Manchester City kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal with a convincing 3-0 victory over Brentford, with Doku starring at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side struggled to break down stubborn opposition during a frustrating first half, but produced a far more clinical display after the interval as Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush all found the net.
The result moves City onto 74 points, leaving them just two behind Arsenal with only two matches remaining in the title race. Brentford, meanwhile, stay eighth on 51 points.
City dominated possession from the opening whistle but found chances difficult to create against a Brentford side determined to defend deep and frustrate the home team.
Despite controlling large spells of the contest, Guardiola’s players lacked penetration before the break as the visitors remained organised and disciplined in their defensive shape.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 60th minute through Doku, whose direct running finally unsettled Brentford’s resistance. Cutting inside from the left flank, the Belgian winger produced a composed finish to beat the goalkeeper and spark celebrations around the Etihad Stadium.
The goal transformed the tempo of the match, with Brentford forced to push further forward in search of an equaliser. That created more space for City’s attacking players, and the home side took full advantage.
Haaland added the second goal in the 75th minute to put Guardiola’s side firmly in control. The Norwegian striker once again demonstrated his clinical finishing ability as City tightened their grip on the game and edged closer to another vital three points in the closing stages of the season.
There was still time for substitute Marmoush to make his mark in stoppage time. Introduced from the bench, the Egyptian forward produced an eye-catching cameo and completed the scoring in the 92nd minute.
Breaking clear on goal after City launched another swift attack, Marmoush remained composed before slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to cap an impressive contribution from the substitute and underline his growing reputation in the Premier League.
The victory represents another important step for Manchester City as they continue their pursuit of Arsenal at the top of the table. Guardiola’s side have maintained relentless pressure in recent weeks and now head into the final two games knowing the title race remains alive.
Although Brentford frustrated City for long periods, particularly during the first half, they were eventually unable to contain the home side’s attacking quality once the breakthrough arrived.
City’s wide players proved decisive after the interval, with Doku especially influential as the contest opened up. His willingness to drive at defenders injected urgency into the performance and helped shift momentum firmly in City’s favour.
For Brentford, the defeat leaves them in eighth place with little room for error as the campaign approaches its conclusion. Despite their disciplined defensive display for much of the evening, they were ultimately overwhelmed by City’s attacking strength and depth.
With two fixtures left to play, the pressure now returns to Arsenal as the battle for the Premier League title enters its final stages.
