Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku scores during the Premier League match against Everton. (AP photo) Manchester City suffered a devastating setback in their Premier League title race despite a dramatic 3-3 draw against Everton as a second-half collapse handed the initiative firmly to Arsenal.Jeremy Doku’s stunning strike rescued a point for Pep Guardiola’s side, but the late drama failed to mask a costly defensive breakdown that may define their season.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!City looked in complete control for most of the first half when they opened the scoring just before the break after sustained pressure from Dok. However, the game turned on its head after the break as Everton capitalized on a series of errors.Thierno Barry struck twice for the visitors, while Jake O’Brien added another powerful header to leave City and their title hopes hanging in the balance.To their credit, Guardiola’s men fought back. Erling Haaland almost immediately pulled one back before Doku produced a moment of brilliance deep into the break to level the match.“It’s better than losing. It shows what type of team they are,” Guardiola said after the match. “It’s not in our hands. It was before, not now. We have games left. We’ll see what happens.”Arsenal take advantageThe result leaves City five points behind Arsenal, albeit with a game in hand. But the momentum has clearly shifted in favor of Mikel Arteta’s side, who now need just three wins from their remaining games to end their 22-year title wait.City’s slip comes after Arsenal’s back-to-back wins had already increased the pressure and their inability to maintain a commanding position could prove decisive.Costly mistakes are crucialThe city’s fall stemmed largely from uncharacteristic lapses in defense. A series of misplaced passes and poor decision-making allowed Everton to punish them clinically, turning a comfortable lead into a messy 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 to go, the Premier League race has taken a dramatic turn – and it’s Arsenal who now hold the upper hand.
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