We made a statement - Guardiola sends warning to Arsenal after big win

An Erling Haaland brace allied to a marvellous Phil Foden strike helped see off the challenge of a dangerous Palace side.

The victory, City's fourth consecutive league win, narrowed the gap on league leaders Arsenal to just two points.

The result provided a satisfying conclusion to a demanding week that included a 3-0 home win against Sunderland and an impressive 2-1 Champions League triumph away at Real Madrid.

Speaking after the impressive win at Selhurst Park, the City manager acknowledged the difficulty of the match and praised his team's ruthlessness.

"It was difficult today, and ruthless is the word. It’s been a lot of work," Guardiola stated.

"They are so strong. Every time we play against them, it’s so difficult—their physicality, and they’re a transitional team, how good they defend."

He added, "A really difficult game, and we knew it would be after a tough game emotionally in Madrid. I'm really pleased with many things that are going to happen inside the locker room."

Despite the positive outcome, Guardiola believes his emerging side still has room for improvement.

"There are many things we have to improve, but in Madrid, they gave me a lot of signals that we are still not ready in terms of how we have to approach certain games," he explained.

"They are young, some players, but of course, we are really pleased because I know how tough they are, and to win 3-0 here is a good statement from us."

The victory serves as ideal preparation for a busy period, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League clash with West Ham at the Etihad next Saturday.