It’s been a very good week for the Arsenal. A win at Tottenham and a draw at Europa League winners, Atalanta, in the Champions League, both achieved in the face of an injury and suspension crisis with two brilliant defensive displays. What a shame that with one of the biggest games of the season around 24 hours away, the focus of most Arsenal fans will now be split between football and legal matters. Sadly, that is the inevitable consequence of a game against Manchester City.
If the loss of a couple of players against Tottenham last week provoked an extra desire to beat the neighbours, it’s to be hoped that the light on the current hearing into Manchester City’s various misdeeds will do the same on Sunday against Abu Dhabi. It should do as our whole club is still smarting from the failure to lift the Premier League trophy four months ago. Arsenal, under the transformative guidance of Mikel Arteta, have done enough to be deserved champions against all other opposition for the last two seasons. All other opposition, that is, except the erstwhile also rans from Maine Road, Manchester.
Old Manchester City
Back in the late 1960s and 1970s, City were a proper club with players like Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee. They enjoyed success in the old First Division and both domestic cup competitions. It didn’t last, however, and their prolonged slide down the English football pyramid finally ended in 1998-99 when they won promotion from Division 2 (the third tier) back up to Division 1. Despite their decline their supporters in those days stayed loyal, and even in the third tier of English football they enjoyed gates of 20,000 – 30,000.
Modern Manchester City
The current incarnation is a confected club constructed with the proceeds of Abu Dhabi oil, and was acquired in September 2008 by the Abu Dhabi United Group, an investment company for the Abu Dhabi royal family, which is owned by Sheikh Mansour, who is also chairman of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
Somewhat similarly to the Spurs fans that GSD described last week, the City fans have nicked a goal celebration from Poland, been given a stadium by Manchester council to help them on their way, and found their club the recipients of untold wealth from the Sheikhs of Abbly Dabbly (thanks, as ever, BtM). Not content with their ability to outspend all who stood in their way, the Sheikhs allegedly (take note, lawyers) felt it necessary to clandestinely enhance their contributions to the club by sneaking a few extra quid under the counters of FFP and PSR to ensure that they won so much in the next dozen or so years that many of their supporters are now too bored to turn up and witness the next victory. That loss of interest might well eventually apply to the demoralised supporters of many other clubs if City’s behaviour is allowed to continue unpunished – and that could have fatal implications for the Premier League.
The Court Hearing
And so, from last Monday 16th September, we have finally come to the hearing of City’s many and varied charges of Premier League rule contraventions which is expected to take something like ten weeks. It transpires that due to ‘reporting errors’, City are actually facing not the widely reported 115 charges but, in fact, 130 charges. You can add to that 22 counts of late kick offs in both first and second halves of league matches over the last two seasons, for which they have already been fined £2 million. You can come to your own conclusions as to why they would want to repeatedly kick off late. My own, purely personal opinion, of course, is that it cannot have been anything at all to do with foreign betting markets. Of course it can’t!
Once the initial verdict of the current hearing is announced, C130y are bound to mount all kinds of appeals and try to drag the process on as long as they possibly can, but you cannot allow 130 charges of offences ranging from non-cooperation to fraud, to simply be swept under the carpet and ignored. The league would lose all credibility and with it a significant number of its supporters – that’s to say it’s paying customers around the globe.
Don’t believe it? Well I’m hearing on radio that Premier League clubs are looking at ticket price increases of up to 20%. How many fans, who are struggling to keep up with mortgage increases and cost of living inflation already, are going to cough up even more cash to take part in a competition that is going to continue to be won by a team that everyone knows has cheated their way to six of the last seven titles? And how many paying TV customers around the world will continue to pay to watch games in emptying stadia, increasingly devoid of atmosphere, abandoned by fans who can’t be bothered with a corrupt competition.
So Man C130y are lawyered up to the teeth, with a team led by legal eagle and life peer, Lord David Pannick, and there are those who believe they will weedle their way out of this crisis by courtesy of their huge wealth and their army of legal advisers. Well, there are a lot of very rich, smart operators who own Premier League clubs too, who will also be lawyered up to the teeth – angry at the losses they have suffered over many seasons and seeking appropriate retribution and compensation. The Premier League would surely not have gone public with the news of these charges if they were not very confident of making them stick. Their mistake was probably in bringing all 130 charges at once, allowing C130y’s lawyers to take an absolute age in preparing their defences.
My own feeling is that it may be possible to quibble over specific, individual amounts of money in various holes and hiding places in the accounts, but surely you can’t argue with the basic principle of “failing to co-operate with an investigation”, or “failing to provide the information” requested.
We will all now have to wait another age to learn anything about the hearing as in the interests of clarity and transparency – cough – it is being held in a secret location and will be closed to the public. All we will get is the eventual verdict which, considering the points deductions handed out last season to Everton and Nottingham Forest for their relatively minor offences, should see Manchester City relegated to the National League North. One good thing about this hearing compared with the UEFA investigation into their FFP contraventions, is that City will not have the option to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
This all reminds me of what happened to a friend of mine when he had to take recourse to the law. He initially asked his solicitor: “If I give you £400, will you answer two questions for me?” His solicitor replied, “Absolutely ! What’s the second question?” At the end of the hearing and with a guilty verdict, the solicitor said, “Judge, I wish to appeal my client’s case on the basis of newly discovered evidence.” Judge: “And what is the nature of the new evidence?” Solicitor: “I have discovered that my client still has £500 left.”
Manchester City Team News
Honestly, who cares? There are rumours that de Bruyne could miss the game with an injury sustained in midweek, but I’ll believe it when I see it. If any of their squad are unavailable, they will bring in £50m – £60m replacements and it will make no difference to them – or they will play a thug like Kovacic to maim a few more of our players with continuing impunity as their pet referee Michael Oliver will be in charge.
That’s the very same Michael Oliver who –
i) was paid £20,000 in 2023 to referee a game in UAE, funded by Man City’s owner Sheikh Mansour
ii) allowed Kovacic to escape a red card for two horrible challenges on Rice and Ødegaard when the teams met at the Emirates last season
iii) has awarded fewer yellow cards to Man City than any of the other top 8 clubs
iv) has awarded Man City 11 penalties in games he has refereed and
v) has never issued a red card against a Man City player.
Remember the scandal in Spain when Barcelona were found guilty of paying referees to fix marches? The Director of Football at Barcelona at the time was Txiki Begiristain who just happens to have been Director of Football at Manchester City since 2012. How is it possible for a referee to be on the payroll of the owner of one of the clubs in the league in which he officiates?
Arsenal team news
Martin Ødegaard remains sidelined. I don’t know where the rumours are coming from but the end of November is being suggested as his possible/likely return date, which would suggest a serious grade 2 tear to his affected ankle ligament(s). The club has quite rightly issued no detail on the injury so this has to be all conjecture at this stage. There don’t appear to be any new problems after the game against Atalanta, so Calafiori, Timber, Jesus, Sterling and Jorginho should all be available. Extra baggy shorts have been ordered for William Saliba as he will again be expecting to keep Erling Haaland in his back pocket.
There has been a lot of nonsense talked in the various media this week about how Arsenal lacked ambition and parked the bus at the Emptihad last season. It seems we didn’t make the game exciting enough for the poor loves because we shut City down. Well you bet we did – and I’ll be delighted if we manage to do exactly the same on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s job is to win games for the Arsenal, not to entertain the press – and especially when he is having to do it with a makeshift midfield that is also impacting the attack.
He told the press yesterday that the club has been preparing for this exceptional week of away games since pre-season. His original plans were then shot to bits by the clutch of injuries and suspension we suffered to all our new players, holding midfielder and captain. So he has had to try to adapt again, one week before that horror week began. Whatever he comes up with on Sunday will be the very best the club can do, for all the reasons we know nothing about. That will do me just fine. I’m actually finding it fun, while the present circumstances persist, to watch teams banging their heads against our impenetrable defensive wall. One-Nil to the Arsenal would be absolutely fantastic. Nil-Nil would also be a job extremely well done.
“You’ll fall in love, I know you will …. Our No.6 is the king of Brazil”
The Holic Pound
I decided that betting on this game, given some of the information above, really would be a mug’s game. Instead I’ll leave you with a topical tale that occurred in the Holics’ pub of choice –
A man walked into the pub and shouted for all to hear, “Lawyers are all ASSHOLES!” A man at the back of the bar stood up and shouted back at him “I take exception to that statement and I resent it greatly!” The first guy asked, “Are you a Lawyer?” The man at the back responded “No, I’m an asshole!”
Match time
Kick off is on Sunday 22nd September at 16.30 UK time. TV coverage on Sky Sports. Try to enjoy the game. Safe journey if you’re going.
And finally, words of wisdom from Winston Churchill – “Lawyers occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.”
Cheers !
Excellent, Trev. Bonus points. No deductions. You can never go wrong with a good Churchill quote — from the politician, not the insurance company, obviously. I would take 1-0 to the Arsenal in a heartbeat, although watching it being achieved might not be so good for my heart.
The hearing is at the not so-secret International Dispute Resolution Centre opposite St. Paul’s, probably using the Opus 2 suite.
Trev,
Your usual brilliant preview full of humour , facts and insight but understandably you exhibit a great deal of anger at C130y and all they represent . Frankly the case going on will be pivotal in the future direction of football.
I would take a point in a heartbeat and I think we may get one . I wonder if Calafiori or Timber coukd take Partey’s role . He is our weak link ( relatively speaking )
On a separate note I saw a challenge tonight by Martinez of United that was umpteen times more dangerous than Timber’s last week. I didn’t have the sound on but I wonder what furore develops given it was a United player
Thanks Trev, very enjoyable preview and I agree with you that MA will have a plan and go with it. I expect the same side as the one that started against the neighbours except for the return of Declan.
Top preview my friend. I rather wish all the other clubs (of course excluding their cheer leaders Saudi Arabia, Chavski and whichever Villa) had declined as a group to play against the Abby Dab-by Fraudsters. I would just lurrrrv a win but would be very happy with a draw given Øde’s absence.
COYG
Shining a bright light on C115whatsity’s dirty deeds I see Trev. Also getting to the crux of their evil ways while you’re at it. Commendable and should be held up as a journalistic model of sorts for the fearful of Fleet Street. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Super preview, Trev. Really hoping we can get a point today to cap off a great week, results wise. I can’t see the starting XI being different to Atalanta. I just hope we’ve recovered physically from the tremendously energetic game that was. At the same time, City had a tough game against Inter. They have the benefit if an additional days rest. Oh and a huge, quality squad paid for through breaking the rules over an extended period, wilfully and purposely.
This has been the toughest start to a season I can remember, with away trips to Billa, Sp*rs and C115y in the first 5 games. 7 points from those 9 would be a fantastic achievement given our injuries and ludicrous sending off depriving us of players.
Cheers Trev. I laughed a lot at your lawyers jokes. Good way to start a rainy day, hopefully more joy later. I’ll be happy with a drab draw this time, same as Thursday would do me fine.
A note to the usual Mik nonsense. He may have been preparing for Spurs and City away the same week, but he could not have known about the Atalanta away fixture in pre-season as the draw had not been made.
I love the cover illustration, btw. What an image!
Just win, Arsenal Despite the 12 men you have to beat.
Thanks Trev
I have consulted Mentalo and he forecasts a 1-0 win to the Arsenal, Martinelli the scorer (again).
UTA.
Cheers Trev….another brilliant preview, right on the money.
Hopefully the boys will not run out of steam following 2 very difficult away matches in such a short period. If our legs don’t give way then we are capable of getting something out of the game, subject of course to the whimsies of the PGMOL officials. Arteta’s use & timing of substitutes will play an important role.
COYRRR
115ers Team News. Honestly who cares? That’s the ship I sail in, Trev. Grand preview. Will be wonderful to win there again. I would like to see both Timber and Califiori on the field at the same time today.
Arsenal B effectively taking points from Arsenal’s rivals yesterday with ESR and Reiss both on the scoresheet and Iwobi taking an assist. Also very interesting is former Gunner Danny Welbeck’s astounding longevity at Brighton where he again today takes his place in the starting lineup against Forest.
Cheers Trev!
Up the Arse!
More on Danny v. Forest from the BBC:
“HT: Brighton 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Danny Welbeck’s goal was his 70th in the Premier League, but his very first from a direct free-kick. It was only the fourth time he had taken a shot from a free-kick.”
Teams are out. Ben on the bench.
Calafiori in for Benny Blanco
Raya,
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori
Partey, Rice, Havertz
Saka, Martinelli, Trossard
Bench: Neto, White, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Kacurri, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Sterling, Jesus.
Thanks, fellas ! Interesting defensive change. A bit surprised Partey still ahead of Jorginho. Fingers crossed.
Come on you Reedddssss !
I suspect Mikel believes Timber and Calafiori are better able to deal with two very tricky wingers than Benny . Expect Benny to start against Bolton with Kiwior
Wow! The team I was hoping for.
Ben White has not been 100% at the peak of his very high standards in the past couple of games and the magical triangle of him, Saka and MØ8 is already disrupted, so a break for him may not be a bad thing. As Pep is starting Doku, the battle between him and our right-back could be pivotal.
What a fucking actor.
Rodri is absolute scum.
This is how rattled they are. Haaland has to try to take out Saliba in the 4th minute.
So close!
What a rearguard for more than 45 mins against one of the most potent attacks in Europe.
More once my heartrate comes back down to normal.
Don’t worry about dropping two points . C115y are likely to lose 40 ! What a ghastly outfit they are
I thought we were exceptional in the circumstances
Absolutely gutted but Matt is right.
What Ollie said @27.
Outstanding effort. After 30 tough minutes we were in the ascendancy, took it to 2-1 and were odds-on to win it from there.
Very ‘poor’ refereeing changed that and left a bad taste in my mouth.
Excellent post-game comments by MA8
Before the game, I would have taken a draw at the Etihad, though, post-game, deeply disappointed it wasn’t all three, which would have been exceptional in the circumstances.
I would also remind all the boo-boys accusing our players of practising the dark arts in going down with cramps towards the end of the game that they were flying back from Italy in the black coffee hours of Friday morning when the City squad were happily resting up fast asleep in their beds. Lee Dixon mentioned that when he was playing, he always felt it in his legs in the last fifteen minutes of a game following a European away game.
Men’s and women’s teams got the same results and score lines against the same opponents !
Pep kindly mentioned our players behavior, which I thought was fair as in his own long and illustrious career Pep never ever ever did anything in any way dishonest. Also the fact that his salary is paid by a murderous dictator is entirely irrelevant in any discussion about morality.
And Pep has never ever told his players to rotationally foul our players to disrupt our rhythm or told his players to waste time…
The idea of Guardiola posing himself as some kind of moral arbiter is utterly repugnant.
I am so impressed by that rearguard action and very proud of our team. Michael ‘Two-tier Keir’ Oliver can f*ck off.
Baff knows. Top blogging from arseblog today too.
Well I did warn you. Oliver delivered again.
He’s the kind of employee I used to dream of.
I’ve just realised that our team’s performance yesterday made me forget that Ødegaard, our captain and metronome wasn’t there! Some performance that. Even with eleven men!
Go cry me a river, Bernardo Silva you snivelling little cheat. And your club’s media apologists (hired cheerleaders) can fuck off too.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>