When Marc Guehi trudged toward the Manchester City team bus, his face told the story. The young defender had been composed all night, threading passes with the poise of a veteran. But one misplaced ball changed everything. It gifted Thierno Barry a goal, turned a 3-3 draw into a seismic moment in the title race, and left City fans wondering what might have been.

This was supposed to be a classic City run-in performance—a gritty win at a tough away ground, reminiscent of their crucial victories at Everton in 2014 and 2023. Instead, it echoed two other famous collapses that indirectly handed City the title. In 2014, Liverpool's "Crystanbul" meltdown saw them concede three times in 11 minutes at Crystal Palace. In 2012, Everton's stunning 4-4 comeback against Manchester United gave City their first Premier League crown. Both finished 3-3. Both cost two points in unforgettable fashion.

For Guehi, that error may haunt him. But if Arsenal hold their lead at the top, his mistake will be just one chapter in a larger story. For the past two seasons, we've been tempted to call this City team the "old City"—the relentless, remorseless machine that crushes everything in its path. They're not. Not anymore. City once won 14 straight league games to close out a season. This time, they needed perfection in their final eight matches. What they got was an imperfect, vulnerable side.

This season has been one long chase. City lost twice in August and have been playing catch-up ever since. They've reeled in Arsenal before, but that's no guarantee—especially when Guardiola's team, once the kings of leading from the front, now struggle to hold leads. City actually tops one table this season: points dropped from winning positions. Their second loss of the campaign, at Brighton, came after they led for 30 minutes. They've drawn eight times. In seven of those draws, they surrendered a lead.

Perhaps the most damaging was also the most understandable. Under immense pressure, with injuries piling up, Guardiola's side almost held on. But "almost" doesn't win titles. For a team that built its legacy on ruthless efficiency, these lost leads could be the difference between glory and regret.