The "Semenyo Era" at the Etihad has officially launched with a bang. Following Manchester City’s dominant display in the Premier League, January signing Antoine Semenyo has etched his name into the club’s record books, achieving a feat not seen in East Manchester for over 15 years.
By scoring in his second consecutive match, Semenyo has become the first Manchester City player since Emmanuel Adebayor in 2009 to find the net in both of his first two appearances for the club.
The Stats: Matching a Legend
Semenyo, who arrived from Bournemouth in a high-profile winter move, has wasted no time adapting to Pep Guardiola’s tactical demands.
The Debut: Semenyo opened his account last week with a clinical finish against Everton, proving he could handle the pressure of the Sky Blue shirt immediately.
The Record-Setter: His goal today—a powerful header from a Kevin De Bruyne cross—clinched the 2-0 lead and officially tied him with Adebayor's 2009 start.
The Comparison: While Adebayor famously went on to score in his first four games (against Blackburn, Wolves, Portsmouth, and Arsenal), Semenyo has already surpassed the debut starts of legendary City strikers like Sergio Agüero and Erling Haaland, both of whom failed to score in one of their opening two league fixtures.
Pep’s New "X-Factor"
Guardiola has been vocal about why the club moved for the Ghanaian international during the January window, citing his physical presence and versatility.
Pep Guardiola: "We knew Antoine had the rhythm of the Premier League. To score once is good, but to do it twice in your first two games shows he has the personality to play here. He is a different profile for us—more direct, very strong. Adebayor was a long time ago, but if Antoine keeps scoring like him, we will be very happy."
The Verdict: While it’s early days, Semenyo’s "directness" is providing a fresh dimension to a City side that sometimes over-rotates. Matching Adebayor’s record is a massive psychological boost, but the real test will be whether he can chase down the Togolese striker’s record of scoring in four consecutive debut games.