Phil Foden said it himself before kickoff: "We're keeping Arsenal on their toes. Anything can happen." After Manchester City dismantled Crystal Palace 3-0 at the Etihad on Wednesday night, those words carried more weight than pre-match bravado. The Premier League title race is not over. Not yet.
Man City 3-0 Crystal Palace: Match Report
Pep Guardiola made six changes from the side that labored to a draw the previous weekend, and the refreshed lineup delivered a performance that reminded everyone why City have won four of the last five Premier League titles. This was controlled, clinical, and utterly dominant.
City had 68% possession. They registered 22 shots, 9 on target. Crystal Palace managed 3 shots, none of them on target. The expected goals told the story: 2.8 to 0.4. This was not a contest. It was a demonstration.
The opening goal came in the 23rd minute and it was pure Foden. Receiving the ball on the right side of the penalty area, he shifted the ball onto his left foot with his signature quick feet, created a yard of space, and bent a shot into the far corner. Sam Johnstone got a hand to it but could only push it onto the inside of the post. The Etihad exhaled. The title race was still breathing.
The second goal arrived just before half-time and it came from the sort of set-piece routine that Guardiola's teams have perfected over the years. Kevin De Bruyne's inswinging corner was met by Ruben Dias with a powerful near-post header. Johnstone had no chance. 2-0 at the break, and the only surprise was that it was not more.
Cole Palmer killed the game in the 71st minute. The substitute, who has been used more sparingly in recent weeks, received the ball on the edge of the area, took one touch to set himself, and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner. It was his 14th league goal of the season and a reminder of the depth that City possess even in a campaign where they have not always been at their best.
Foden's Masterclass Keeps the Pressure On
Phil Foden has been here before. In 2023-24, he was the PFA Player of the Year, the talisman who drove City to yet another title. This season has been more uneven. Injuries, rotation, and the emergence of other attacking options have meant Foden has not always been the focal point.
But Wednesday night was a reminder. The goal was superb, but it was everything around it that made this a Foden performance. He completed 94% of his passes. He created 4 chances. He made 3 successful dribbles. He pressed relentlessly when Palace tried to build from the back. This was the complete modern forward performance.
Guardiola said after the match: "Phil knows what this moment demands. He has lived it before. He knows that in May, you do not need to be spectacular. You need to be clinical. He was both tonight."
The timing matters. With the FA Cup final approaching and the title race still mathematically alive, Foden finding his best form in mid-May is exactly what City need. He is the player who can produce something from nothing, the kind of game-changer who turns draws into wins and wins into statements.
The Title Race Math: What Happens Now
After GW37, the Premier League table looks like this at the top:
- Arsenal: 82 points, 36 played (+53 GD)
- Manchester City: 77 points, 36 played (+46 GD)
City also have a game in hand. If they win that, the gap becomes 2 points with two games each remaining. The maximum City can reach is 86 points. Arsenal can reach 88.
The key scenarios:
- If Arsenal win one of their last two games: they are champions regardless of City's results.
- If Arsenal draw both remaining games: they reach 84 points. City would need to win all three remaining games (including the game in hand) to reach 86 and win the title.
- If Arsenal lose one and win one: they reach 85 points. City would need to win all three to reach 86.
- If Arsenal lose both remaining games: they stay on 82. City would need 5 points from 3 games to overhaul them.
The bottom line: Arsenal still control their own destiny. One win seals it. But City's victory over Palace means the pressure does not let up. Every dropped point will be punished.
What This Means for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta will not have enjoyed watching City's performance. Not because it was unexpected, but because it was exactly the sort of relentless, professional display that champions produce in the run-in. City are not going away.
The psychological dynamic has shifted slightly. A week ago, Arsenal were being talked about as champions-elect, a team strolling toward the title while preparing for a Champions League final. Now, they face a weekend where dropping points could reopen the race entirely.
Arteta's challenge is managing the dual priority. Arsenal host a mid-table side this weekend, where a win would seal the title and allow full rotation for the final league game and the Champions League final preparation. But if there is any complacency, any sense that the job is already done, City will capitalize.
The players have been here before mentally, though not in this exact situation. In 2023-24, Arsenal pushed City all the way before falling short. In 2024-25, they collapsed in the final weeks. This season, they have been more composed, more clinical, more like a team that has learned from those experiences. But the memories of falling short do not disappear. They linger.
Bukayo Saka addressed the media on Tuesday: "We know what happened before. We are not thinking about the Champions League final. We are thinking about this weekend. One win. That is all we need. One win."
Crystal Palace: A Season Falling Apart
While the title race narrative dominates, Crystal Palace's collapse deserves attention. A club that was comfortably mid-table in February has now lost five consecutive matches and conceded 14 goals in that run. The 3-0 defeat at the Etihad was not a surprise. It was the continuation of a trend.
Oliver Glasner's side have looked increasingly disjointed since the turn of the year. The high-energy pressing game that made them so effective in the first half of the season has faded. Eberechi Eze, their talisman, has not scored in 8 matches. The defense that was once organized and disciplined is now porous and error-prone.
There are mitigating factors. Injuries to key players, including Marc Guehi for a crucial stretch, have disrupted the defensive structure. The January transfer window brought in players who have not settled quickly enough. And the fixture list has been brutal: City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle all in the run-in.
But Palace fans have a right to be concerned. A season that promised a top-half finish is now drifting toward a bottom-half scramble. Glasner's position, secure just two months ago, is now being quietly discussed. The Austrian coach needs a response in the final two games to ensure the summer does not become a period of uncertainty.
Remaining Fixtures and Final Day Scenarios
The Premier League run-in is set. Every match matters. Here are the key remaining fixtures:
Matchweek 37 (remaining fixtures):
- Arsenal vs Brighton (Home)
- Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool
- Tottenham vs Leeds (Monday Night Football)
Manchester City (game in hand):
- Man City vs Bournemouth
Final Day (May 18, all 16:00 BST):
- Arsenal away to a relegation-battling side
- Man City at home against mid-table opposition
The most likely scenario remains that Arsenal win this weekend and wrap up the title before the final day. But if they drop points, the final day becomes a nerve-shredding afternoon where two matches 200 miles apart determine the destination of the trophy.
City's game in hand against Bournemouth is not the gimme it might appear. Bournemouth have been excellent this season under Andoni Iraola and have genuine aspirations of European qualification. They will not roll over at the Etihad.
Historical Parallels: Late Title Surges
City fans will draw comfort from history. Their first Premier League title in 2011-12 was won with two late goals in stoppage time on the final day against QPR. Their 2018-19 title was secured by one point after winning their final 14 league matches. City do late drama better than anyone.
The 2018-19 run is particularly relevant. That season, Liverpool reached 97 points and still finished second because City won every single match from January onward. The pressure was immense, and City absorbed it. They have been in this position before and they know how to handle it.
Arsenal have less experience on this side of the equation. Their Invincibles season in 2003-04 was wrapped up early. Their recent title challenges have ended in disappointment. This is new territory: leading the race in May and needing to close it out against a team that never stops coming.
The psychological battle is as important as the tactical one. Arteta needs his players focused on the next match, not the finish line. Guardiola needs his players to believe that Arsenal will crack. Both are playing a game within the game.
What to Watch: The Final Week
The next seven days will define the 2025-26 Premier League season. Here is what to look for:
1. Arsenal's body language this weekend. If they come out tense and cautious, the pressure is getting to them. If they play with freedom and attacking intent, they are ready to seal it.
2. Foden's form. If the Palace performance was not a one-off, City have their difference-maker back at exactly the right time. Watch for how Guardiola uses him in the remaining fixtures.
3. The relegation battle. Tottenham vs Leeds on Monday night is almost as important as the title race. Spurs sit 17th and need points desperately. A Leeds win could condemn Tottenham.
4. Rodri's return. The Spaniard has been out since December with a knee injury. Guardiola issued a fitness update this week and there are suggestions he could feature in the FA Cup final. If Rodri returns for the league run-in too, City become even stronger.
5. The clock. Every matchweek that passes with Arsenal still needing points is another opportunity for City to apply pressure. Time is running out. The tension is building. And the Premier League is delivering exactly the kind of finish that makes it the most watched league in the world.
Follow the Premier League title race live with real-time scores, AI match analysis, and minute-by-minute updates on iScore.ai. Never miss a moment.