Pep Guardiola’s Blues moved to within two points of the Gunners with three games remaining now for both teams.
Second half goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and substitute Omar Marmoush ensured the vital victory in front of 52,489 fans at the Etihad.
THE GAME IN 250 WORDS
When you’re in contention for honours, every game at this stage of the season is billed as a must win.
But in reality this genuinely was that important as we looked to claw back Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League.
Standing in our way were a Brentford side sitting in seventh - occupying the Europa Conference League spot - ahead of their Etihad visit.
The Bees started the game in confident mood, buoyed clearly by their 3-0 London derby win over West Ham last time out.
Matheus Nunes was forced to clear Michael Kayode’s dangerous long throw out of danger while the reliable right-back also did brilliantly by showing his pace and power to deny the onrushing Kevin Schade who’d been played in on goal by strike partner Igor Thiago.
Despite those initial openings for the visitors, the hosts grew into the game.
Jeremy Doku was the name on everyone’s lips before the match and he continued his fine form by creating numerous opportunities in the first half.
The Belgian produced a delicious cross from the left that Erling Haaland, having evaded both centre-halves in the box, headed just over.
Our No.9 then got in front of Kristoffer Ajer to meet a cross from Antoine Semenyo but it was straight at Caoimhin Kelleher.
It was Doku driving at the Bees defence once again moments later and he cut it back for Haaland who fired goalwards but Kelleher gathered at the second time of asking after Nathan Ake tried to poke home the ball as it bobbled free of the Irish keeper’s grasp.
Brentford started the second half strongly just as they did the first, Gianluigi Donnarumma having to show all his acumen to stop an advancing Thiago from firing the Bees in front.
Guardiola shuffled his pack on the hour mark, Omar Marmoush and Phil Foden replacing Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders as the boss looked for a response.
He got it as mere moments later, City were ahead with man of the moment Doku producing a piece of individual brilliance to curl classily past the helpless Kelleher.
Sub Foden almost made it two for the Blues when he glided effortlessly into the box but his left foot effort was saved by the feet of Brentford’s No.1.
The Bees showed they still had plenty of sting when Thiago played in strike partner Schade, the German in prime position to test Donnarumma.
But Nunes did well to muscle the forward off the ball as he looked to shoot, VAR confirming it was a coming together rather than a potential penalty.
Haaland doubled our advantage shortly after, the fab forward producing a brilliant backheel finish to put daylight between the Blues and the Bees.
It could - and probably should - have been three when Foden blasted goalwards from close-range but Kelleher showed sharp reflexes to tip it away.
Then Ajer brilliantly blocked off the onrushing Marmoush who’d been played in expertly by goalscorer Haaland.
That double act did wrap up the points in stoppage time, Marmoush clinically firing home after an intricate throughball from the Norwegian.
TEAMS
CITY XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Guéhi, Ake, O’Reilly, Bernardo (C), Reijnders (Foden 60’), Semenyo, Cherki (Marmoush 60’), Doku (Savinho 90’), Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Dias, Stones, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri
BRENTFORD XI: Kelleher, Hickey (Janelt 61’), Collins (C), Ajer, Kayode, Jensen, Yarmoluk (Henderson 79’), Damsgaard (Outtarra 68’), Lewis-Potter, Schade, Thiago
Subs: Valdirmarsson, van den Berg, Pinnock, Dasilva, Nelson, Furo
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: JEREMY DOKU
Jeremy Doku is City’s star man right now, no question.
In his last six outings, Doku has scored five goals and provided two assists.
His latest effort was absolutely vital too.
Needing a victory to keep pace with Arsenal in the Premier League title race, Doku delivered the opening goal – and what an effort it was.
Reminiscent of his last-gasp leveller at Everton, the Belgian collected the ball and curled into the top corner to relieve the pressure at the Etihad.
But it wasn’t just his goal that mattered, it was his overall contribution as he troubled the Brentford defence throughout the 90 minutes.
MANAGER VERDICT
Check back here shortly for the verdict of the boss Pep Guardiola.
DOKU REACTION
“The key is to be patient. Especially in the second half it’s still 0-0.
“You’re like okay guys, at one point you need to score now. But we kept on doing what we were doing. We didn’t change the way we played. We didn’t overexaggerate things. We were calm.
“I think Bernie also played a huge part in that, keeping the head cool. Afterwards we scored goals and that’s good.
“Being patient, not getting nervous. Not doing things out of feelings. Just being patient and continuing to have confidence in what we were doing.”
HAALAND REACTION
“It feels good to win 3-0.
“We just missed the last shot on goal today. We created a lot of chances and didn’t get the last shot on a lot of crosses.
“Brentford defended well. They are a good team. There are no easy games in the Premier League. So we are happy.
“I haven’t thought of any other game. Just tired playing this game. How we approach the next game is to not think of any other games for two days and then try to win the next game. Recover. Then next game and then same again.
“If you play for Manchester City, you think of titles every single day.”
WHAT IT MEANS
City move two points behind Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League.
There are now three games remaining for both title-aspiring sides.
City close out the league season against Crystal Palace (home), AFC Bournemouth (away) and Aston Villa (home) while Arsenal face West Ham (away), Burnley (home) and Crystal Palace (away).
WHAT’S NEXT
The games come thick and fast for the Blues.
Our quest for the title continues with a top-flight tie with Crystal Palace here at the Etihad this coming Wednesday, kick-off 20:00 (UK).
Then it’s a switch in competition as we contest the FA Cup Final against Chelsea on Saturday, kick-off 15:00 (UK) at Wembley Stadium.
