Arsenal‘s odds of lifting the Premier League trophy later this month improved significantly after Manchester City imploded away at Everton, drawing 3-3 on Monday night. City were seeking a victory to move three points behind the league-leading Gunners having played one match fewer than their title rivals. And Jeremy Doku’s first-half stunner had Pep Guardiola’s men in a brilliant position with 23 minutes still to play at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
But three Everton goals in 15 minutes, with a Thierno Barry brace sandwiched by Jake O’Brien’s header, completely turned the match around. The comeback started from a dreadful Marc Guehi mistake that allowed Barry to tap in past Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was guilty of his own error to allow O’Brien to put the Toffees in front as he completely missed the ball at a corner. With City fans already leaving the stadium, Erling Haaland scored an instant reply after Barry’s second to pull City back within a goal.
And they were able a 97th-minute equaliser on Merseyside thanks to Doku’s second screamer of the night as they avoided falling to their sixth defeat of the league campaign. Loud boos met the full-time whistle with Everton fans furious how much stoppage time was played. City have a five-point deficit to Arsenal with four games to play and the Gunners need to play just three times.
The draw means even if City win all of their four final games, as long as Arsenal win theirs – away at West Ham, at home to Burnley and away to Crystal Palace – they will be crowned champions of England for the first time since 2004. They would finish with a two-point cushion over their rivals.
City are still looking to win a seventh title in the last eight years under Guardiola, with speculation mounting that the Catalan coach could leave the club this summer. But they now require a favour from West Ham, Burnley or Palace and must win all of their remaining matches.
They host Europe-chasing Brentford at the Etihad next weekend but can only move two points behind the Gunners with a win. Mikel Arteta‘s pace-setters play the next day away at West Ham.
City’s game in hand comes against Palace on May 13 before they take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final, which precedes their final two top-flight outings away at in-form Bournemouth and at home to fifth-placed Aston Villa.
Outside of their league ambitions, City could still win a cup double, after beating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. But they will be bitterly disappointed with the manner of their draw at the Hill Dickinson Stadium despite a last-gasp equaliser. Guardiola cut a baffled figure on the touchline and his celebrations after Doku’s late leveller were relatively muted.
Victory would have moved Everton up to ninth and improved their prospects of qualifying for Europe but a draw means sixth-placed Bournemouth are four points in front of David Moyes’ men.