Manchester City 3-1 West Ham 
by James Nalton
at the City of Manchester Stadium

PHIL FODEN confirmed his status as the best player in the best team in the Premier League, scoring the goals against West Ham this afternoon that took Manchester City to a fourth consecutive league title.

City became the first team to achieve the feat, outdoing Huddersfield Town, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, who have each won three in a row at some point in the history of English football’s top division.

Arsenal remained in with a chance this season until this final day — a credit to their performance under Mikel Arteta this season — but a win for City against West Ham was enough to take the title, regardless of what happened in Arsenal’s game against Everton.

In isolation, this final game of the season for City matched their wider dominance of the division in recent seasons, and they finished the game having enjoyed 73 per cent possession.

There was a party atmosphere at Eastlands ahead of the game. The sun shone down on the stadium and the City fans’ trademark inflatable bananas were dotted throughout the stands.

The feel-good factor increased just two minutes into the game when Foden opened the scoring with a goal worthy of winning a title.

The 23-year-old from Stockport let the ball roll across him onto his left foot, taking James Ward-Prowse out of the game with one movement and creating space for a shot which he swept with aplomb into the far corner.

It’s a description that could also be applied to his second goal, scored from the centre of the area from Jeremy Doku’s cross a little over 15 minutes after his first.

Just before half time, news filtered through that Everton had taken the lead at Arsenal, and the home fans chanted “champions again, ole, ole.”

Then, for a moment, there was a hint at some final-day drama. Arsenal equalised against Everton and Mohammed Kudus scored a remarkable overhead kick to pull a goal back for West Ham.

But despite the wondergoal from the Hammers, City remained in complete control and there was never really any doubt about how this final-day story would unfold.

If there is a player in this City team who rivals Foden as their best player, it’s defensive midfielder Rodri, so it was fitting that his goal rounded off the win with just under an hour played.

As the late afternoon sun cast longer shadows over the stadium, and a chorus of Blue Moon rang out, Pep Guardiola’s City stars became the first team to win four English league titles in a row.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if next year they made it five.