Manchester City tightened their grip on the Premier League title race with a commanding 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace, cutting Arsenal's lead at the top to just two points. But the big talking point after the match was the surprise absence of Nico Gonzalez from the matchday squad—and Pep Guardiola has now shed light on the decision.

Goals from Antoine Semenyo, Omar Marmoush, and Savinho powered City to a dominant win at the Etihad, keeping the pressure firmly on league leaders Arsenal. With only two games remaining for Mikel Arteta's side—against Burnley and Crystal Palace—City will be hoping for a slip-up to snatch the title.

Guardiola made six changes to his starting XI from last week's 3-0 win over Brentford, clearly with one eye on Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley. Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, and Jeremy Doku all started on the bench, while Rodri remained sidelined with a calf injury picked up in the closing stages of April's crucial 2-1 win over Arsenal.

But it was the absence of Nico Gonzalez that raised eyebrows. The midfielder was not even named among the substitutes, and Guardiola was quick to address the situation in his post-match press conference. "Nico is not injured," Guardiola explained. "It was a tactical decision. We had to manage the squad carefully with the FA Cup final coming up, and we felt other players were better suited for this game."

Another surprise omission was Nico O'Reilly, who also missed out on the matchday squad entirely. In their place, Abdukodir Khusanov returned to the lineup after missing the Brentford win, while Josko Gvardiol made his first start since recovering from a tibial fracture suffered in January—a welcome boost for City's defensive options.

Cherki, introduced from the bench, made an immediate impact by setting up Savinho for a stunning third goal, showcasing the depth Guardiola has at his disposal as City chase a domestic treble. The Blues already have the Carabao Cup in the bag after beating Arsenal in March, and now they're just two wins away from adding the FA Cup and potentially the Premier League crown.

With the title race going down to the wire and a Wembley showdown looming, Guardiola's squad rotation is proving crucial. For now, City fans can only watch and wait—hoping Arsenal stumble while their own team keeps winning.