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Jeremy Doku has issued a stern warning to Arsenal, insisting Manchester City are not prepared to relinquish 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 reigning champions with a mountain to climb in the final weeks of the season.
Doku saves a point but City loses ground
City’s hopes of winning another Premier League title suffered a major blow on Monday as they were held to a 3-3 draw against Everton.
Despite the frustrating result at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Doku emerged as the better player, scoring two goals, including a late equalizer that prevented 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 courage to fight on as the season enters its home stretch.
Challenge to Arsenal’s lead
Speaking after the standoff, Doku made no secret of his disappointment but was quick to send a message of defiance to north London.
“It hurts, obviously it hurts,” Doku said. “We know how important it is to win these kinds of matches, we have not given up and we are not going to give up. There are still matches, we will fight until the end and at the end we will count the points.”
The Belgian international’s double was a rare spark on a night where City’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, but he believes the team’s mentality will be the deciding factor. He added: “[We are] disappointed but it’s not over, we’re not going to give up.”
A grueling schedule awaits Guardiola’s men
The path to a potential return will not be easy, as City currently navigate a congested fixture list.
Pep Guardiola’s side must play five games in just 16 days to close out the campaign, starting with a home clash against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium this Saturday.
This run will test the team’s depth as they aim for silverware on multiple fronts.
“There are a lot of games, we have a busy schedule and we will look to the future,” Doku said of the challenges ahead.
Double trophy hunting 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 stressed that the team’s experience in high-pressure situations will be vital to their recovery.
“We are still in two competitions and we have a final to play. We will 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.”
