FOOTBALL: THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION.

As the clock ticked to 70 minutes played, in the first of the two games the defending champions Manchester City had on leaders Arsenal on a warm Manchester evening, Erling Haaland ran behind the West Ham defence on to a through ball by Jack Grealish. It was inevitable. Haaland does not miss these, a little dink over the out-rushing keeper and then his trademark yoga celebration.

'Erling Haaland breaking more records,' proclaimed Jim Proudfoot on the official English Premier League transmission, 'in what is now the most prolific season in the history of the Premier League.' Across the Atlantic, Peter Drury was weaving his usual magic on American TV, 'the hottest shot in the history of the Premier League, Erling Haaland smashes through yet one more historic barrier.'

That goal was Haaland's 35th in the league this season, in just his 31st game. More importantly, he had broken the Premier League's goal-scoring record in his debut season. Move aside Messrs Andrew Cole and Alan Shearer, and their 42-game league seasons. But even more importantly, it gave Manchester City a two-goal lead on the night, as they cruised to victory and replaced Arsenal at the top of the leaderboard. A third consecutive championship is in their hands now.

Manchester City have dominated English football over the past decade. Ever since Sheikh Mansour bought the club in 2008 and they won their first Premier League title with that Aguero goal in 2012, they've gone on a pursuit of perfection which is exemplified by the appointment of Pep Guardiola as their manager in 2016.

The Spanish precisian, who revolutionised the game with the evolution of Tiki Taka during his time at Barcelona, has gone on to win four league titles in the six years he's been at the club. It represents a domination not seen since the Manchester United of the late '90s.

Manchester City may yet become only the second English club to complete a treble. A Spaniard and a Norwegian have played the biggest role in making it possible

Now, Guardiola was brought to the club to build on what Manchester City had already achieved: convert the domestic victories into continental success, namely the UEFA Champions League. But, surprisingly, for all his extraordinary success at Bayern Munich, Guardiola did not win the Champions League with the German club. And he hasn't won it with City yet, either.

Not for lack of trying though. Beaten by a Kai Havertz strike in the final of the 2021 edition. Drowned out by the...