Arsenal fans slam Pep Guardiola for ‘desperate tactic’ he used minutes after Crystal Palace victory

The Citizens secured a 3-0 victory over Oliver Glasner's side

Manchester City piled further pressure on league leaders Arsenal on Wednesday, with a 3-0 result over Oliver Glasner's side, narrowing the gap at the top to just two points.

The Citizens have responded perfectly since dropping points away to Everton a fortnight ago, securing impressive three goal victories over both Brentford and the Eagles, such that Pep Guardiola's side now lead the Gunners on goal difference.

The clash with Crystal Palace has been of heightened interest to supporters, because they are the only side that both title-chasing teams still had to face before the end of the season.

In this way, the 2025 FA Cup champions have the potential to be kingmakers in the title race.

After Manchester City managed to overcome the south London outfit, Guardiola was spotted making use of an new tactic, in his last meeting with the Eagles' squad before they face Arsenal.

Considering Arsenal's only other game is against already-relegated Burnley, the most realistic chance of a title race slip-up, that would benefit Guardiola, rests with Crystal Palace.

Win €/£1,000 in our FREE Win-Lose-Draw Predictor

In the age of stats geeks, AI-generated Fantasy teams and nth-degree analysis, we've stripped football knowledge down to its most instinctual form: Win, Lose or Draw.

In JOE's new Premier League Win-Lose-Draw Predictor, you can prove your footballing nous up against your mates, while also being in with a chance of winning €1,000/£1,000 each week.

And if no users predict all results correctly, EVERY player who submitted an entry will be placed into a random prize draw for the €1,000/£1,000.

Two players came within an inch of winning the jackpot last week with 9/10 right - play below for this weekend's fixtures! It takes just a few minutes to enter...

Pep Guardiola went around and spoke with several of the Crystal Palace players, with suggestions he was rallying them with a "Pep talk" for when they play Arsenal.

It is for this action that a number of Gunners' supporters have described the iconic manager as "desperate. "

One fan, writing on X, simply said: "He’s desperate," while another added: "if Arteta did this the world would explode."

What did Pep Guardiola say to Crystal Palace players?

Speaking to Sky Sports after full-time, pundit Jamie Redknapp offered a suggestion as to what might have been said.

Redknapp claimed: "He was certainly giving them a teamtalk-and-a half.

"He was like, 'Jefferson [Lerma] you get close to Rice,' and 'you Adam, you've been brilliant this season!"

Arsenal face a visit to Selhurst Park in Sunday 24th May, the final day of the season.