A Manchester City win against Wolves on Saturday, January 24, at the Etihad Stadium saw them move closer to Arsenal. The Cityzens now trail the Gunners by four points. The Manchester City win came after two successive defeats.
Twin strikes from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo fashioned the Manchester City win. Marmoush started as the No. 9 in Erling Haaland’s place and made his presence felt.
Manchester City Win Demonstrated the Need of a Mobile No.9
The Manchester City win against Wolves came despite starting the match without Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden on the bench. Rodri was the lone defensive midfielder in a 4-1-4-1, though Bernardo Silva came falling back pretty often.
However, the biggest difference was made by the Cityzens having a more mobile centre-forward in Marmoush. In terms of sheer scoring ability, Marmoush cannot be compared with Haaland. However, the way he kept falling back and moving to the flanks frequently suited the Cityzens’ style of play.
However, it was two distinct moments of direct football that paved the way for the home side’s win. First, it was Matheus Nunes’ cross from the right that was met by Marmoush for the Cityzens’ First goal. Then, it was a string of three-four quick passes that started with Rodri in the midfield, which led to the second goal for Pep Guardiola’s men.
There was another 50-yard-long ball from Abdukodir Khusanov that was brilliantly received by Marmoush, which should have earned the home side a penalty in the first half itself following a supposed handball by a defender. However, the referee decided not to award a penalty.
It showed that there can be no better option than a quick, direct approach in breaking open a persistent low block. Man City pressed with more intensity in the final third than they had done in the disappointing loss to Manchester United last weekend, but they could still improve in that regard. Ideally, they should have won possession back more often in the final third.
The tendency to create space for taking shots from the edge of the opposition penalty box was also there, with Nico O’Reilly coming close with a scorching left-footer that sailed over the bar. Overall, it was a comfortable Manchester City win that kept the pressure on Arsenal.
Wolves tried to break through counters, but with Marc Guehi providing assurance in his first outing for the Cityzens at the back, they could not do much harm.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Liverpool’s Poor Form in the Premier League: A Worrying Slide That Threatens the Top Four Race
Omar Marmoush Should Be Given More Game Time
Marmoush has played in only 17 matches this season, as injuries and playing at AFCON contributed to his lack of game time. With Haaland in the fray, it is difficult for him to get more minutes on the pitch.
However, it was evident on Saturday that Marmoush was far more difficult to mark than Haaland for the opposition centre-backs because of his mobility. Haaland is undoubtedly a more imposing physical presence, but Marmoush is more mobile.
The Egyptian scored his 10th goal in his 42nd match for the Cityzens against Wolves. Pep Guardiola will hope that he starts scoring at a higher frequency for the team.
Semenyo also notched up his third goal for the Cityzens in only his fifth game for his new club. Overall, the performance was good in the Manchester City win, but they will have to continue the good work against tougher oppositions.
The Cityzens will take on Galatasaray and Tottenham Hotspur in their next two matches, both of which are critical for their progress in the Champions League and Premier League, respectively.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Every Second Media
Recording Date: 24.01.2026
