Two points. That is all that separates Manchester City from Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with two games left. Wednesday night’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace kept that gap exactly where it was — and nobody inside the Etihad was pretending otherwise.
Arsenal beat West Ham on Sunday. City knew before kick-off that winning here would not close the gap. They won 3-0 anyway. Phil Foden made sure of it.
This was Foden’s first Premier League start in more than two months. You would not have known it from the way he played. Two assists in the first half — a backheel for Semenyo, a touch-down into Marmoush’s path — and a performance full of the instinctive quality that made him the best player in the world two seasons ago. The club are in discussions over a new contract. Nights like this explain why.
Guardiola made six changes from the weekend. Haaland, Doku and Cherki all started on the bench. The selection told you everything about where City’s priorities lie — the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday is the game that matters most right now. This was a strong enough lineup to win the match, but not one built to send a message to Arsenal.
Palace, meanwhile, had their own reasons for being distracted. The Conference League final is at the end of the month. Oliver Glasner named a rotated side and it showed — particularly in the second half, when City had the game won and Palace barely threatened.
The opening 20 minutes were deceptive. Palace almost scored in the second minute. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s shot appeared to have crossed the line before Gianluigi Donnarumma clawed it away — but Brennan Johnson was ruled offside in the build-up so it would not have stood regardless. Yéremy Pino had an effort deflected wide. Chris Richards headed over from the corner. For a side supposedly with their mind elsewhere, Palace started sharply.
Then Foden took the game by the scruff of the neck.
The 32nd minute. Foden collected the ball centrally, shaped to shoot, and instead played a backheel into the run of Antoine Semenyo. The Ghana forward was through on goal with no defender close. He did not waste it — first time, bottom corner, 1-0. It was the kind of assist that looks effortless and is anything but.
Marmoush had a chance to double it almost immediately after. He jinked into the box but a heavy touch let Maxence Lacroix recover and clear. He was not going to miss twice. In the 40th minute, Foden brought a high ball under control in the area and laid it into Marmoush’s feet. The Egyptian striker turned sharply, created a yard of space, and fired past Dean Henderson. 2-0.
Foden set up a third chance just before half-time — a cross for Josko Gvardiol, making his first appearance since January — but Henderson got across to save. City went in two up and in complete control.
The second half was a different kind of game. Palace tried. Ismaïla Sarr tested Donnarumma. Jørgen Strand Larsen blazed over from inside the box. For 20 minutes or so there was a spell where you wondered if they might find a way back into it. But City defended without drama and attacked without panic. The third goal was inevitable.
Cherki, off the bench, combined with Savinho in the 84th minute. The Brazilian winger found space on the right and drove a clean finish across Henderson and into the far corner. 3-0. Done. Guardiola allowed himself a small fist pump on the touchline.
The full-time whistle gave City what they needed — three points, a clean sheet, Foden back on the pitch performing. Whether it ends up meaning anything in the title race is entirely out of their hands. Arsenal play Burnley at the Emirates on the weekend. If they win, the trophy goes to north London. If they slip, City have the final day against Palace — an irony not lost on anyone — to take advantage.
The stats were comfortable. Possession 72.3% to 27.7%. Fifteen shot attempts to six. Nine corners to four. Donnarumma had to make just two saves all night. This was the kind of professional, controlled performance that City used to produce routinely. Gvardiol’s return was the other positive — back from a knee problem that had kept him out since January, immediately looking like himself in the minutes he played.
For Crystal Palace, the result barely registers in the context of what is coming. A 3-0 loss to a City side rotating for an FA Cup final — with your own European final on the horizon — is the kind of evening you file away and move past. Glasner will not dwell on it for a second.
For City, two games left and two points behind. Stranger things have happened in football. They will keep believing until they mathematically cannot.
For live Premier League scores and coverage, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full standings and remaining fixtures are available at the official Premier League website.
Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace Premier League | Wednesday, 13 May 2026 | Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Goals: Antoine Semenyo 32′ (assist: Phil Foden backheel), Omar Marmoush 40′ (assist: Phil Foden), Savinho 84′ (assist: Rayan Cherki)
Manchester City (4-2-2-2): Donnarumma; Gvardiol, Guéhi, Khusanov, Nunes; Silva, Foden; Aït-Nouri, Savinho; Marmoush, Semenyo. Subs used: Cherki, Haaland, Doku
Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Henderson; Muñoz, Lacroix, Richards, Mitchell; Lerma, Kamada, Pino; Johnson, Mateta, Sarr. Subs used: Strand Larsen, Devenny
Yellow Cards: 0 (City) | 2 (Crystal Palace)
Stats: Possession 72.3-27.7% | Shots on Goal 4-2 | Attempts 15-6 | Corners 9-4 | Saves 2-1 | Half-time: 2-0
