Man City 3 Aston Villa 1: Pep Guardiola & Co close gap on league leaders Arsenal to just three points in comfortable win

SO by 10pm on Wednesday night, Manchester City could be top of the table.

And how much blood would that boil at Premier League HQ as well as with fans up and down the country?

GettyRodri heads Man City in front[/caption]

ReutersThe Spaniard celebrates his City opener[/caption]

Pep Guardiola has been looking for a way to spark what has been an unconvincing, spluttering title defence into life for much of the campaign.

Well Prem chiefs may well have done it for him – by slapping the reigning champions with 115 charges of financial wrong-doing last Monday morning.

If anyone at the Etihad wasn’t up for a push for the treble this time last week, they certainly are now.

Last time Aston Villa were here, on the final day of last season, the home side produced a stunning fightback to claim a fourth title in five years.

How big will this win – and the events of the last week – prove to be when the trophy is handed out again at the end of May?

If City can win the crunch clash at the Emirates later this week then it could prove to be the pivotal week of the whole season.

And how awkward would that trophy presentation be in just over three months time?

Time will tell of course – but Guardiola’s men looked much more like their old selves in an electric first half which saw them race into a three goal lead.

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AFPIlkay Gundogan makes it 2-0 from close range[/caption]

PAGundogan wheels off in celebration[/caption]

There was no doubt before kick-off that the City fans were up for it again – the atmosphere at the Etihad was noticeably livelier than in recent weeks.

The only question was whether Guardiola’s players were feeling the same way – and you kind of knew what the answer would be.

And if you didn’t – it took the champions less than five minutes to spell it out.

Riyad Mahrez swung over a corner from the left and Rodri escaped his marker to find space at the front post.

His thumping header was too hot for Emi Martinez to handle and the home side had the start they wanted.

Villa have been no pushovers in recent weeks, particularly on their travels where they have won the last three.

But Unai Emery’s men were no match for City in this kind of mood.

Rodri’s clever ball sent Ilkay Gundogan racing clear but the skipper’s effort was turned around the post by the Argentine World Cup winner.

GettyRiyad Mahrez converts from the penalty spot[/caption]

ReutersMahrez is congratulated by Erling Haaland[/caption]

A square ball from the German would have given Erling Haaland an open net.

Gundogan did get the ball in the net soon afterwards but the Prem’s top goalscorer was penalised – perhaps slightly harshly – for a collision with Martinez in the build up.

The chances kept coming though as a Kevin De Bruyne corner was floated to Jack Grealish at the back post and his brilliant volley was touched wide by the arm of Callum Chambers.

A Mahrez corner was deflected into the path of Haaland by Ramsey but the Norwegian poked his effort over the bar from six yards.

Grealish saw another effort saved by Martinez after a superb run and pass from De Bruyne – who seemed to have a point to prove after being left out at Tottenham last week.

Kyle Walker presented Villa with a rare opportunity as his stray pass landed at the feet of Leon Bailey – but Ruben Dias made a superb tackle to deny him.

And that proved to be a key moment as shortly afterwards City doubled their lead.

Chambers panicked under pressure from Haaland as the pair chased a De Bruyne pass and his header left Martinez in no man’s land.

AlamyOllie Watkins pulls one back for Villa[/caption]

The Norwegian had gone too wide to go for goal himself so intelligently squared for Gundogan to tap in at the back post.

And in first half stoppage time, the game was effectively over as a contest.

Ramsey tangled with Grealish as the former Villa captain got away from him in the box. It was soft but referee Rob Jones said penalty.

Most people expected Haaland to take the penalty but instead it was Mahrez – stroking it past the World Cup’s penalty saving expert to make it three.

Both Haaland and Dias were withdrawn at the break – presumably with one eye on the huge clash at the Emirates on Wednesday.

In the middle of January, the gap between City and the leaders was eight points – yet that could have vanished by Wednesday night.

City still had some work to do here though before thoughts could turn to the Emirates

Bernardo Silva carelessly lost possession in the middle of the park and Doulgas Luiz – once on City’s books – played Ollie Watkins through.

The former Brentford forward loves playing against City and finished calmly past Ederson to score against them for a sixth time – and give his team a glimmer of hope.

City had a chance to wrap it up as a sweeping move ended with Grealish crossing for sub Julian Alvarez but sub Ezri Konsa got back to block his header.

Sub Phil Coutinho looped a shot which was acrobatically pushed over by Ederson and fellow sub Jhon Duran clattered the bar with a stunning turn and volley.

Had one of those gone in it could have been an interesting finish – but it’s safe to say City are back.