The Premier League title race has officially entered the danger zone for Manchester City.
On a dramatic midweek night filled with late twists and managerial upheaval elsewhere, the reigning champions were held to their third consecutive draw, a result that leaves the door wide open for Arsenal to break clear at the summit.
What was meant to be a routine response at the Etihad instead exposed City’s growing fragility. Pep Guardiola’s side looked less like serial winners and more like a giant with a glass chin.
Erling Haaland once again etched his name into the record books, converting from the spot to become the fastest player to reach 150 goals for Manchester City, achieving the feat in just 173 appearances. But the celebration was short-lived.
Brighton struck back in style on the hour mark through Kaoru Mitoma, whose stunning finish silenced the home crowd and shifted the momentum. Despite a late City onslaught, their finishing deserted them when it mattered most.
In the dying seconds, Brighton’s Diego Gomez somehow missed an open net from three yards, sparing City from an embarrassing home defeat. The final whistle brought not relief, but boos—an unmistakable sign of growing frustration among the Etihad faithful.
Having dropped six points across their last three matches, City have handed the initiative to Arsenal. All eyes now turn to the Emirates, where a victory over Liverpool tonight would send the Gunners eight points clear at the top. In North London, the trophy polishers may already be on standby.
Elsewhere in the Premier League
Post-Amorim Panic: Manchester United’s first outing without Ruben Amorim ended in disappointment as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Burnley. A brace from Benjamin Šeško was not enough, with Jaidon Anthony’s 66th-minute curler ensuring the “Fletcher Era” began without a win.
Semenyo’s Send-off: Bournemouth delivered the shock of the night, edging Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in a pulsating encounter. Antoine Semenyo, reportedly playing his final game before a big-money transfer, struck a dramatic 95th-minute winner to send the Vitality Stadium into raptures.
Blue Debut Disaster: Chelsea’s new manager, Liam Rosenior, endured a nightmare debut as the Blues fell 2-1 to Fulham at a rain-soaked Craven Cottage. A red card for Marc Cucurella left Chelsea exposed and compounded an already difficult evening.
As the season races towards its climax, momentum is shifting—and for Manchester City, the margin for error has all but disappeared.
