Kamal Ghorui
Manchester City suffered a damaging setback in the Premier League title race despite a dramatic 3-3 draw against Everton, as a second-half collapse handed the initiative firmly to Arsenal.A stunning stoppage-time strike from Jeremy Doku rescued a point for Pep Guardiola’s side, but the late drama could not mask a costly defensive meltdown that may define their season.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!City looked in complete control for much of the first half, with Doku opening the scoring just before the break after sustained pressure. However, the match turned on its head after the interval as Everton capitalised on a string of errors.Thierno Barry struck twice for the hosts, while Jake O’Brien added another with a powerful header, leaving City reeling and their title hopes hanging by a thread.To their credit, Guardiola’s men fought back. Erling Haaland pulled one back almost immediately, before Doku produced a moment of brilliance deep into stoppage time to level the contest.“It’s better than losing. It shows what type of team they are,” Guardiola said after the match. “It’s not in our hands. Before it was, now it’s not. We have games left. We will see what happens.”Arsenal seize the advantageThe result leaves City five points behind Arsenal, albeit with a game in hand. However, the momentum has clearly shifted in favour of Mikel Arteta’s side, who now need just three wins from their remaining fixtures to end a 22-year wait for the title.City’s slip-up comes after consecutive Arsenal victories had already increased the pressure, and their inability to hold onto a commanding position could prove decisive.Costly errors prove decisiveCity’s downfall stemmed largely from uncharacteristic defensive lapses. A series of misplaced passes and poor decision-making allowed Everton to punish them clinically, turning a comfortable lead into a chaotic battle.While Doku’s late heroics kept City’s hopes mathematically alive, the draw may ultimately be remembered as the night their title destiny slipped away.With just a handful of matches remaining, the Premier League race has taken a dramatic turn — and it is Arsenal who now hold the upper hand.
