As the age-old cliche goes, he has got a good touch for a big man.
But let’s face it, Erling Haaland has got everything - the touch, the power, the pace, the intelligence, the strength, the aerial threat, the physique, the hair, and so on and so on.
It was, though, the touch that gave him the record - the touch of a born goalscorer, the touch of an instinctive finisher.
The perfectly-timed pass from Jack Grealish helped but there was still a bit to do as the mark of 35 Premier League goals beckoned.
But as soon as Lukasz Fabiaski even hinted at dropping low, Haaland had made up his mind.
The hammer of a left foot became a surgical instrument, dinking the ball over a despairing keeper and sending it gently spinning into the net.
He really is a remarkable footballer.
And not only did Haaland’s chipped beauty put him in the Premier League’s history books, it settled a match that City never really set alight.
Nathan Ake had put them ahead early in the second half but Pep Guardiola’s side still looked anything but convincing until Haaland struck.
It was then left to Phil Foden’s deflected volley to put a gloss on the scoreline that reflected a little harshly on West Ham.
In his programme notes, Guardiola paid tribute to the Etihad support for creating an “incredible” atmosphere for the Arsenal game.
There was nothing incredible about the atmosphere for long stretches of this one.
For spells in the first half, this was walking football, City walking around in front of a generously staffed visiting defence.
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There was the occasional attacking threat in the opening 45 minutes, Riyad Mahrez bringing a routine save out of Lukasz Fabianski and Rodri exchanging passes with Erling Haaland before scuffing a side-footer against the inside of the West Ham keeper’s left-hand post.
But in truth, City looked surprisingly short of ideas and just a little bit casual, Grealish trying too many flicks and tricks, although he also tested an upright with a decent effort.
Without Declan Rice, one of three Hammers to be sent home early though sickness, David Moyes’ side still resisted with some degree of comfort and even gave City the odd moment of worry, Jarrod Bowen finding the body of Stefan Ortega - who was giving Ederson a rest - from a narrow angle.
And that is why Moyes would have been furious with the nature of City’s breakthrough early in the second half, Ake left unattended to head home a Riyad Mahrez free-kick after Flynn Downes had become the latest player to foul Grealish.
While the relief was palpable, Ake’s first Premier League goal of the season hardly gave City an injection of fluency or vibrancy.
And as West Ham became the more dangerous side, Guardiola was reduced to asking the crowd to make some noise.
Briefly, the congregation responded, Pep applauded but it soon fell silent again.
This is a fanbase that is expecting their team to swashbuckle their way to another Premier League title and when the going becomes tough, it seems they are not sure how to respond.
What they needed, of course, was a proper lift, a moment of trademark magic.
And Haaland duly provided it, with Foden following suit to ensure another giant step towards another City title.
