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FC·May 12, 2026 12:14 PM ET

Guardiola Deflects on West Ham-Arsenal Episodes With 'Crystal Palace' Reply

Pep pivots away from title-rival controversy.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated May 121 min read
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🚨👀 Pep Guardiola when asked about West Ham-Arsenal episodes: “Crystal Palace”. @BeanymanSports 🎥 https://t.co/XYKzajUYJ

What happened: Asked about contentious episodes from West Ham's match against Arsenal, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola responded simply with "Crystal Palace," redirecting attention to City's own upcoming fixture. The exchange, captured by BeanymanSports and shared by Fabrizio Romano, came amid scrutiny of a late disallowed West Ham goal that has prompted the Hammers to seek further explanation from the referees' body.

Why it matters: The deflection lands in the middle of a tight Premier League title race, with City having cut the gap to Arsenal to two points. Refusing to comment on a rival's controversy keeps focus on City's own remaining schedule and avoids handing Arsenal any psychological ammunition with two matchweeks left.

What to watch: Watch City's response in their next fixture against Crystal Palace and any formal statement from the referees' body regarding the disallowed West Ham goal.

Sources

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