Manchester City has etched its name in English Premier League history by becoming the first team to win four consecutive titles, securing their latest triumph with a 2-1 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.
Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, City has dominated English football, claiming six Premier League titles in the last seven seasons.
Their relentless performance this season saw them surpass 90 points for the fourth time in these campaigns, edging out Arsenal who sought their first title since 2003/04.
Despite Arsenal’s valiant efforts, including a crucial 0-0 draw at the Etihad last month, City’s unyielding run-in form was unstoppable. The champions closed the season with nine consecutive wins, scoring 33 goals along the way.
Guardiola acknowledged the pressure felt during a tense 2-0 midweek victory over Tottenham, a win that kept City’s title hopes firmly in their control.
This season’s triumph was a far cry from the nail-biting conclusion two years ago, when City needed a dramatic comeback to secure the title on the final day.
Sunday’s match saw West Ham falter under the Manchester sun in David Moyes’ final game in charge.
Phil Foden, recently named the football writers’ player of the year, set the tone with a stunning goal just 79 seconds into the game. Foden added a second goal inside 20 minutes, capitalizing on a cross from Jeremy Doku to notch his 27th goal of the season.
Despite a brief scare from a spectacular overhead kick by West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, City regained control.
Erling Haaland, despite an off day, claimed his second consecutive Golden Boot.
Rodri’s goal early in the second half, his resilience symbolizing City’s dominance, effectively ended Arsenal’s title hopes.
City’s defensive stalwart, Rodri, has not tasted defeat for club or country since March 2023, with City’s only losses occurring during his suspension.
City’s impeccable form extended their unbeaten streak to 35 games in all competitions, marred only by a penalty shootout loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. With the FA Cup final against Manchester United next weekend, City is poised to secure a domestic double.
Despite the historic victory, the celebrations were momentarily disrupted as fans flooded the pitch before the final whistle, despite the club’s appeals to maintain order.
