In years to come, they will play the goal and celebration as a moment in time.
Erling Haaland introduced himself to the Premier League in typical fashion by ensuring the reigning champions got off to the perfect start. Manchester City will take some stopping this season and Haaland looks tailor made for English football with his power, movement and clinical finishing.
The first was a penalty followed by his now familiar celebration as he sat down after converting the spot kick, crossing his legs and pretending to meditate as if scoring was the most natural thing in the world.
Kids will be copying it all season long and will get plenty of practice because, on this evidence, he will be scoring every week.
Remember this one because there will be plenty more.
He looks like a goal machine who, having just turned 22 and with City’s supply line behind him, can write his name into the record books. The second goal came after he latched onto Kevin De Bruyne’s through ball and you get the feeling that might be a very familiar combination this season.
A De Bruyne assist for Haaland.
They already look as if they have a telepathic understanding. The best midfielder in the Premier League teaming up with Europe’s most-exciting young striker. If you rewind the clock, Alan Shearer looked unstoppable with his pace, power and goals - and Haaland stands out in just the same way. Shearer ended up with a record 260 Premier League goals.
City were already the best team in the Premier League - and now they have gone and signed a goal scoring phenomenon for just £51m which looks incredible business. It was too much for West Ham who were strangely passive and spent far too long sitting off City, letting Pep Guardiola’s pass masters have things their own way.
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The London Stadium was noisy when Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio went close early on - but that was almost as good as it got. West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabiański went off injured and his replacement Alphonse Areola quickly found himself as the villain of the piece.
Ilkay Gundogan played a lovely through ball, Haaland turned on the turbo jets, the City No.9 nicked the ball and was then brought down by Areola. It was down to the keeper but also the striker’s pace. It won Haaland the penalty.
Up stepped Haaland who calmly stroked the ball home into the bottom left hand corner. It was far too easy. Finally, West Ham showed some signs of life as Said Benrahma and new £34m striker Gianluc Scamacca came on and the stadium got behind the team. Benrahma got West Ham’s first shot on target after 63 minutes and Ederson was called into action.
But, just like that, City responded and raised their game. De Bruyne strode through midfield, looked up and played an incisive pass to Haaland who just stepped on the gas, sprinted clear and then, as cool as you like, slotted past Areola.
The beauty of Haaland is that he is so quick, he does not even have to play on the shoulder of the last defender because he can give defenders a five yard head start and still beat them.
There was still time for England star Kalvin Phillips to come on as a late substitute which just underlines their strength in depth. No wonder the travelling City fans were celebrating at the final whistle as the City players went over to applaud them. They have found themselves a new goalscoring hero.
