Marc Guehi quietly walked towards the Manchester City bus outside the Hill Dickinson stadium with a disappointed face. That is completely understandable. The ability to distribute the ball accurately once helped this center-back quickly integrate into Man City's defense system. However, a pass error opened up an opportunity for Thierno Barry to score, making the 3-3 draw a turning point in the Premier League title race.
This match seemed to recreate the glorious memories of Man City in the 2014 and 2023 seasons, when they often won key victories against Everton in the final stretch. Instead, it evokes historical stunts that contributed to deciding the Premier League throne.
Man City conceded 3 goals in just 12 minutes against Everton. This reminds many people of 2014 when Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool lost the victory against Crystal Palace after conceding three goals in the last 11 minutes, closing the match with a score of 3-3. Further back, the 2011-2012 season witnessed David Moyes' Everton draw 4-4 with Manchester United in an incredible comeback, thereby indirectly paving the way for Man City's first championship since 1968. The common point of those matches is that the championship contenders dropped the advantage in a dramatic way.
Perhaps that does not make Guehi feel better, but if Arsenal maintains the top spot until the end of the season, his mistake is certainly not the only reason. For many years, Man City has often been seen as a perfect winning machine under Guardiola. However, the current team no longer maintains that absolute level.
The Citizens once had seasons of winning 14 consecutive matches to accelerate towards the finish line. But this season, they need to win all 8 final rounds to decide their own fate - which is too difficult for a team that has continuously revealed weaknesses.
Guardiola's team has had to chase Arsenal for most of the season. They have narrowed the gap with their opponents many times, but that no longer guarantees success as before. More worryingly, Man City this season often drops the lead.
They are leading the Premier League in an unwanted statistic: the points lost after leading the opponent. This could be a decisive factor in the championship race. The defeat to Brighton is a typical example when Man City controlled the match for more than 30 minutes before collapsing.
Up to now, The Citizens have drawn 8 matches in the Premier League this season. In addition to the draw with Sunderland, the remaining 7 matches were all times they lost the lead. The most regrettable was probably the match against Arsenal in September last year, when Guardiola's team was only a few minutes away from victory before Gabriel Martinelli scored the decisive goal in injury time.
However, Man City also dropped points many times in an unacceptable way. They let Chelsea equalize in the last minute right at the Etihad in January, could not beat West Ham and Nottingham Forest in the March period, or let Tottenham regain points even though they once led 2-0.
All reflect instability and the ability to control the match is no longer as perfect as before. Man City's defense also no longer maintains the certainty that has been the foundation for Guardiola's success for many years.
Although Gianluigi Donnarumma made many excellent saves, Man City's defense system still often revealed gaps. In the draw with Everton, Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov showed potential when playing as central defenders, but they also revealed a lack of connection and were easily exploited in transition situations.
The recent force reorganization helps Guardiola own fast-paced and attack-supporting full-backs like Matheus Nunes or Nico O'Reilly. However, their defensive ability has not brought the necessary peace of mind.
Meanwhile, Arsenal - a team once criticized for its pragmatic playing style - may be rewarded for that caution. Mikel Arteta's tight defense system is making a difference in the championship race.
For the second consecutive season, Man City clearly feels the importance of Rodri whenever the Spanish midfielder is absent. Their best form this season, with victories against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in many different arenas, all came when Rodri played alongside Bernardo Silva in midfield.
Rodri brought The Citizens the calmness and control they lost in the draw with Everton. In fact, signs of instability have appeared before, even in victories against Leeds or Fulham, where Man City continuously let the opponent create great pressure in the second half.
The 3-3 draw against Everton is only the second time in 376 Premier League matches under Guardiola that Man City has finished with 6 goals (including both teams). Everton is also one of the teams that created the highest expected goal score (xG) against Man City in the Guardiola era.
For a long time, many people believed that the defense could be the key to helping Arsenal win the Premier League title. And the gap between the two teams this season will probably be decided by the ability to preserve the advantage - something Man City is not doing well enough.
