Premier League: Doku’s late goal saves Manchester City but Arsenal take control of title race
Despite a dramatic 3-3 draw with Everton, Manchester City suffered a heavy setback in the Premier League title race, with a second-half rout firmly handing the initiative to Arsenal.Jeremy Doku’s stunning strike in stoppage time saved a point for Pep Guardiola’s side, but late drama could not hide a costly defensive breakdown that could decide their season.Push boundaries 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 game took a turn after the break, with Everton making a series of mistakes.Tierno Barrie scored twice for the home side and Jack O’Brien added another with a powerful header to put City in trouble with their title hopes in jeopardy.To their credit, Guardiola’s side fought back. Erling Haaland pulled one back almost immediately before Doku leveled the game with a brilliant stoppage-time performance.“It’s better than losing. It shows what kind of team they are,” Guardiola said after the game. “It’s not in our hands. It was, it’s not now. We still have games. We’ll see what happens.”Arsenal have the advantageThe result leaves City five points behind Arsenal, albeit with a game in hand. However, momentum has clearly shifted in favor of Mikel ArtetaNow they only need three wins from their remaining games to end their 22-year wait for the title.City’s mistake comes after Arsenal’s successive wins have increased the pressure and their inability to maintain their lead could be decisive.Costly mistakes prove decisiveManchester City’s defeat largely stemmed from unusual defensive errors. A series of misplaced passes and poor decision-making saw Everton clinically punish them, 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 fortunes slipped away.With just a few games remaining, the Premier League race has taken a dramatic turn – with Arsenal now having the upper hand.
