Erling Haaland’s spectacular form continued on Saturday as he netted a hat-trick to propel Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a commanding 3-1 victory over West Ham United. The Norwegian striker’s performance underscored City’s relentless pursuit of an unprecedented fifth consecutive English title.
Haaland’s second hat-trick in successive matches showcased his extraordinary finishing ability, further solidifying his status as one of the Premier League’s most prolific forwards. The victory means City have won all three of their opening matches this season, with Haaland playing a pivotal role in each of those triumphs.
City’s dominance was evident early in the match at the London Stadium. Haaland opened the scoring in the 10th minute, converting a pass from Bernardo Silva with clinical precision. However, the lead was short-lived as City defender Ruben Dias inadvertently turned a Jarrod Bowen cross into his own net just nine minutes later, leveling the score for West Ham.
Undeterred, Haaland restored City’s advantage in the 30th minute with a powerful strike into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area. The 24-year-old completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute with a deft chipped finish over West Ham’s goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, sealing the win for the visitors.
Haaland’s remarkable tally now stands at 70 goals in 69 Premier League games since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund. His incredible form has been a driving force behind Manchester City’s strong start to the season.
In other Premier League action, Arsenal were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Emirates Stadium. The match was marred by controversy as Declan Rice was sent off in the second half, leaving Arsenal to play with ten men for a significant portion of the match.
Arsenal had taken the lead through a well-placed goal, but Brighton equalized before Rice’s red card, which some observers deemed harsh. The draw was a damaging result for Arsenal, impacting their early-season momentum as they seek to challenge for the title.
The contrasting fortunes of Manchester City and Arsenal highlight the intense competition in this Premier League season, with City’s perfect start putting them firmly in control at the top of the table.
