After drawing 2-2 with Forest, Man City still face 5 matches in 16 days: a triple away trip to Newcastle, Real Madrid, and West Ham, plus a League Cup final clash against Arsenal.

In the 29th round of the Premier League, Arsenal—a side previously known for late‑season collapses—avoided dropping points. They ground out a 1-0 away win against Brighton in an unattractive match, claiming all three points. Their title challengers Manchester City, however, twice surrendered leads at home and were held to a 2-2 draw by struggling Nottingham Forest. Following City’s stumble, Arsenal sit 7 points clear at the top of the Premier League with an extra game played, leaving City without control over their own title hopes this season.

Manchester City’s dropped points have pushed them close to surrendering the title, and their troubles are far from over. Pep Guardiola’s team now face a brutal schedule: five matches in 16 days, all against tough opponents. They will play three consecutive away games against Newcastle, Real Madrid, and West Ham. Newcastle are strong at home, having recently beaten Aston Villa; Real Madrid bring their Champions League mystique; West Ham are fighting to avoid relegation. That is followed by a Champions League home leg against Real Madrid and then the League Cup final against Arsenal at the end of the month—every one of these five fixtures is a major challenge.

The Premier League match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace shown above has been postponed!

In my view, Manchester City have been more prone to faltering in the league than Arsenal this season, making a Premier League title highly unlikely. However, they can still target cup success. City face Arsenal in the League Cup final, meet an out‑of‑form Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16, and have a long FA Cup path ahead. They need to secure at least one cup trophy this term; otherwise, Pep Guardiola would face the prospect of a second consecutive season without any silverware—an unflattering look for the club.