Manchester City defeats Wolves as Haaland scores four goals. Put Arsenal Under Pressure

Manchester City defeats Wolves as Haaland scores four goals. Put Arsenal under pressure. Manchester City thrashed Wolves 5-1 at the Etihad, led by four goals from Erling Haaland, to go within three games of an incredible fourth consecutive Premier League title.

After defeating Bournemouth 3-0 earlier on Saturday, Arsenal enjoyed a four-point advantage.

However, City did not appear to be feeling the pressure as they closed the difference to one point and now have three games left to Arsenal’s two.

Haaland has come under fire for falling short of the heights of his incredible debut campaign in Manchester, where he scored 52 goals and helped City win the title.

But the Norwegian’s incredible finishing performance brought his season total to 36 goals in 41 games.

After scoring last weekend against Nottingham Forest off the bench during his injury comeback, Haaland was added back into Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup.

Among City’s three Premier League losses so far this year, one came from Wolves.

But when Guardiola’s team extended their winning run at home to 43 games, the visitors were completely overwhelmed.

Haaland’s two first-half penalty kick conversions made the Wolves feel as though luck was not on their side either.

As the Croatian’s strike went wide and Haaland sent Jose Sa the wrong way to open the floodgates, Josko Gvardiol was completely destroyed by Rayan Ait-Nouri for the first spot-kick.

The Manchester City forward then leaped to his highest point to head home Rodri’s hanging cross at the back post.

Haaland appeared to have completed his hat-trick when he ran through in first-half stoppage time, only to be clipped by Nelson Semedo.

Referee Craig Pawson first allowed play on but reversed his decision following a VAR review.

Haaland showed no compassion, scoring his second hat-trick in as many appearances against Wolverhampton at the Etihad. 

Wolverhampton scored a goal early in the second half to shatter any illusions that City could put up a big score to reduce their goal differential gap against Arsenal.

Ederson skillfully deflected a cross to the right, setting up Hwang Hee-Chan for a clear shot into an open net.

But in just one minute, Manchester City’s three-goal lead was spectacularly restored.

Phil Foden found Haaland with a long ball over the top. He cut onto his deadly left foot and found the top corner.

With four goals, Haaland appears to have wrapped up the Golden Boot competition. With 25 Premier League goals, he currently leads Alexander Isak and Cole Palmer by five goals.

For the striker for Manchester City, who has now scored five goals in a single game twice since moving to England, there may have even been more.

“Sa” made a spectacular save to deny Haaland matching that feat once more.

In addition, the 23-year-old was not thrilled with Guardiola’s choice to give him a rest for the final eight minutes of the game as Julian Alvarez took his place.

The Argentine scored the last goal after Rodri’s assist found the far corner.

With draws against championship rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, Manchester City has not lost in 19 Premier League games. Since February, they have only dropped two points.

The reigning champions’ next two games are away to Fulham and Tottenham, and on the last day of the season, they host West Ham.

If Arsenal is to overcome a 20-year league-winning drought, they must hope there is still one more twist in the title battle to come.

However, City is not showing any indications of giving up on their aim of becoming the first team in history to win the English Premier League four times in a row.
Source: Citizen Digital