Man City keeps the pressure on Arsenal as title race continues

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Manchester City’s reserves defeated Crystal Palace 3-0 on Wednesday, closing the gap to just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with two games left in an exciting title race.

Pep Guardiola made six changes from the side that beat Brentford 3-0 at the weekend, with Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku among those on the bench, while Palace boss Oliver Glasner also made tweaks.

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First-half goals from Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush put City in control at a damp Etihad, and a late strike from Savinho added gloss to the scoreline.

City are back within touching distance of the Gunners 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🔝#SSFootball | #SSPremierLeague | #MCICRY pic.twitter.com/zruT8YpwX6

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 13, 2026

The tide appeared to have turned in City’s favour in the title race over recent weeks, but last week’s costly 3-3 draw at Everton put Arsenal firmly back in the box seat.

The City players experienced the agony of seeing a stoppage-time equaliser for West Ham against Arsenal ruled out following a VAR check on Sunday as the Gunners battled to a 1-0 win.

Guardiola’s men dominated the ball in the early minutes on Wednesday, but Palace, with Ismaila Sarr and Adam Wharton on the bench, posed a threat on the break.

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City opened the scoring in style in the 32nd minute after Foden produced an exquisite back pass to set up Semenyo, who finished coolly past Dean Henderson into the far corner of the goal.

The three-goal win takes City to 77 points, two behind Arsenal. City now has a superior goal difference of plus one and has scored seven more goals.
City take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, gunning for a domestic cup double after lifting the League Cup earlier this season.
Before kick-off on Wednesday, Guardiola explained his multiple changes, saying: “When the schedule is so tight, everybody is fit, everybody needs to help.”

City are back within touching distance of the Gunners 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🔝#SSFootball | #SSPremierLeague | #MCICRY pic.twitter.com/zruT8YpwX6

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 13, 2026