In a dramatic twist that has reignited the Premier League title race, Manchester City's 3-3 draw with Everton has handed Arsenal the advantage in the championship chase. Jeremy Doku's stoppage-time heroics salvaged a point for Pep Guardiola's side, but a second-half collapse has put the destiny of the trophy back in the Gunners' hands.
With Arsenal securing two victories since City's last league outing, the pressure was mounting on the reigning champions. Now, Mikel Arteta's team need just three more wins from their final three games to end a 22-year wait for the Premier League crown. City trail by five points but hold a game in hand, though the manner of their implosion at the Hill Dickinson Stadium will be a bitter pill to swallow.
The match started as expected, with City dominating the first half. Doku opened the scoring just before the break, curling a beautiful shot into Jordan Pickford's top right-hand corner after a clever pass from Rayan Cherki. The visitors looked sharp and in control, having rested key players during last weekend's FA Cup semi-final win over Southampton.
But football can change in an instant. A series of defensive errors in the second period turned the game on its head. Thierno Barry struck twice for Everton, sandwiching a header from Jake O'Brien, as the Toffees roared back to take a 3-1 lead. City's usually rock-solid backline looked uncharacteristically shaky, with Gianluigi Donnarumma's parry falling dangerously and Matheus Nunes making a costly mistake that gifted Ndiaye a golden chance.
Yet champions never give up. Erling Haaland pulled one back to set up a frantic finish, and then came the moment of magic. In the 96th minute, Doku produced a sensational strike to rescue a point that could prove crucial in the title race. It was a reminder of the quality that runs through this City squad, but also of the vulnerabilities that Arsenal will be looking to exploit.
Arsenal now face a crucial run-in, starting with a trip to relegation-threatened West Ham on Sunday, followed by home games against Burnley and a final-day visit to Crystal Palace. For City, the path is clear but the margin for error is gone. This title race is far from over, and the next few weeks promise to be unmissable.