Regardless of how the final 3 games of the season go, I am incredibly proud of what Mikel Arteta and the boys have done this season.
This has been the toughest the Premier League has ever been with quality from top to bottom. There are no easy games and very few opportunities to rest and rotate. Despite the slog of the season, we go into the final 3 games top of the league and on the Champions League final.
And all this whilst the media agenda has tried to paint us as Public Enemy number 1. Our crime? Daring to compete.
This narrative has led us to be every teams cup final. They do not aim to win the game when they play us. They aim to not lose a players hope to become legends by being the side that derailed us.
For fans of these clubs, it is easier for them to want Man City to win as they can then point to the 115 charges as the reason their side did not too the table. Us winning the league makes fans of Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham very uncomfortable as it shines a light on their clubs issues.
What sums up this season is the response to West Ham’s disallowed goal.
It was a foul all day long on David Raya. There should be no debate about it. Except there is now a debate because it is The Arsenal.
Had Arsenal scored a last minute winner whilst fouling the keeper, those in uproar now that the goal was disallowed would (rightly) be in uproar that the goal had been given.
It is laughable that pundits go with the narrative of “Arsenal have been doing that all season” without being able to show a single goal scored by us where an arm was across the chest of the keeper, hand pulling the arm down, and a second player pulling the shirt. It is much easier for them to just say “but Arsenal” without ever having to provide evidence.
Danny Murphy and Wayne Rooney have been SPO on with their analysis, pointing out that the only issue fans have is that it is a decision that correctly went for The Arsenal. That decision goes for any other club and everyone would be saying it was correct.
We now have 3 games in 21 days. That gives us time to rest and prepare for each game. We are in the perfect position. Everyone else is just jealous. We are The Arsenal.
Keenos