Manchester City suffered another setback in the Premier League title race after being held to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest at the Etihad, dropping two more points and now trailing leaders Arsenal by seven points. City twice took the lead through Antoine Semenyo and Rodri, but were pegged back both times by a spirited Forest side.
Morgan Gibbs-White scored with a wonderfully improvised back-flick to cancel Semenyo’s opener, and Elliot Anderson equalized after Rodri’s strike with a fine finish following a clever one-two with Callum Hudson-Odoi. City had a strong penalty appeal for a foul on Erling Haaland turned down and missed several chances to win it late, including Savinho’s goal-bound effort heroically cleared off the line by Murillo with the last kick of the game.
Pep Guardiola refused to blame officials, stating: “We have to do it much better, we cannot rely on officials.” The result opens a seven-point gap at the summit, though City have a game in hand.
Key Points
City have now dropped 13 points from winning positions this season, a worrying trend.
The seven-point deficit puts immense pressure on City to win their game in hand.
Guardiola’s reluctance to criticize officials contrasts with players’ frustration over Haaland penalty claim.
Forest’s performance demonstrates their growing resilience under Vitor Pereira.
The title race advantage now firmly belongs to Arsenal, who have the momentum.
Manchester City’s inability to hold a lead has cost them dearly again, with Nottingham Forest’s spirited performance leaving Pep Guardiola’s side trailing Arsenal by seven points a gap that could prove decisive in the title run-in.
Sources: Match Report, Post-Match Comments
