For the second successive season, Manchester City held off the challenge of Arsenal to win the Premier League.
It’s now four league titles in a row for City, an unprecedented feat, and six of the latest seven. Pep Guardiola’s side are being lauded by some as the greatest team in English football history. But not by all.
The looming hearing over 115 alleged breaches of financial rules – charges they strongly deny – has others dismissing City’s achievements as invalid.
Standard Sport asked two prominent Arsenal and City fans to have their say.
I can’t recognise their titles
Phil Wall, Arsenal Supporters' Trust board member
Two title races, no titles. Does that make Mikel Arteta a failure? Of course not — he’s up against a club with unlimited wealth. Pep Guardiola gets annoyed if you mention the cash and distract from his undoubted genius, but he protests too much.
Four consecutive titles is unprecedented in English football, surpassing even Herbert Chapman’s record at Huddersfield — Huddersfield! — and then Arsenal, who won three in a row, in a time when the muddy playing field was far more level. So, Pep, I salute you. You’re an era-defining coach. But I can’t recognise City’s titles.
Maybe they will get their comeuppance, or maybe their lawyers will get them off. Even if found guilty, will that give the titles to Arsenal? Probably not, because how far back can history be rewritten? What’s done is (probably) done. We will go again next season.
Blame game’s an excuse
Kevin Parker, Man City official supporters’ club general secretary
Well, that didn’t take long did it? Arsenal’s supporters looking for excuses again for not winning the Premier League.
Does what happens off the pitch impact what happens on it? If they think yes, then maybe they need to consider that their coach, Mikel Arteta, was at City during the period the charges apply to. If no, then great, just look forward to next season.
As for the impact on the City fans — have a wild guess. City have vehemently denied all charges and look forward to proving their innocence. Please don’t bring Everton and Nottingham Forest info this, as they accepted guilt, whereas City haven’t.
Four in a row. Best Premier League team ever.
