Jeremy Doku Looks Like The Final Product, Guardiola Praises City Winger After Brentford Display

Jeremy Doku delivered another influential display as Manchester City beat Brentford 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium, a result that moved Pep Guardiola’s side to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. Doku scored the opener before Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush added goals in a win that strengthened City’s title challenge.

The Belgian winger’s productivity had risen sharply in recent weeks. Doku scored in three straight matches in all competitions for the first time since joining Manchester City, and produced seven goal involvements across his previous six games, with five goals and two assists, matching the output from his earlier 24 club appearances.

Doku also posted standout creative and dribbling figures against Brentford. The winger became the third player in this Premier League season to create at least six chances and complete six or more dribbles in a single match, joining Bukayo Saka against Fulham in October and Elliot Anderson against Brighton in November on that list.

That contribution continued a decisive week for Doku. After scoring twice against Everton on Monday, all three of Doku’s goals across the week either gave Manchester City a one-goal advantage, which happened twice, or brought the team level, which happened once, underlining how often Doku’s finishes arrived at key match moments.

Guardiola highlighted how Doku’s long-known dribbling strength was now paired with efficiency in front of goal. Speaking after the win, Guardiola told Sky Sports that Doku appeared to be evolving into a complete attacking option while also stressing that Manchester City’s wide players and forwards, including Marmoush, shared responsibility for easing the scoring load on Haaland.

"He [Doku] looks like the final product, Guardiola told Sky Sports.

"Of course he can improve but he always had this incredible ability to dribble. The connection with Nico [O'Reilly] is extraordinary. But now he is winning games. I'm so incredibly pleased with Omar [Marmoush] as well. I had the feeling that not just Erling but the wingers and other attackers had to score goals and Jeremy has made this step. Jeremy is outstanding in many things."

Guardiola also explained how a tactical shift helped Manchester City break Brentford’s resistance after the interval. "The difference in the second half was that we put more players in the box. That was why we struggled to create the final product in the first half. In the end, we take a great result and keep going."

Jeremy Doku display in context of Brentford form

Brentford’s defeat continued a difficult spell in the league. Keith Andrews’ side recorded just one victory in eight Premier League fixtures, drawing five and losing two in that run. Brentford also went four away league games without a win, drawing twice and losing twice, and failed to score in three of those away performances.

Key recent records for both teams are shown below.

Despite the margin of defeat, Andrews felt Brentford’s showing at the Etihad Stadium contained many positives and did not reflect a one-sided contest. Andrews pointed to the team’s approach, mentality and the fine details that went against Brentford in decisive areas as Manchester City pushed for the title.

"Were playing against a team thats fighting for the title, Andrews told Sky Sports. You can see that in their urgency. I liked a lot of what we did today. We showed a lot of bravery, a lot of courage. It needed to be a near-perfect performance to win tonight. I dont think the scoreline should fool anyone into thinking it was an absolute rout. The way we approached it, the margins of what we had, the margins of the decisions that were made are quite telling overall."

Manchester City left with a clean sheet, three goals and further evidence of Doku’s growing influence, while Brentford extended a difficult sequence despite a disciplined game plan. The result kept Guardiola’s side close behind Arsenal in the Premier League table and underlined how City’s wide players, led by Doku, were shaping the run-in.