Manchester City’s relentless pursuit of the Premier League title continues unabated, as Erling Haaland’s prolific goalscoring form has propelled the reigning champions to the top of the standings. With three games played, City boasts a perfect record and a two-point advantage over Arsenal, who dropped points in a frustrating draw against Brighton.
Haaland’s impact has been nothing short of extraordinary. The Norwegian striker has netted seven goals in three games, including two hat tricks. His latest treble came in City’s 3-1 victory over West Ham, where he showcased his diverse finishing skills. Haaland’s first goal was a clinical low shot, while his second was a thunderous strike into the roof of the net. He completed his hat trick with a composed finish after a through ball.
Haaland’s goalscoring prowess has made it increasingly difficult for opponents to keep pace with City. His eight Premier League hat tricks equal the combined tally of Thierry Henry, Harry Kane, and Michael Owen. Moreover, this was his first away hat trick for City, demonstrating his ability to perform on any stage.
Arsenal’s title challenge suffered a setback when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton. The Gunners took the lead through Kai Havertz but were reduced to 10 men in the second half when Declan Rice was sent off for a controversial foul. Brighton capitalized on the numerical advantage and equalized through Joao Pedro.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was furious with the refereeing decision, claiming that similar offenses had gone unpunished earlier in the game. The draw leaves Arsenal with four points from three games, while Brighton earned their first point of the season.
Elsewhere, Everton’s dismal start to the season continued with a humiliating 3-2 home defeat to Bournemouth. The Toffees took an early lead but collapsed in the final minutes, conceding three goals in quick succession. Bournemouth’s victory moved them to five points, while Everton remains rooted to the bottom of the table with no points.
Brentford showed their resilience without Ivan Toney, who completed a move to Saudi Arabia on deadline day. Bryan Mbuemo stepped up in Toney’s absence, scoring two goals in Brentford’s 3-1 win over Southampton.
In other matches, Aston Villa edged out Leicester 2-1, promoted Ipswich earned their first point with a 1-1 draw against Fulham, and Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 at home against Wolves.
