Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shared his thoughts after Manchester City defeated Crystal Palace 3-0 to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table. The result reduced Arsenal’s lead from five points to two, intensifying the title race with only two matches remaining in the 2025/26 season.
City’s Dominant Performance
English attacker Phil Foden assisted Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush to give City a 2-0 halftime lead. Rayan Cherki then set up Savinho for the third goal, sealing a comprehensive victory for Pep Guardiola’s side.
City’s win puts pressure on Arsenal, who can restore their five-point advantage when they face Burnley on Monday, May 18, 2026. Meanwhile, Manchester City will be in FA Cup final action against Chelsea over the weekend.
The Citizens will then travel to the Vitality Stadium to face AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday, May 19, hoping to either close the gap further or overtake Arsenal. If Arsenal lose or draw against Burnley, City could go level on points with a win over Bournemouth, setting up a dramatic final day.
Arteta’s Reaction
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Burnley clash, Arteta was asked about City’s victory but kept his focus on his own team. “Nothing; we focus just on the things that are in our hands, which is preparing the best possible way to beat Burnley, that’s it,” he said, as quoted by Arsenal.com.
The Spanish manager revealed he did not watch the match as he was attending a sponsored dinner with one of the team’s sponsors. He reiterated that his players remain fully focused on the task ahead.
“The team is really present, it’s just living the moment, it’s emotionally in a really good state, I think, it’s the right one. Everybody is so enthusiastic and so positive about the way that we can finish the season,” he added.
Title Race Tiebreakers
With the possibility of Arsenal and City finishing level on points, tiebreakers become crucial. According to the Premier League, the first two tiebreakers are goal difference and goals scored. City currently lead in both categories, with a goal difference of 43 compared to Arsenal’s 42, and 75 goals scored against Arsenal’s 68.
Arteta was asked twice about the tiebreakers during his press conference. He confirmed that winning games is the priority, but they are also working on improving their goal tally. “I think it’s part of the narrative. There are various options, and this could be one of those,” he said. “It’s a factor that is important from the start of the season. We know that the difference is so small, and if you can make the difference bigger in your favour, obviously, we want to do it.”
Supercomputer Prediction
Legit.ng previously reported that Opta’s supercomputer predicted the Premier League winner after Manchester City’s victory over Crystal Palace. The Gunners remain in control with approximately 85% chance of winning the title heading into the final two matches. Arsenal will win the league if they avoid slipping up in their remaining games.
