LONDON — Manchester City faced a significant setback in their quest for the Premier League title as Dominic Solanke executed a stunning scorpion kick, enabling Tottenham Hotspur to come back from two goals down and secure a 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Rayan Cherki opened the scoring for City in the 10th minute, followed by a goal from Antoine Semenyo just before halftime, taking advantage of Tottenham’s mistakes in their own half.
While Spurs appeared lacking in confidence during the first half, everything changed after the break. Solanke found the net at the 53-minute mark, and Tottenham continued to push, with their equalizer coming from a remarkable moment as Conor Gallagher‘s cross was narrowly flicked in by Solanke, catching City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma off guard.
City’s manager Pep Guardiola introduced Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush in hopes of clinching a win, but Spurs had opportunities through Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons denied by Donnarumma.
This draw leaves Manchester City six points adrift of league leaders Arsenal, who secured a comfortable victory over Leeds United on Saturday. — James Olley
Man City’s Title Aspirations Take a Hit Amid Surprising Twists
Another weekend has brought yet another shift in momentum.
First, Manchester City fell to Manchester United, then they bounced back against Wolves while Arsenal stumbled at home against United. This latest weekend saw Arsenal triumph at Leeds United while City faltered at Tottenham.
The result leaves Arsenal with a six-point lead at the top, shifting the momentum back toward Mikel Arteta’s squad. Following a 2-0 lead at halftime, City’s draw with Spurs feels like a significant missed chance for Guardiola.
If results unfold as anticipated in City’s upcoming match against Newcastle on Wednesday, they will look forward to the Carabao Cup final in March. However, the next Premier League clash for City will be against Liverpool at Anfield; Arsenal will host Sunderland just 24 hours earlier.
This season has been unpredictable, and next weekend could see Arsenal stretch their lead to nine points by Sunday night.
Guardiola typically refrains from making bold predictions about silverware early in the season, preferring to focus on being competitive when the decisive matches arrive. They’re barely hanging on, but a significant gap is starting to look insurmountable. — Rob Dawson
Solanke’s Impact Eases Pressure on Under-Fire Frank at Spurs
Spurs manager Thomas Frank has often cited an extensive injury list—now totaling 11 players—as a key factor in the team’s lackluster recent performances. He may reflect on how differently fortunes could have been had Solanke not missed over four months with an ankle injury.
Solanke’s sixth appearance upon returning from injury—and only his third start—proves he adds a crucial edge that other strikers at the club have been unable to provide. With pivotal goals against Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt, Solanke has quickly accumulated four goals in six appearances, with his second featured a moment of pure brilliance.
Despite struggling for attacking consistency, this performance brings welcome relief to a pressured manager, showcasing Solanke’s ability to ignite a floundering attack. While Frank is still under scrutiny, the situation would certainly be more dire without Solanke’s contributions leading the comeback. — Olley
Defensive Vulnerabilities of Man City Exposed by Spurs
Acquiring Marc Guéhi mid-season was a positive addition for Manchester City, yet it hasn’t eradicated all issues.
Guardiola’s best teams would secure a two-goal lead and suffocate the game, but this version of City seems unable to maintain that level of control.
The shift in momentum after the halftime break was stark, and City struggled to adapt. Without Donnarumma, the scoreline could have been worse. The absence of Nico González, who had just come off the bench, won’t want to relive his role in the lead-up.
The signs of vulnerability have been apparent. Clean sheets against Wolves and Galatasaray last week don’t overshadow that both had significant chances to score in the second half.
Unlike those two teams, Tottenham capitalized on their chances. — Dawson
Spurs Show Resilience, Defy Doubts in Pursuit of Victory
This match inevitably brings to mind Tottenham’s previous encounter with Manchester City, where Spurs denied City a win that would have kept them ahead in the title race. Back then, then-coach Ange Postecoglou expressed surprise at some fans appearing content with a loss, as it prevented rival Arsenal from securing their first league title since 2004.
The circumstances were different this time—City arrived trailing Arsenal by seven points—but questions lingered about how many fans would have quietly accepted a defeat. The atmosphere during the first half reflected a dispassionate crowd, as City controlled play, leading to boos at halftime stemming more from apathy than outrage.
However, the second half presented a complete transformation. The Spurs players diverted any doubts with their intent, showing a marked improvement and even coming close to clinching a late victory.
There’s much of the season left—it’s worth noting the 2024 match against City occurred in mid-May—so this result won’t completely assuage concerns among Spurs fans about Arsenal’s potential triumph. Yet, Tottenham’s refusal to fold under pressure is a credit to their resilience, and they’ve unwittingly aided their bitter rivals. — Olley
Cherki Justifying His Move to Manchester City
Upon joining from Lyon last summer, Rayan Cherki faced scrutiny regarding his attitude and compatibility with Guardiola’s system.
As February rolls around, many of those concerns have been addressed.
Guardiola’s interaction with Cherki indicates a player who elicits both admiration and frustration from the manager. He has previously noted a desire for the Frenchman to enhance his work rate without the ball while mastering the fundamentals alongside his technique.
What remains unquestionable is Cherki’s impact. He is among just five players in Europe’s top leagues to tally over 10 goals and 10 assists since the FIFA Club World Cup began, joining the ranks of Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, and Luis Díaz—an impressive company to keep.
In less than a year with City, Guardiola likely believes there’s even more potential to unlock in Cherki, but the £40 million transfer fee already seems to be a wise investment. — Dawson