Man City look in the mood in EPL title run-in after breaking a 123-year record

Royalty was present for the procession, another record fallen to Pep Guardiola. Forty-three home matches unbeaten now, the longest run ever produced by a Manchester City team. The previous best had stood for 123 years.

David Silva watched on with his family, a first return to the Etihad Stadium since leaving without a proper farewell during the pandemic. He wasn't the only great to have sourced himself a ticket for the run-in, though, with Arjen Robben down in the City dressing room after this victory.

Robben played under Guardiola at Bayern Munich, once laughing at how the manager called him at all hours to discuss work, and made sure he congratulated City's squad for dispatching Wolves and keeping the pressure on Arsenal.

The thought of prime Robben cutting in from the right in this City team is scary; how both he and Silva must wish they operated in behind Erling Haaland when he is in this kind of mood.

And City are in the mood, 24 goals in their last six league games since a drab draw against Arsenal that seemed to hand the title advantage over to both the Gunners and Liverpool. Now it's in City's hands and, given the way in which Wolves appeared beaten from the off, Arsenal will be praying that they are not relying on favours come the last day.

West Ham are in Manchester then and no team, in any competition, has beaten City on their own patch since Ivan Toney inspired Brentford to a late win on the eve of last season's World Cup.

Only seven teams have left with a draw since. West Ham managing that are not odds Arsenal will fancy leaning on.

So this title race – violently swinging from the best ever to boring in the court of public opinion once City clicked into gear – hinges on a couple of consecutive away matches for