Man City 3, Crystal Palace 0: Backup Heroes Fuel Title Chase Against Arsenal as Pep Prepares for Chelsea in FA Cup Final

THEY still believe, the City fans. They are not giving up, at least not yet.

Three goals, from Antoine Semenyo, Omar Marmoush and Savinho, three more points, a couple behind with as many to play.

Pep Guardiola saw Man City keep the heat on Arsenal while resting for an FA Cup final Credit: Getty Antoine Semenyo led the way as City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 Credit: Getty

While Arsenal remain massive favourites, Pep Guardiola and his men have taken it into the last week of the season, there to pounce if the Gunners’ nerve fails with the finishing line in sight.

All on a night in which Phil Foden proved rumours of his decline and fall have been much exaggerated, even if it might prove too late to arm-wrestle Thomas Tuchel into handing him a World Cup chance.

And despite Guardiola’s selection gamble, which saw him omitting not just Erling Haaland, with Semenyo replacing him as the unlikely central striker, but Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku too.

Pep admitted THAT disallowed West Ham goal against Arsenal had been a factor but also signalled the importance of Saturday’s FA Cup Final.

Had it backfired, then, for all his genius, Pep’s latest decision would have been a spectacular blunder.

Instead, after a piece of pure magic from Foden sent Semenyo in 13 minutes before the break, City did enough to move ahead of Arsenal both on goal difference and goals scored even if they trail on the most important criteria.

Foden, who has had a season to forget, was the stand-out performer, once he found his feet.

He created Marmoush’s second, too, a run and touch that was turned home by the Egyptian, enough to keep the race alive for a little bit longer.

The likes of Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki were named on the bench for the clash Credit: Alamy

More of that a few months ago and things would have been different for Foden – and perhaps City.

Yet this was about the here and now.

It was Palace, of course, who ensured Guardiola’s team went trophyless 12 months ago, their FA Cup triumph the greatest moment for any Eagles since Don Henley was in his pomp.

Last night, though, Oliver Glasner’s decision to play without both Ismaila Sarr and Adam Wharton until the game was effectively gone made City’s task easier, even taking Guardiola’s selection into account.

Semenyo scored the opener following a sublime backheel from Phil Foden Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Foden took the entire Palace defence out with one pass Credit: Sky Sports

Not without an early scare as Josko Gvardiol, back after a four month absence with a broken leg, was exposed defensively inside two minutes.

Brennan Johnson galloped into the space behind the Croat, crossing for Jean-Philippe Mateta to turn over the line – despite Gianluigi Donnarumma clawing the ball away – only for the flag to belatedly go up against the Welshman.

The ex-Spurs man was a yard too early with his run but City looked ill at ease and sluggish, having two more let-offs as Johnson’s stretching shot was deflected wide before Chris Richards nodded narrowly over.

With Foden initially struggling to get into the game, it took almost 20 minutes for them to threaten Dean Henderson’s goal, Rayan Ait-Nouri firing into the side netting after receiving a return ball from Marc Guehi.

Omar Marmoush was back among the goals on a rare start Credit: AP

Yet that was it as far as the first half hour was concerned, the atmosphere beyond muted.

Guardiola prowled, cutting a frustrated figure at a series of hurried, forced and misplaced passes as the rain poured down.

And then it all changed, as Foden received from Matheus Nunes and played a truly delightful no-look back heel to send Semenyo in to find the far corner.

It was a moment of pure quality, sensational in both vision and execution, a reminder that Foden has something special inside him still.

Savinho put the cherry on the cake for City Credit: Shutterstock Editorial It was far from ideal prep for Oliver Glasner’s side Credit: Getty

Relief and a transformed mood, although Palace continued to look dangerous when they broke from their defensive shape.

But five minutes from the interval they had breathing space – and Foden his second assist.

Gvardiol spotted Foden’s run with a sand-wedge clip, the midfielder helped the ball on and Marmoush had time to turn and strike, a deflection off Tyrick Mitchell defeating Henderson’s trailing leg.

Cue smiles from Haaland and Co on the bench and only a brilliant Henderson save to deny Gvardiol’s header – after he was picked out by another Foden delivery – kept Palace within two at the break.

Suddenly the rain didn’t matter any more, Palace seemingly less than willing to risk an injury that might rule them out of the clash with Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig in a fortnight.

Sending on Doku for the last half-hour was Guardiola looking for more goals, although the arrival of Sarr, Wharton and Jorgen Strand Larsen gave Glasner’s side legs and endeavour on the press.

City, though, played as though they felt they had done enough, Guardiola’s body language suggesting he was not entirely satisfied with their sloppiness.

But when Cherki, who had just come on, slid Savinho in to prod home – the Brazilian’s celebrations showed how much his FIRST Prem goal of the season meant – the previous 39 minutes of drudgery were forgotten.

Wembley will give City the chance for a second trophy. And the third, while unlikely, is still possible.

All it will take is one Arsenal wobble.