The stakes could hardly have been higher.
As the hour mark approached against Brentford, Manchester City seemed to be drifting towards a goalless draw that would surely have handed the Premier League title to Arsenal. Not mathematically, of course, but it would have been hard to convince anyone the race was still alive.
Fortunately for City, Jeremy Doku is in scintillating form right now and he capped his latest excellent performance with another fine individual goal to break the deadlock.
A scrambled finish from Erling Haaland followed, turning what might have been a nervy finale into something much more enjoyable for anyone of a City persuasion. There was even the bonus of an Omar Marmoush goal in stoppage time.
The result means Pep Guardiola’s team are now two points behind Arsenal, with both sides having three games to play.
Is Doku on a one-man mission to keep City in the title race?
It is a while ago now, but when Doku first joined City, Guardiola’s men were a little rough around the edges and were heavily relying on the Belgian to carry their attacks.
This was a time when their highest and widest player on the right wing was Kyle Walker, who was effectively there just to fill a gap while everything was funnelled towards the left, where Doku was always waiting to dribble at somebody.
Those were the days when he got four assists against Bournemouth, but often managed to get inside the box and do little else. He did, though, always try.
Fast forward a few years, and everything has been cranked up a few notches, although it is a bit concerning that City are relying on him to carry their attack quite so much still.
His dribbles are just as relentless, and while sometimes it feels like he could maybe try to pick players out a bit better when it comes to crossing, he is more creative in those situations (and his defensive work is miles better).
It is a similar theme to his goal threat, although there has been an obviously huge jump this week. Before Monday night, he had scored just four league goals. But since then, he has added three, and they have all been rockets.
After the two at Everton on Monday, including the 97th-minute effort that earned City an unlikely point, he made the breakthrough here just seconds after Guardiola had rolled the dice and made some attacking substitutions.
City needed a goal and Doku, yet again, stepped up to provide it. The dropped points on Monday mean the title is not in their hands, but if they have any chance of winning it, they will have Doku to thank.
How is Rodri’s absence affecting City?
After Rodri injured his groin in the victory against Arsenal three weeks ago, the initial tests did not suggest there was much to worry about, and the expectation was the Spaniard would miss a couple of games at most.
Unfortunately for City, the injury was slightly more complex than expected, and he was not even on the bench for this game. He is expected to play again this season, and has resumed training, so they need not worry too much, but City really could do with him back as soon as possible, especially with their little glut fixtures against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth around the FA Cup final.
Nico Gonzalez did not do well to cover him at Everton on Monday and he was overlooked to start in this one, with Tijjani Reijnders picked. Yet the Dutchman was the first man taken off as Guardiola pushed for goals, which left Bernardo Silva, on a yellow card, holding the midfield on his own.
Only Haaland’s goal calmed things down and meant a bit more midfield steel was not needed late on, but City do not look anywhere near as composed and robust without Rodri, which is not really news to anybody by this point, but it is very pertinent considering two trophies will be handed out in the next 15 days.
Erling Haaland finds a way to force the ball over the line for his goal (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Do City now have to rely on West Ham?
Tiring, isn’t it?
Whenever a team loses momentum in the title race, we all talk as if it is over, and then that team just so happens to play before the other one, they win, and then we all pile the pressure on the team we had already said were in the driving seat.
And so to the London Stadium on Sunday, where Arsenal — who have done very well to steady the ship after the run of results that allowed City to overtake them on goal difference — take on West Ham United, who are fighting for their lives to avoid relegation.
Does that desperation offer City some hope, or is it just proof they have been poor all season and are in the relegation zone for a reason? You can interpret it however you like but I would imagine that after City eventually racked up three goals here, there might be a few people who fancy West Ham to do something unexpected.
What next for City?
Wednesday, May 13: Crystal Palace, Premier League (Home), 8pm UK, 3pm ET
