Man City Beat Palace, Close Gap on Arsenal to Two Points with Two Games Left
Theo Al Jazeera English
Manchester City cut the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to two points with a convincing 3-0 win over Crystal Palace. Goals from Semenyo, Marmoush and Savinho secured a comfortable victory as Guardiola rotated his squad. City now trail Arsenal by two points with two games remaining.
Manchester City's second-string side cruised to a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday, moving within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with only two games left this season.
Pep Guardiola made six changes from the side that beat Brentford last weekend, leaving Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku on the bench, while opposite number Oliver Glasner also rotated his lineup.
First-half goals from Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush put City in control at a rain-soaked Etihad Stadium, before a late strike from Savinho added gloss to the scoreline.
The title race had appeared to be swinging City's way in recent weeks, but last week's costly 3-3 draw with Everton handed Arsenal back the lead.
City's players endured the agony of seeing West Ham's stoppage-time equaliser against Arsenal ruled out by a VAR check on Sunday, handing the Gunners a tight 1-0 win.
City broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute after Phil Foden played a neat return pass to Semenyo, who coolly slotted past Dean Henderson into the far corner.
They doubled their lead eight minutes later, again with Foden the provider, slipping the ball to Marmoush who scored his third Premier League goal of the season.
John Stones, who will leave the club at the end of the season, came on as a late substitute to a rousing reception.
Minutes later, Rayan Cherki surged from his own half before feeding Savinho, who finished smartly past Henderson.
The three-goal victory takes City to 77 points, two behind Arsenal. City have a superior goal difference by one and have scored seven more goals.
City face Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, aiming for a domestic double after winning the League Cup earlier this season.
Before Wednesday's game, Guardiola explained the raft of changes: “When the schedule is busy, everyone is fit and needs to help.”
Despite the narrow gap, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal remain strong favourites for their first Premier League title since 2004.
If the Gunners beat relegated Burnley next Monday, City must defeat Bournemouth, who are chasing a Champions League spot, the following day to keep the title race alive.
On the final day of the season, May 24, Arsenal travel to Palace while City, on a 14-match unbeaten league run, host Aston Villa.
Foden insisted the title race is far from over.
“In the end, it's a team game. If you want to win titles and trophies, it comes down to the whole team, and everyone plays their part,” Foden told Sky Sports. “The aim is to keep pushing and keep them nervous. We've seen a lot can happen on the last day. I've experienced it many times, when it doesn't go your way. We just have to keep pushing and do our job.”
Palace are now turning their focus to the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on May 27, Glasner's last match in charge of the London club.
