… Arsenal held to 1-1 draw by Brighton
Erling Haaland propelled Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a hat-trick in the champions’ 3-1 victory over West Ham, while Declan Rice’s controversial red card saw Arsenal held to a costly 1-1 draw by Brighton on Saturday.
Haaland’s second consecutive hat-trick helped Pep Guardiola’s side maintain their perfect start to the season. City have won their first three matches as they aim for an unprecedented fifth consecutive English title, with Haaland serving as the key figure in their early success.
The Norwegian striker scored in the opening weekend victory against Chelsea, netted a hat-trick in the demolition of Ipswich and showcased his lethal finishing against West Ham.
Since joining City from Borussia Dortmund, Haaland has remarkably scored 70 goals in 69 league appearances.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring for City in the 10th minute, by converting Bernardo Silva’s pass. West Ham equalized nine minutes later when City defender Ruben Dias accidentally deflected Jarrod Bowen’s cross into his net.
Haaland restored City’s lead in the 30th minute with a powerful shot into the top corner from the edge of the box and sealed the win in the 83rd minute with a precise chipped finish.
