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Sure, they certainly deserve a place ahead of City. But a fella can dream of a league with neither of them.

And, I’d add, WTF is it with those supporters talking about a ‘red Mafia’? I absolutely respect those supporters like Simon Hattenstone who’ve said, yeah, bang to rights etc. The others? Abhorrent dimwits who think Liam Gallagher is a latter day Oscar Wilde.

Another superb blog post today Andrew and one that entirely sums up my own feelings. I feel a grim apathy that sadly infects my interest even in Arsenal. If this isn’t a sporting contest, if it’s become like a Harlem Globetrotters show, why should I remain invested? What’s the fucking point?

And even now, after they’ve been found guilty on an unprecedented scale, people can’t mention that a lot of the positive PR & spin around the verdict has been bought. And why that’s? Because the City owners are so aggressively litigious. Like you say, what’s the point?

Not in a ‘who cares about the rules or having any integrity’ way. But, as you say, in a ‘we don’t care about the games you play or the narratives you spin any more’ way. Time to stop watching games with these cheating shitbags involved. And then try as we might to enjoy the thing they’ve ruined.

Brilliant blog. I didn’t think this would impact me as much as it is. We love the game and have for all our lives. Yet it’s changed and it’s difficult to be as invested now which hurts.

City could have a very easy life on the pitch this season as other teams will stop caring as much as the fans. I didn't realise until kick off how little I cared for the game.

The rich and the powerful (often the same) control all the levers in life. Speaking out against their operations - and the concomitant crooked, entitled, unlawful, and deceitful acts, leads to penalties - removal of a livelihood, prosecution, incarceration even. They turn the world upside down.

Nice picture of the league table showing Arsenal in 1st place.

The country will turn further against them the more they are winning imo. ATM lots of fans are happy with any ‘disruptor’ of the supposed ‘red cartel’. Having read the decision, I wouldn’t see this appeal as anything rather than a delay and to try and keep the narrative in their favour (it isn’t)

It’s literally the whole squad at this point. Been built on two decades of fraudulent spending and prize money they’d never have had.

Banana Boys 🍌

Good to hear!

The way I look at it, we have 18 other teams to be better than still, I hope their punishment absolutely ruins them, the league simply has to expel them, nobody needs them. Irrelevant. And yesterday they go lucky with the red card, they'll get theirs at away grounds, no doubt.

Also can you imagine the premier league looking at this. They must be absolutely livid. Their baby is being bullied. The sanctions will destroy city. Everything will be taken from them and they will rot.

Spot on. It’s incredibly frustrating and sickening and all the other things. Glad I skipped the match and the punditry. That so many seem to be continuing to hold City’s dirty laundry and call it clean is also disgusting.

100%! All the smirking and dancing made them even more unbearable. Get them sanctioned now. It's unreal how even though they are GUILTY it's being caveated. I just watched the Merson clip from Sat, the whole 'think about the players' is utter hogwash

There, corrected it.

Sums everything up. I was looking forward to the game but had to turn off, it’s pointless. I will try to enjoy the Arsenal games because it’s what I’m in it for but from a competition point of view I can’t invest in it.

Great blog, felt exactly the same after watching the game on Sky. Watched all the post match this morning and I think they referenced the guilty verdict a lot more and how much it’s damaging the league.

The country will turn further against them the more they are winning imo. ATM lots of fans are happy with any ‘disruptor’ of the supposed ‘red cartel’. Having read the decision, I wouldn’t see this appeal as anything rather than a delay and to try and keep the narrative in their favour (it isn’t)

Do you think that the siege mentality will last the full season? I’m hoping (leaving out points deductions whenever they’re levied) that they’ll get to March and it will catch up on them, like Liverpool w/ Klopp announcement in 23/24. They weren’t exactly amazing yesterday before the red card

The season matters it's their impact on it that will not matter and I don't think awarding every team 6 points is credible either

I’m just happy we won it last season. Imagine if we didn’t and we’d win this season after city got thrown out

It’s an enormous credibility problem for the league. Who’s paying broadcast rights to the tune of £ billions when none of it is real?

I think it was somewhat visible in the celebrations after yesterday's game. Maresca's and the staff's vamoses were a bit over the top

Well written as always Andrew. I would feel sympathy for the fans if this were any other club. But they consistently act like a bunch of wankers who love to be the heels. I hope they enjoy their non league football.

👊

When you throw in the ludicrousness of VAR and one or two other bits you do start to think ‘what the fuck am I doing bothering with this shit show of a sport?’ Don’t even like the style of play (thanks to that 🇪🇸 baldy weird cheating brazen spit muncher) Depressing / burn it down

Feel bad for Miguel. He has the decency to reply to every subtweet and always argues his point with fuckwits who didn’t even bother to read his article.

Here's my concern: Nothing will change. Football fans are fickle, and the noise around City will diminish. We've all known they've been cheating for years, but everyone just accepted it and carried on watching / supporting as usual.

And i think everyone DOES care that they are winning and keep winning…its bloody annoying even if it doesn’t mean anything as they are getting so much joy out of it and are actually revelling in it.So I DO CARE if they keep winning!

But there ARE clear errors, City have said as much! They wouldn't lie about it would they???

I switched off after the second goal. The thought did occur to me that perhaps the league should be suspended until the appeal is heard because this season feels completely pointless. If you found out a ref had taken a bribe half way through a match, would you let him continue?