In a development that could shake up the Premier League title race, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has suggested he may field a weakened side against Arsenal on the final day of the season. The Eagles suffered a 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, as a heavily rotated Manchester City squad closed the gap to just two points behind league leaders Arsenal.
The title race is now finely poised, with City needing a favor from either Burnley or Palace in Arsenal's remaining two fixtures to keep their hopes of an eighth Premier League crown alive. Guardiola's men have been relentless in recent weeks, securing victories over Brentford and Crystal Palace, but their focus is split as they prepare for an FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday. Arsenal, meanwhile, will host Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.
Guardiola has been vocal about the need to manage his squad's energy during the final stretch of the campaign, as City chase a domestic treble and cling to slim hopes of overtaking Arsenal for the title. Against Palace, he made six changes from the side that beat Brentford 3-0, leaving stars like Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, and Jeremy Doku on the bench. Cherki eventually came on to set up Savinho for a brilliant third goal, while Rodri remained sidelined with a calf injury sustained in April's 2-1 win over Arsenal.
Nico O'Reilly was a surprising omission from the matchday squad, but Abdukodir Khusanov returned to the lineup after missing the Brentford win, and Josko Gvardiol made his first start since recovering from a tibial fracture suffered in January. In his post-match press conference, Glasner was asked about City's decision to field a second-string starting XI, and his response hinted at a similar approach for the Eagles' final match.
"Manchester City have a huge final in three days, so maybe it is the legitimation to make changes," Glasner said. The comment has sent ripples through the title race, as Arsenal now face the prospect of meeting a Palace side that may not be at full strength. For City, it's a glimmer of hope; for Arsenal, a potential stumbling block. With everything to play for, the final day of the season promises to be a thriller.