Manchester City Verdict Opens Old Wounds for Supporters
October 4, 2026 ·
The verdict regarding Manchester City raises questions about the standards that Arsenal and other teams must meet, given the long journey Arsenal have taken in their pursuit of the title.
Manchester City Verdict Opens Old Wounds for Supporters
According to Sports.
Background
Mikel Arteta, as Arsenal manager, has brought this team to a more competitive position in the Premier League. However, with the pressure of unsatisfactory results in previous seasons, the challenge of maintaining high standards will be a major focus for Arteta and his players.
Why this is important
The verdict on Manchester City brings back pain for Arsenal fans, who have fought hard to win the Premier League title. With the high standards set by Manchester City, Arsenal and other teams are now faced with ever-increasing expectations. This highlights the importance of consistency and performance on the pitch to achieve success in the Premier League.
Main Points
- Manchester City's Decision Opens Old Wounds for Supporters.
- The ruling regarding Manchester City raises questions about the standards that Arsenal and other teams must meet, given the long journey Arsenal have taken in their pursuit of the title.
- Manchester City verdict reopens old wounds for Arsenal supporters as Wenger is vindicated.
The latest verdict regarding Manchester City has reopened old wounds for Arsenal fans. From the pain of 2023 to the final day of the 2024 season, this raises uncomfortable questions about the standard expected from Arsenal and other teams. On May 19 2024, exactly two years after Mikel Arteta was appointed manager of Premier League-winning Arsenal, I traveled to north London on a sunny afternoon to meet my friend, James Craddock. The date may suggest that Arsenal had just finished a Premier League game at home to Everton, in which James was present, while I was not. A 1-0 win that day should have sparked huge celebrations, had the other results gone our way. However, with Phil Foden's goal scored in just 90 seconds, that hope disappeared.
I'm not sure anyone really believes West Ham will pick up points from Manchester City at the Etihad. Unfortunately, as long as the possibility exists, even if it is small, our minds cannot forget it. When I texted James that I was on my way from Crystal Palace, he replied, "My hero. Hope I've stopped crying behind my sunglasses haha." At the same time, I was involved in an emotional debate on WhatsApp with my uncle, Stephen, who saw no glory in finishing second. The 89 points we achieved, which was the second best result in Arsenal's 140 year history, was not enough. Although we recorded an incredible run from matchdays 21 to 38 with only five points dropped out of a possible 51, none of that mattered.
Now, I could see that Stephen was probably right. 89 points, while very impressive, means nothing as Manchester City, the Premier League champions, have 91 points. However, Stephen was wrong, as was I. I think, 68, 85, 89, we will definitely continue to improve. Stephen believes: "Next year it will be 90 points and City will have 92." As it turned out, we both suffered setbacks, Arsenal and City, while Liverpool calmly snatched the title from both of us. In Stephen's WhatsApp message to me, he touched on something that had been true for the previous decade: whatever level your club can reach, Manchester City, like Mondo Duplantis, can raise the bar a little higher.
As someone who grew up a football fan in the 1980s, I find it hard to sympathize with Liverpool FC. Why not? They achieve everything every season. However, when you look at a club that scores 97 points out of the 114 available each season, and that club finishes the season in second place, it's hard not to feel sorry. Jurgen Klopp may feel that his efforts in creating one of the best clubs in the Premier League are not getting the reward they deserve. Three seasons with points above 90 resulted in just one Premier League title. Considering Arsenal have only managed 90 points once in history, it's easy to sympathize with Liverpool's predicament.
The standards set by Manchester City are now increasingly unattainable, and we have confirmation that they are cheating. When the Premier League statement was released, I was shocked by the strength of the language used. The repeated use of the word "deceit", talk of dishonest witnesses, and various offenses committed, led to major accusations that City were inflating their revenues by £900 million. The process, which took place during a period in which Arsenal were battling to wrest the title from Manchester City, resulted in a truly shocking accusation against the club.
Thinking about the taunts I and perhaps you have endured over the years, starting from 2023 when Arsenal were on the verge of winning the Premier League, only to lose William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu throughout the season in the same match, saw Manchester City go on to a 12-game winning streak, which ensured them a third straight Premier League title, on their way to a treble. I hear many people say that we have failed. My friends in Leeds and London, including my best friend Lukey, who supports Everton, were all involved in the booing. I think he's right, but he's also the one wondering when the charges against City will come down and why Everton were given a points deduction for PSR breaches of £20m at the time.
With all the defenders that City has, such as John Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Aymeric Laporte, Manuel Akanji, and Kyle Walker, while Arsenal only rely on Rob Holding as a backup for William Saliba, I will not blame Rob Holding for Arsenal's failure. However, if we had one of the City players I mentioned above, perhaps we wouldn't be in that situation. Without inflation in their earnings, would City have these players? I think the answer is clear.
A sunny day in May, at the Clock End, Jo, James and I sang for Granit Xhaka in his final appearance for the club. We are all united in spirit. I will remember that moment for the rest of my life. However, it could have been sweeter. A year later, we returned to slightly different circumstances, with me arriving at Holloway Road packed with Gooners fans. The atmosphere was full of pride, although there was sadness because once again we failed to win the title. The 49 points we took from the second half of the season is not enough when compared to the 51 points achieved by Manchester City. All of this is happening with the knowledge that City are being investigated for financial irregularities, but that doesn't make it any easier to accept. I realize that I am describing a football matter that may seem trivial, but the sadness felt on those two days, one year apart, cannot be completely erased.
In this process, my relationship with Stephen was disturbed, but we were finally able to reconcile our respective positions. Arsenal's win over Manchester City, albeit with an unfair advantage, certainly helped in this regard. I'm very happy we managed to do it while Pep Guardiola was still at City. Even happier to know that Bernardo Silva is still there, along with Rodri. It's hard to look at Bernardo Silva's challenge on Martin Odegaard last week without thinking about how Silva and his City team-mates have been free from foul play over the years, especially under referee Michael Oliver. Arsene Wenger, who David Dein once revealed had to operate with “one hand tied behind his back”, ended up having to scream into the void about “financial doping”, a visionary who turned into a joke. He deserved better than that.
What happened next
In the future, Arsenal needs to evaluate their strategy and performance to compete with top teams such as Manchester City and Liverpool. With the season still long, every match will have a significant impact on their position in the Premier League standings. Arsenal supporters hope that their team can learn from this bitter experience and improve their performance in future matches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the result of Arsenal's match against Everton on 19 May 2024?
Arsenal won 1-0 against Everton.
Who scored the goal for Manchester City in the match against West Ham?
Phil Foden scores a goal for Manchester City.
What is Arsenal's position in the Premier League table after the match against Everton?
Arsenal is in second place with 89 points, which is the second best achievement in the club's history.
What happens to Arsenal's hopes after another Premier League result?
Arsenal's hopes were dashed after other results were not in their favor.
Which Arsenal manager will lead the team to win the Premier League in 2023?
Mikel Arteta is the Arsenal manager who led the team to win the Premier League in 2023.
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