EPL: Marmoush, Semenyo strike as Man City beat Wolves to close gap on Arsenal
Manchester City returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a comfortable victory over bottom-placed Wolves at the Etihad Stadium, easing pressure after a difficult start to 2026.
Omar Marmoush opened his Premier League account to set City on course, as Pep Guardiola’s side snapped a four-game winless run in the league.
The City manager left Erling Haaland and Phil Foden on the bench, but their absence had little impact as the hosts dominated from the outset.
Early dominance sets the tone
Wolves adopted a cautious approach, sitting deep with a five-man defence, but City quickly found ways through.
Debutant Marc Guehi nearly marked his first appearance with a goal inside five minutes, only to see his close-range header gathered by goalkeeper Jose Sa.
City broke the deadlock moments later when Marmoush reacted quickest to Matheus Nunes’ low cross, stabbing home from close range to give the champions an early lead.
The hosts continued to press, limiting Wolves to brief counter-attacking opportunities.
First-half goals seal control
City doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time to effectively put the game beyond Wolves. Bernardo Silva threaded a precise pass into Semenyo, who kept his composure to fire past Sa from the edge of the area.
Semenyo remained a threat after the break, later striking the crossbar as City maintained control of possession and territory.
Wolves’ late effort falls short
Haaland and Foden were introduced in the second half, allowing City to manage the game with greater comfort. Wolves’ best chance arrived late on when Yerson Mosquera glanced a header onto the crossbar, but it proved to be little more than a consolation.
The win steadies City’s league campaign and restores pressure after recent setbacks.
Wolves, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table, having recorded just one league victory all season and sitting 14 points adrift of safety.
