Former Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has issued a stark warning to Arsenal following his old club's dominant 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
A Dominant Display from the Champions
The match on December 20, 2025 saw Pep Guardiola's side seize control from the outset. Star striker Erling Haaland broke the deadlock after just five minutes, hammering a shot past West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Haaland then turned provider, setting up midfielder Tijjani Reijnders to double City's lead with a powerful finish into the roof of the net. After the break, Haaland completed the scoring, netting his 19th Premier League goal of the season to seal a comfortable three points.
A Direct Message to the Gunners
The result temporarily moved Manchester City to the summit of the Premier League table, applying immediate pressure on Arsenal, who faced a tricky away fixture at Everton later that evening.
Analysing the game for the Premier League's official website, Wright-Phillips described the win as a clear signal to the title rivals. "It's a statement to say to Arsenal that they're on their tails and ready should they slip up," he said. "West Ham have been very passive, but Man City have made the chances and moved the ball around quickly."
Another former City defender, Nedum Onuoha, echoed the sentiment in comments to the BBC. "I think for them to be top of the tree will be a nice feeling for them," Onuoha stated. "But the fact is they know Arsenal will go to Everton... For City to play first because this is the time now going into 2026, you go first, this is the statement. Can they match it?"
Shearer Praises 'Another Level' Haaland
The performance of Erling Haaland drew particular acclaim, including from Premier League legend Alan Shearer. "[Erling Haaland] is on another level isn't he?" Shearer remarked. However, he was critical of West Ham's display, adding, "The lack of closing down, effort, whatever you want to call it, has been embarrassing... If you give [Phil] Foden and Haaland that amount of time and space they're going to have a field day."
The victory set up a dramatic evening in the title race. Arsenal, who began the day in second place but with a game in hand, knew that only a victory at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium would see them reclaim top position. A draw or defeat would leave City at the summit.
Mikel Arteta's side are chasing their first league crown since 2004, having finished as runners-up for three consecutive seasons. Manchester City, in stark contrast, have won four of the last five Premier League titles, underlining the scale of the challenge facing the Gunners as the festive fixtures intensify.
