutely to him, the confidence,” said Guardiola. “In good teams you always need people up front – not just Erling, attacking midfielders and wingers need to make actions like that to win games.”
Brentford left the Etihad Stadium frustrated after two penalty shouts were waved away by referee Michael Salisbury. Keith Andrews accepted Matheus Nunes perhaps got a touch on the ball when he tangled with Kevin Schade as the last man in the first half, but was perplexed that a spot-kick was not given when Nunes again challenged Schade as he prepared to strike with the game at 1-0.
“The one in the second half when Kev is going through and (Igor) Thiago squares it to him, in what world he goes down unless there’s contact is beyond me because there’s a goal there for him to get it to 1-1,” he said.
“That’s probably the one I’m struggling to comprehend a little bit…
“The comment I heard was there’s not enough contact. For someone who is as quick as Kevin Schade with his eyes on goal, I don’t know how much contact he’s looking for.”
Despite that, Andrews saw plenty of positives. “We started the second half really well,” he said. “The reality is their first goal is a wonder strike, second goal is a tad scruffy and then the third goal, we’re chasing the game and leaving spaces.
“I liked a lot of what we did, I liked the approach. I don’t love the scoreline but there is a lot to take back with us.”
