Manchester City delivered a powerful statement in the Premier League title race, cruising to a dominant 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium. The win, inspired by a record-breaking performance from Erling Haaland, sent Pep Guardiola's side to the summit of the table, piling immediate pressure on rivals Arsenal.
Haaland's Historic Double Seals Dominant Display
The match was effectively decided within the opening five minutes, as the irrepressible Erling Haaland fired City into an early lead. It was the tenth time this season the Norwegian has opened the scoring in the league. He then turned provider, setting up midfielder Tijani Reijnders to double the advantage with a fine strike after 38 minutes.
The second half followed a similar pattern of City control. After a rare West Ham chance from Jarrod Bowen went wide, some calamitous defending from the visitors presented Haaland with another opportunity. The outcome was never in doubt. His confident finish for City's third was a landmark strike, marking his 104th Premier League goal.
Surpassing a Legend in Record Time
That second goal saw Haaland achieve a monumental personal milestone, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo's total of 103 Premier League goals. The most staggering aspect of this feat is the speed of its accomplishment; Haaland reached 104 goals in 122 fewer games than the Portuguese superstar.
The 25-year-old now has 19 goals in just 17 league appearances this campaign, putting him on course to challenge his own single-season record of 36. His relentless form, with 25 goals in 23 games across all competitions, remains the cornerstone of City's pursuit of silverware.
Title Message Sent as City Hit Top Gear
This comfortable victory represented City's fifth consecutive league win and their seventh in a row across all competitions, a run that dates back to a November defeat at Newcastle. The result moves them onto 37 points, one clear of Arsenal at the top of the table.
Despite missing key players like Rodri and John Stones, City looked formidable. The performance underlined their strength in depth and sent a clear warning to Mikel Arteta's Gunners, who lack a striker of Haaland's prolific caliber. As the festive fixture schedule intensifies, Manchester City's ominous form suggests their title defence is moving into its most potent phase.
