Manchester City kept their Premier League title hopes alive with a commanding 3-0 victory over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, cutting Arsenal's lead at the top of the table to just two points with three games remaining for each side.

For nearly an hour, City laboured against a well-organised Brentford side, with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher repeatedly frustrating the hosts. The match turned when manager Pep Guardiola introduced Omar Marmoush and Phil Foden from the bench. Belgian winger Jérémy Doku, who had scored twice with eye-catching curlers against Everton earlier in the week, repeated the trick in the 60th minute — seizing a rebound and whipping a superb strike into the top corner. Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who has now scored 26 Premier League goals this season, added a second with a deft back-heel finish, before Marmoush wrapped up the victory with a composed finish in stoppage time. The win also marginally improved City's goal difference, now just one behind Arsenal's.

City's Dutch international Nathan Aké started the match alongside fellow countryman Tijjani Reijnders, while Brentford substitute Jordan Henderson attracted attention for his role in several on-field confrontations. City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had an uneasy afternoon, nearly gifting Brentford a goal when he fumbled a long throw, though he recovered to make a crucial save from Igor Thiago.

Gardiola struck a relaxed tone after the match, despite acknowledging that the title is no longer in his team's hands.