MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola considers Mikel Arteta one of his closest allies in the world of football, yet the Manchester City manager is showing no leniency toward his Arsenal counterpart. If Arteta aims to clinch the Premier League title, Guardiola is determined to make him work for it.
Although he chose to rest key players like Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku, and Rayan Cherki on the bench during Wednesday’s match against Crystal Palace in preparation for Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, Guardiola still had a potent squad that secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Oliver Glasner’s side.
With this win, City remains two points behind Arsenal, with only two matches left in the season for both teams. However, the outcome positions City to capitalize should Arsenal falter in their remaining fixtures.
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It’s straightforward for Arsenal: if they win their remaining home game against Burnley next Monday and then defeat Crystal Palace on the last day of the season, they will be unstoppable by City.
Two more victories would grant Arteta his first league title with Arsenal since 2004 and set the stage for a potentially historic season, should they triumph against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30.
However, those in Arsenal might have been hoping for some leeway in their title chase. City denied them that chance by convincingly beating Palace at the Etihad Stadium.
This victory also gives City a slight edge in goal difference over Arsenal, a crucial factor at this stage of the season. They could have increased the margin further, as they looked for a fourth goal toward the end of the match. In a title race this tight, every goal is vital, and this slight lead means any slip from Arsenal could hand City the Premier League trophy for the seventh time in ten years.
City understands that their role is to intensify the pressure on Arsenal.
“Our goal is to keep pushing and keep them on their toes,” City midfielder Phil Foden stated. “We’ve seen all sorts of outcomes can happen on the final day.”
“I’ve experienced it multiple times when results didn’t go our way. We must continue pushing and doing our part.”
Last week’s 3-3 draw against Everton put Arsenal in control of their own destiny, but the relief of City dropping two points was mitigated by Doku’s equalizer in the sixth minute of stoppage time, keeping City very much in the race and Arsenal alert. The same was true in their win against Palace, where City, displaying their attacking prowess, won comfortably. Arteta realizes that even if his team manages to score six against Burnley on Monday, they must stay vigilant, as City could erase any advantage in goal difference with a win at Bournemouth next Tuesday and another against Aston Villa on the final day.
Picture the pressure on Arsenal should City surpass them on goal difference without them having defeated Palace.
Guardiola concluded the Palace match with six attacking players on the field, including Doku, Omar Marmoush, Savinho, Antoine Semenyo, and Foden, for the final half hour as he sought more goals. While the scoring stopped at three, the attacking options, including leading scorer Haaland with 26 goals, indicate City has the capacity to outscore Arsenal when needed.
Arteta’s squad must achieve perfection to claim the title. Considering City’s depth of talent, they have arguably underperformed this season. Nevertheless, even amid inconsistencies, they relentlessly pursue Arsenal.
Foden encapsulates City’s season well: a player of immense ability, yet one who has struggled for form. Before this match, he hadn’t registered a goal in 2026 and had only three league assists. However, he provided two assists in the first half—a backheel pass to Semenyo that was exceptional—and almost added a third with a cross that forced a remarkable save from Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Foden and Cherki, who made an impact after coming on in the 82nd minute, both displayed their potential in this match, along with Doku’s strong performance.
Arsenal lacks the flair and finishing instinct that City possesses, a potential deciding factor in the final 180 minutes of the season. If the title race reaches a climax in the last moments, City will thrive on the challenge, while Arsenal will likely just want to finish it as quickly as possible.
City has clinched titles in dramatic finishes before, most notably in 2012 and 2022, and they are more than capable of doing so again.
The pressure is squarely on Arsenal. City is ramping up the intensity; can they handle it?