Manchester City 3-0 Brentford – Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush earn resounding win to keep Premier League title hopes alive

It took them a while to get going but Manchester City eventually hit their stride to claim a big home win over Brentford as they turned up the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Second-half goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush gave City a 3-0 victory as the title chasers closed the gap in terms of both points and goal difference. Pep Guardiola's men now sit two points behind Mikel Arteta's Arsenal with both sides having just three more games left to play. The Gunners have a one-goal advantage on goal difference.

After a first half that saw City enjoy plenty of possession but lack composure in the final third, the hosts finally made the breakthrough on the hour mark through Doku. The Belgium winger was City's most impressive performer throughout the 90 minutes, and was the one player who looked capable of unlocking the Brentford defence.

His strike – a brilliant curling effort that found the top corner – immediately released the growing tension at the Etihad Stadium and, all of a sudden, City started to play with confidence.

City's second followed 15 minutes later. Antoine Semenyo got to the by-line on the right flank and cut the ball back for Haaland, whose improvised back-heeled effort rolled past Caoimhin Kelleher in the Brentford goal to double the hosts' lead.

Marmoush came off the bench to add a third in stoppage time.

City's victory sets the table perfectly for a thrilling title run-in, with Arsenal set to face a West Ham side that are fighting for their lives at the other end of the table on Sunday.

It's turning into a very, very good night for Manchester City!

Second-half substitute Omar Marmoush finishes brilliantly with his right foot as he finds the bottom corner to put City 3-0 up.

Not only does it put the exclamation point on City's performance, it also helps boost City's goal difference, which now sits one behind Arsenal, on +40.

And assuming there isn't a crazy final minute and a half here at the Etihad, City will sit two points behind the Gunners heading into the final three games of the season.

There will be FIVE MINUTES of additional time at the end of this match.

Doku gets to the by-line and cuts the ball back for Foden, whose brilliant flicked effort looks to be heading in at the near post. But somehow, Caoimhín Kelleher manages to make an outstanding save to deny the England striker.

City push down the right flank through Antoine Semenyo. His cross is only partially blocked, and Erling Haaland brilliantly improvises a back-heeled effort that manages to roll over the goal line to put City 2-0 up..

It was an unorthodox, somewhat scrappy finish, but it's a huge goal for Manchester City, who now finally look comfortable.

Igor Thiago broke through down the right flank, then passed across goal for the onrushing Kevin Schade, who went to ground under pressure, but was there enough of a challenge on the German forward?

The referee said no, and VAR backed up that assessment, with the on-pitch official clearly waving his arms to signal there was no foul.

Doku's goal has lifted the mood at the Etihad, and all of a sudden the hosts are playing without pressure.

An intricate move on the edge of the Brentford box ends with a ball rolling through to Phil Foden, who wriggles through and has his shot well blocked by Kelleher.

Manchester City are ahead, and it just had to be that man Jeremy Doku.

The Belgian winger cut in from the left flank and swerved a superb effort into the top corner to leave Kelleher well beaten and send the Etihad Stadium into raptures.

It's a brilliant strike, and it's come from the one City player who has offered a consistent threat this afternoon.

It's been a quiet night so far for Igor Thiago, but the Brentford target man just had his first chance of the game.

He sneaked in down the right channel and got a shot away, but the effort wasn't struck well enough to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma in the City goal, and the Italian blocks the effort with ease.

The visitors are growing into this game, and they're starting to create some openings.

The second half has gotten underway, with City still looking decidedly nervy in attack, but Brentford look to have come out of the dressing room with renewed confidence.

Keith Andrews may well have told his charges that they need to ask more questions of City in this second half, and after keeping the hosts at arm's length so far, their confidence appears to be on the rise.