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Jeremy Doku has issued a stern warning to Arsenal, insisting that Manchester City are unwilling to hand over their Premier League crown despite a major setback in the title race.
The Belgian winger proved to be the savior of Pep Guardiola’s side in Monday’s draw against Everton, but the result left the defending champions with a mountain to climb in the final weeks of the season.
Doku rescues a point but City loses ground
City’s hopes of securing another Premier League title suffered a blow on Monday when they were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw against Everton.
Despite the frustrating result at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Doku emerged as the standout player, scoring two goals, including a late equalizer that avoided an even more damaging defeat.
The draw means Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are now five points clear at the top, putting the Gunners in pole position to end their 20-year wait for a league championship.
However, Doku remains adamant that the race is far from over and that City have the stomach to fight as the season enters its final stretch.
Challenge to Arsenal leadership
Speaking after the stalemate, Doku made no secret of his disappointment but was quick to send a message of defiance to the north London side.
“It hurts, obviously it hurts,” Doku said. “We know how important it is to win those types of games, we do not give up and we are not going to give up. There are still some games left, we are going to fight until the end and at the end we will count the points.”
The Belgian international’s brace was a rare bright spark on a night when City’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, but he believes the team’s mentality will be the deciding factor. And he added: “[We are] “We are disappointed, but this is not over, we are not going to give up.”
An exhausting schedule awaits Guardiola’s men
The road to a potential comeback will not be easy, with City currently navigating a congested fixture list.
Pep Guardiola’s side must play five games in just 16 days to close the campaign, starting with the home clash against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium this Saturday.
This race will test the depth of the team as they chase the silver medal on multiple fronts.
“There are many games, we have a very busy schedule and we are going to look ahead,” Doku said when talking about the upcoming challenges.
The double pursuit of trophies remains the priority
Beyond the Premier League, City are still in the hunt for the FA Cup, with a final against Chelsea scheduled for May 16.
Doku highlighted that the team’s experience in high-pressure situations will be vital to its recovery.
“We are still in two competitions and we have a final to play. We are going to recover well,” explained the winger. “Mentally we have all been in this position, we are used to playing every three days, the most important thing is to recover mentally and physically.”
