Manchester City were on the end of a controversial decision in their 3-3 draw with Everton on Monday as the Premier League have since explained the VAR call
Thierno Barry and Gianluigi Donnarumma
Thierno Barry's goal against Man City was allowed to stand(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Manchester City have received clarification from the Premier League regarding why Everton's opener was permitted to stand. A wayward back pass from Marc Guehi was intercepted and converted by Thierno Barry, though the linesman's flag was swiftly raised as he had been offside when an attempted pass was played to him earlier in the move.
However, Guehi's touch created a new phase of play, with Barry consequently deemed onside, and that ruling was reversed with the official explanation subsequently published.
The Premier League Match Centre post on X read: "#EVEMCI – 69' The referee's call of goal for Everton was checked and confirmed by VAR - with it deemed that there was no offside offence as Guehi deliberately played the ball."
Matters then deteriorated further for City when Jake O'Brien powered home a header from a corner to completely turn the contest on its head.
Barry then steered Merlin Rohl's wayward effort into the net to make it 3-1, with the striker just about remaining onside.
From City's restart, Erling Haaland pulled one back immediately with a deft chip over Jordan Pickford, following an outstanding pass from Mateo Kovacic.
A defeat at the Hill Dickinson Stadium would have proved devastating for City in the wake of Arsenal's victory over Fulham on Saturday.
Nevertheless, they managed to salvage something from their trip to Merseyside when Doku struck deep into stoppage time.
Despite the valiant effort to snatch a point, Arsenal's advantage at the summit now stands at five points, firmly placing the Premier League title race in their hands.
The next significant encounter in the title race comes on Saturday, with City taking on Brentford. Arsenal then have the opportunity to respond just 24 hours later in their away fixture against West Ham.
The pivotal clash arrives in the following midweek as City's match against Crystal Palace, which was initially scheduled for Carabao Cup final weekend, is set to take place.
Mikel Arteta's men then face Burnley while City travel to Bournemouth, before the season concludes at Selhurst Park for the Gunners and City host Aston Villa.
Both Palace and Unai Emery's side could find themselves juggling European commitments around those decisive fixtures. For Palace, a Conference League final could fall just days after they welcome Arsenal.
Villa, meanwhile, could be mere days removed from a Europa League final, though they must first overturn a 1-0 deficit from their semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest.