What Rodri did vs Chelsea offers Man City title hope but injuries bite as questions emerge

Manchester City conceded a last gasp equaliser to Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday to draw 1-1

Calum McFarlane might be able to say he masterminded an unlikely fightback that put Arsenal in the driving seat in the Premier League title race. It might have been verging on the blindingly obvious to send on Liam Delap, formerly of Manchester City, when Chelsea needed a goal with half an hour to go, but it changed the mood of the occasion.

Delap got City, who lost both centre-halves to injury during proceedings, rattled. And while he did not score the equaliser deep into added time - that was accomplished by Enzo Fernandez after a half-save from Gianluigi Donnarumma - Delap was on the premises and causing consternation in home ranks.

And Delap’s commitment was in keeping with a second half display that at least showed this Chelsea squad will bring a bit of pride to the table when incoming boss Liam Rosenior gathers them together. But while that second half display was decent enough, this was a game that City should have wrapped up on more than one occasion.

And Pep Guardiola will know it is the type of slip-up that can be decisive in close title races. If Guardiola, though, wanted some consolation from the concession of a soft, late leveller, he could take it from the performance of his most trusted lieutenant.

In the passage of play that preceded a sumptuous strike from Tijjani Reijnders, there was a pass played in the middle of the park that probably travelled no more than a yard. It was not even that clever. Just a simple return job, with the inside of the boot.

But it was almost symbolic. City had turned defence into attack via a reliable cog in the middle of the machine. And that cog just happens to be a Ballon D’Or winner, one of the most influential midfielders the Premier League has seen.

This was Rodri’s latest significant comeback, his first start in three months. And in horse-racing parlance, he looked as though he needed the run. There was the odd occasion when he was caught in possession. Considering the amount of football he has missed over these past couple of seasons, that was only understandable.

But, generally, he was majestic in his own way. Breaking up play, splitting defences with his passing, breaking lines with his muscular strides. If he can stay fit until the end of the season, City will still be a contender at home and in Europe.

But they - and this includes Erling Haaland - will need to be more clinical and will need to make better decisions in the opposition area. Too often, Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden took the wrong option when in threatening positions and that is unusual for a Pep team.

In the end, they were made to pay and McFarlane - once employed by City - could enjoy 15 minutes of fame. And Arsenal and Mikel Arteta could enjoy it even more.