Manchester City delivered another commanding performance as they overcame West Ham with a 3-0 victory, thanks to a double from Erling Haaland and a goal from Tijjani Reijnders. While Arsenal claimed top spot on Christmas Day with their win at Everton, City’s relentless form under Pep Guardiola signals a clear warning to Mikel Arteta’s side as the Premier League title race intensifies.
Haaland, who has continued his sensational scoring run this season, was once again at the heart of City’s attacking threat. His two goals added to Reijnders’ contribution, leaving West Ham struggling to break through for the seventh consecutive game against Guardiola’s men. This run has seen the Hammers concede at least three goals in six of their previous encounters with City, highlighting the dominance of the reigning champions.
Guardiola, while pleased with the result, offered a measured assessment of his team’s performance. “I’m happy, we are fourth in the Champions League and semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, but the way we played with the ball, we have to improve. Otherwise, it will not be enough to arrive in March and April in contention to win titles,” he said.
The City manager acknowledged the positives but also emphasized areas for improvement. “We did not do the right process to do what we have to do. There were many good things – I always have to thank Erling for the goals but thanks to him and Phil [Foden] and Nico O’Reilly – they helped us to do this type of game. Defensively, we are improving. We are visualising it with the ball.
“If they follow me, we will be there, but they have to improve. I know the level in Europe, I know Arsenal and other teams. The spirit is there – we didn’t have that last season – aggression, hunger, all the attributes that they need that are not about highlights. Hopefully Rodri is back [soon] but we cannot forget Jérémy [Doku] is not here, [Mateo] Kovacic, Omar Marmoush, Rayan [Aït-Nouri].”
Guardiola also took a rare moment to criticize Bernardo Silva, a player often praised for his consistency. “Bernie is my weakness. He’s top, but today Bernie had to play better. Today I’m not happy with Bernie. He’s my weakness, my favourite one, but today I’m not happy with him. He knows exactly what we need to play better.”
The contrast between the two sides could not have been clearer. City arrived at this fixture on the back of six straight victories across all competitions, while West Ham were struggling with zero wins in five league games. The Hammers’ last triumph over City dated back to September 2015, a 2-1 victory, and they were attempting to end a 21-game winless streak against the Premier League leaders.
The contest was effectively decided inside the first five minutes, as City’s trademark relentless possession game began to wear down the visitors. Haaland was the first to strike, capitalizing on precise build-up play. Phil Foden combined with Nico González down the left before delivering a perfectly weighted pass to the Norwegian striker, who unleashed a thunderous right-footed shot. Alphonse Areola managed to deflect it but could not prevent the goal.
West Ham found themselves pushed into the familiar role of chasing the ball, hoping to capitalize on counterattacks. An early Lucas Paquetá free-kick intended for Jarrod Bowen was misdirected, and a subsequent attempt from Josko Gvardiol back to Gianluigi Donnarumma drew a polite clap from Bowen, recognizing the effort despite the inaccuracy.
City’s second goal showcased the creative talent of Rayan Cherki. With deft footwork that split the Hammers’ defence, Cherki found Haaland in the box and then delivered a precise pass to Reijnders, who made no mistake from close range. Guardiola has been impressed with Cherki’s vision and technical ability in recent weeks, and this match reinforced why the young playmaker is becoming an increasingly important figure in City’s lineup.
Despite City’s dominance, there were moments of concern for Guardiola. At one point, he could be seen gesturing between his assistant Pep Lijnders and the officials, signaling his displeasure, while early in the second half, Mateus Fernandes had space to unleash a long-range effort that went high over the crossbar.
West Ham created sporadic chances, including a clever move from Bowen that saw him round Donnarumma and strike the side-netting. Guardiola’s warning about defensive slackening seemed justified. On the 65th minute, City made a triple substitution, bringing on Rico Lewis, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Savinho for Cherki, González, and Reijnders. The change immediately paid dividends, exemplifying Guardiola’s tactical acumen.
Savinho’s pass found Lewis, who set up Haaland for his second of the evening. After a moment of hesitation involving Jean-Clair Todibo and Kyle Walker-Peters, Haaland rifled the ball into the net, leaving West Ham with little hope of a comeback. Crysencio Summerville forced a save from Donnarumma later on, but that was as close as the Hammers came to scoring. Haaland nearly completed his hat-trick, but time ran out, and City secured their third consecutive clean sheet in league matches, leaving West Ham languishing third from bottom with just 13 points.
West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo remained concerned about his team’s struggles. “Of course, I’m concerned,” he admitted. When asked about his approach to reversing fortunes, he emphasized perseverance. “By insisting, by believing, and by working really hard on the training ground. Everybody has to be committed. The only way I know is to work harder and commit more.”
With this victory, Manchester City not only maintained pressure on Arsenal but also demonstrated their capacity to combine attacking flair with defensive solidity. As the Premier League approaches a critical stage, Guardiola’s men continue to send a clear message: they are determined to challenge for every title this season, and with Haaland leading the line, few teams will be able to stop them.
