Haaland scores hat-trick again to earn City facile win over Wolves, Arsenal pip United
MANCHESTER: Erling Haaland scored his fourth Premier League hat-trick of the season to lead Manchester City to a 3-0 win over Wolverhampton as Pep Guardiola’s midweek message got through to the champions on Sunday.
Arsenal moved five points clear at the top, thanks to Eddie Nketiah’s 90th minute winner to beat Manchester United 3-2. Guardiola got the reaction he was hoping for from the English champions ater questioning their hunger to retain the title ater Thursday’s 4-2 win over Totenham.
The hosts had to come from 2-0 down in a dramatic second half against Spurs, but there was litle mystery over the destination of the three points once Haaland had broken Wolves’ resistance five minutes before half-time.
Haaland’s scoring rate has slowed marginally in recent weeks, but his header from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross moved him level with the 23 league goals that saw Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min share the Golden Boot with last season.
The 22-year-old took his tally to 30 goals in all competitions from the penalty spot early in the second half ater Ilkay Gundogan had been upended by Ruben Neves.
Wolves then gited Haaland his hat-trick just four minutes later as goalkeeper Jose Sa presented the ball to Riyad Mahrez, who unselfishly squared for his teammate to roll into an unguarded net.
Guardiola quickly took the chance to give his star striker a rest as Haaland was replaced on the hour mark by Julian Alvarez to Wolves’ relief.
City should still have inflicted further punishment on Julen Lopetegui’s men.
Mahrez just failed to hold his run as he was flagged offside ater dinking in De Bruyne’s through ball before Gundogan headed a glorious chance over.
But three goals were more than enough for the three points to put pressure on Arsenal.
Just a second league defeat since Lopetegui took charge leaves Wolves still outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Leeds edged one point clear of the botom three, but remain without a league win since November ater a 0-0 draw at home to Brenford.
David Raya denied the in-form Wilfried Gnonto with the best save of the game to salvage the Bees a point that moves them above Liverpool into eighth.
ARSENAL MAKE TITLE STATEMENT: Arsenal made a huge statement of their EPL intent, coming from behind to beat in-form Manchester in front of a raucous Emirates crowd.
United forward Marcus Rashford silenced the home fans with the opening goal but an equaliser from Eddie Nketiah and a wonderful second-half strike from Bukayo Saka turned the match on its head.
But the visitors, dangerous on the break throughout the match, levelled the pulsating encounter when Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez headed in ater Arsenal failed to clear a corner.
The Gunners poured forward in search of a winner and eventually got the goal they deserved when Nketiah turned the ball home in the 90th minute.
Scot Mctominay replaced Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who was ineligible ater picking up a fith booking of the season in United’s midweek draw with Crystal Palace, with loan signing Wout Weghorst again leading the line.
New Arsenal arrival Leandro Trossard, who joined late last week from Brighton, had to setle for a place on the bench as Mikel Arteta named an unchanged team.
There is growing sense of belief at the Emirates that the Gunners can at last end their long wait for the Premier League title, which they have not won since 2004.
Arsenal flew out of the blocks, with Thomas Partey flashing just wide as they surged forward.