Manchester City may have effectively buried their Premier League title ambitions with a third consecutive draw — a damaging run of results while Arsenal continue to win with ruthless consistency.

City appeared to have the contest under control after taking the lead from the penalty spot, confidently converted by Erling Haaland. At that moment, they looked poised to finally halt their slide and apply pressure back on Arsenal.

But football has a habit of punishing hesitation. Brighton refused to be intimidated and found their way back into the match with a superb long-range strike, leaving the Etihad stunned. From that point on, despite dominating possession and territory, Manchester City lacked their usual cutting edge and failed to find a decisive response.

The final whistle confirmed another costly stalemate — three draws in a row — a sequence that feels almost fatal in the context of a relentless title race.

2025-26, England - Premier League

Manchester City - Brighton 1:1 (1:0)
Goals: Håland E., 41 (penalty) (1:0); Mitoma, 60 (1:1)

Manchester City: Donnarumma G.; Ake (O'Reilly, 73); Khusanov; Alleyne; Reijnders; Nico González (Rodri, 64); Bernardo Silva; Matheus Nunes (Lewis R., 73); Foden (Cherki, 73); Håland E.; Doku J.
Substitution: Rodri (from 64); Lewis R. (from 73); Cherki (from 73); O'Reilly (from 73)
Bench: Trafford; Mukasa; Heskey R.
Yellow Cards: Donnarumma G. 60

Brighton: Verbruggen; Dunk; van Hecke; De Cuyper; Hinshelwood; Mitoma (Watson, 83); Gomez D. (Gruda, 77); Ayari (Milner, 83); Groß; Kadioglu; Rutter (Welbeck, 77)
Substitution: Gruda (from 77); Welbeck (from 77); Watson (from 83); Milner (from 83)
Bench: Steele; Boscagli; Coppola; Tasker; Howell
Yellow Cards: Dunk 29; Groß 41; van Hecke 53; De Cuyper 60; Mitoma 69; Watson 89