Jeremy Doku recently admitted he needed to score more goals to be regarded among the world’s best wingers. After his latest performance, that conversation may have shifted in his favor.
The Belgium international delivered another standout display in Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Brentford on Saturday, keeping Pep Guardiola’s side firmly in this season’s Premier League title race. Doku opened the scoring with a curling finish from the edge of the box, cutting inside just as he did to salvage a dramatic late draw at Everton earlier in the week.
The 23-year-old has now netted four crucial goals in his last three appearances — the strike against Brentford, a double at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and a goal against Southampton that helped City reach the FA Cup final. In total, he has been involved in seven goals (five goals, two assists) over his past six games, matching his output from the previous 24 matches combined.
“If you want to become a better player, you have to win games for yourselves,” said City boss Pep Guardiola. “It is not enough to make good crosses for the other ones, you have to win games and score goals. At Everton, the goal for 3-3 was with the right foot, but the first goal was with the left. He made an incredible step in that sense to say ‘I’m Jeremy Doku, I’m going to win games.’ The big players always have that mentality.”
Doku told BBC Match of the Day: “I’m an instinct player. Today it’s working out. I scored some goals, I’ve always played with instinct but now the goals are coming. I haven’t been a different player.”
Manchester City moved two points behind league leaders Arsenal with the win over Brentford. Doku’s form may prove vital as City push toward the finish line — he has scored in three successive matches across all competitions for the first time in his City career.
On Saturday, the winger gave Brentford full-back Michael Kayode a torrid time, twisting him inside and out throughout the game. Doku could have scored inside the opening two minutes but was denied by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
His performance earned widespread praise. Match of the Day pundit Ashley Williams said it was “the best we have seen of Jeremy Doku.” The former Wales international added: “From a defender’s point of view, I am not sure I would know how to stop him. He is physically strong, can go right or left, his acceleration is something else but also his deceleration can leave you flat-footed. He was up against Kayode, who I really rate, and he just couldn’t handle him. He has been the best player in the Premier League these last few weeks.”
Former City striker Daniel Sturridge said on Sky Sports: “He has been exceptional. The goal he scored in this game was a thing of beauty. It is a brilliant finish. That is the go-to finish for him now. The repetitions in training are paying off. His game is progressing, he is becoming more decisive in those moments. Confidence is key for attackers, it is the most important thing. If you doubt yourself at any time you won’t make the difference. Now he is thinking ‘I can do this, I can score.'”
Doku’s brilliant showing made him just the third Premier League player this season to create six or more chances and complete six or more dribbles in a single game, after Bukayo Saka and Elliot Anderson.
“He is a top player,” said Brentford boss Keith Andrews. “If it’s not Doku, then someone else will step up and that is the luxury Pep has — phenomenally talented players, game changers who can decide games.”
