Last week’s results might not have spelled disaster for Manchester City, but their recent victory over Wolves provided the kind of straightforward win that manager Pep Guardiola likely desired.

After enduring a four-match winless streak, securing a victory was essential for City, and it now casts a shadow of pressure on Arsenal as they prepare to face Manchester United to close out the weekend.

City’s performance offered both hope and room for improvement. Their use of a creative midfield setup and strategic positioning of strikers—while stars Erling Haaland and Phil Foden watched from the bench—showed promise. Yet, there were moments that suggested they still have work to do, such as their tendency to dip in performance immediately after halftime, and the sense that a stronger opponent might have challenged them further.

At times, City displayed the distinctive, angular style of play that has long defined them. This was evident when Bernardo Silva orchestrated a seamless six-pass sequence from a free-kick near midfield, culminating in Antoine Semenyo’s precise finish just before the break.

This glimpse of vintage City, however, wasn’t necessarily a preview of what’s to come, especially as Haaland spent much of the game on the bench. It served as a reminder of the talent surrounding him in attack, highlighted by Omar Marmoush’s deft movement in the seventh minute to connect with a sharp Matheus Nunes cross, outpacing Yerson Mosquera—something City fans have missed from their leading scorer in recent weeks.

Pep Guardiola wore a huge grin as Man City returned to winning ways against Wolves

Omar Marmoush met a cross to open the scoring for City after just six minutes on Saturday

Erling Haaland started the match on the bench and was brought on for the final 20 minutes

Marmoush, who hadn’t started a league game since August, was praised by Guardiola. “When Omar arrived last season, he was incredible for a few months,” the manager said. “Without him, qualifying for the Champions League would have been impossible. He’s a special player with room to grow.”

There are new faces that Hugo Viana hopes will enhance the club’s chances of remaining in contention for all trophies now but also in a post–Guardiola era, with Semenyo and Marc Guehi proving that striking now in January, paying the premium, should be looked upon as the correct course of action.

Semenyo’s constant threat on the right wing and a directness is offering a different dimension. Guehi, on debut, barely appeared flustered and one clip over the top for his fellow winter signing was the sort of ball that John Stones can loft with his eyes closed. Some of Guehi’s reading of situations, especially when bossing Hwang Hee–chan, moved City forward.

Yet recording an expected goals tally of 0.12 after Semenyo scored the second – Wolves engineering 0.55 in the same timeframe – indicates a drop off that has been fairly common throughout this season and further shows the hot and cold, inconsistent nature of a squad going through transition.

‘The energy was really good in the first half and then (Abdukodir) Khusanov made a foul and we struggled a little bit,’ Guardiola said. ‘The last 20–25 minutes were a bit flat but considering the amount of games it was a good result.’

When Guehi was leaping on Nico O’Reilly in stoppage time, the left back also mobbed by Silva and Gianluigi Donnarumma for blocking Mosquera’s late effort in a moment of camaraderie, it felt Rob Edwards’ side were close to causing real problems.

Despite an upturn, Wolves remain rooted on eight points yet became increasingly confident as the game wore on, buoyed by burgeoning teenager Mateus Mane. Mosquera headed against the bar from a corner, Donnarumma having previously provoked some nervousness when continuing to elect to punch basic crosses with varied success.

‘People will look at it as a routine victory for City and it looks like that with the score but I don’t think that, we were good,’ Edwards said. 

City’s new boys Marc Guehi – who made his debut – and Antoine Semenyo both started the tie

Semenyo scored his third goal for City with a two-touch finish just seconds before half time

Wolves grew into the game in the second 45 but were not rewarded for their efforts with a goal

City argue that none of this ought to have mattered, or even been a talking point, after Farai Hallam denied them a penalty. Marmoush’s touch flicked Mosquera’s arm. Hallam waved it away, the guys in the VAR booth looked like they’d seen a ghost on reviewing replays and just chucked it back to a referee making his top–flight debut. He gazed at the monitor and decided to stick with the original decision. Which, as Edwards alluded to, showed courage.

Guardiola isn’t buying what the referees are selling, taking another pot shot at them – and PGMO chief Howard Webb. 

‘The referee makes his debut and now everyone will know him,’ Guardiola said coldly.