Phil Foden produced a man of the match performance on Saturday as Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium to keep their Premier League title hopes very much alive, cutting Arsenal’s lead at the top to just two points with two games remaining.
The result was crucial. Had City dropped points, Arsenal could have wrapped up their first league title in 22 years with a win over Burnley on Monday. Instead, the title race goes on.
Manager Pep Guardiola made six changes from the side that beat Brentford 3-0, leaving Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki on the bench with the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday also in mind. 
“The manager is here to take the risk,” Guardiola told Sky Sports before kick-off.
The gamble paid off. Foden, making his first Premier League start in two months, opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a sensational no-look backheel into the path of Antoine Semenyo, who netted his 16th top-flight goal of the season.
“Sometimes it doesn’t come off, but sometimes a risk is worth trying and I’m very delighted it came off and we scored from it,” Foden told Sky Sports.
That assist was the 100th goal involvement of his Premier League career. His 101st came just eight minutes later when he pulled down a cross from fit-again Josko Gvardiol, back in the starting lineup for the first time since January, for Omar Marmoush to finish.
It was the first time Foden had provided two assists in a City game since December 2023, and the first time he had ever assisted two goals in the first half of a Premier League match. The 25-year-old also created five chances in the opening 45 minutes, a figure no player has bettered in a first half this season.
“I have had to wait and be patient, train as hard as I can, and when you get your moment, you have to make the most of it,” Foden said.
“It is a team game. If you want to win titles and trophies, it is all about a full squad and everyone has to play their part.”
“I was buzzing to contribute to a goal and help the lads get three points. We have to keep pushing and keep them [Arsenal] on their toes. We have seen that a lot of things can happen on the final day. I have experienced it many times.”
Substitute Cherki then set up Savinho for his first Premier League goal since December 2024 in the 84th minute to complete the rout, giving City a goal difference of plus 43 compared to Arsenal’s plus 42, a margin that could yet prove decisive.
“I am really pleased,” Guardiola said after the game. “We just try to be alive until the next game. Unfortunately, it is not in our hands. It is not easy, but it is important that we are there. This group of players are extraordinary.”
City next face Bournemouth on Tuesday, a side unbeaten in 16 league games and chasing Champions League qualification, before hosting Aston Villa on the final day. Arsenal, meanwhile, host Burnley before a trip to Palace in their remaining two fixtures.
