Before Bolton. "Dark Arts" propaganda is spreading in every corner
It's been two days since the draw on Etihad, but my nerves still haven't calmed down, because of what is happening around the game. All the interviews from City players convinced me that it's a club-level decision (and Pep is supporting it) to discredit A
It's been two days since the draw on Etihad, but my nerves still haven't calmed down, because of what is happening around the game. All the interviews from City players convinced me that it's a club-level decision (and Pep is supporting it) to discredit Arsenal in front of football society and put pressure on referees for future Arsenal games to give more bookings. This is being told to players who need this as an explanation for their inability to open up Arsenal's defence and they transmit it to the media. Guardiola himself said something along those lines in a flash interview, but then composed himself on a press-conference and switched to compliments.
Today we've learned that apparently there's already a number of clubs complaining to PGMOL about the dark clubs. I am pretty sure that source of the article is having a strong Man City smell. This narrative is being happily taken by the "pundits" and fans of opposing clubs and blown into hate of Arsenal. Initially it seems strange that there would be many Arsenal haters, since we didn't have a domination spell where we have been taking away (using "dark arts") major titles from the other teams. This is the usual setup to collect haters - Fergie's Man Utd, Mourinho's Chelsea and so on. But Arsenal hate is already at full volume. While one of the reason is the lightning speed of spreading the emotions through social media that builds up the hate wave, the major reason I believe is different.
The opposition fans are crying hating us because our transformation is what they all could have done. When it was Abramovic or UAE people throwing money into Chelsea and City respectively to kick start their path to title, it was an easy explanation to swallow. But they both (including Liverpool) took the hottest coach on the market to do this process. We gambled on an inexperienced and transformed: step by step, player by player, principle by principle. And the hate is coming from the fact their club didn't do this.
Some City players have channeled their petty opinions after the game. Haaland is a typical street bully, behaving like a baby throwing tantrum, as a consequence of the team's impotence in second half. But it was no surprise to me. What did surprise me is Bernardo producing a pathetic cry about our tactics. Zinchenko called him one of the kindest people he knew, but apparently not smart and mature. Complaining that we didn't go full attack to allow them use their strengths - is laughable. You should search in your changing room the way to open up the deep block, not complain that it exists.
What "dark arts" are we talking about?
I also completely disagree with the "Dark Arts" narrative. "Dark Arts" is when Diego Costa kicks Gabriel so that the referee doesn't see, provoking a reaction and a red card. "Dark Arts" is when a Stoke defender makes a sliding tackle in order to make an injury to the opponent's best player. What Arsenal was doing is defensive art, it's not dark. The only "dark" flavour is when Raya called for a medical help so that Arteta could give the instructions to the team. And even that is nothing that we didn't see before from many winning teams.
There are rumours that Rodri is going to be out for months with a knee injury. While I don't wish to someone to be injured, I am happy that City is going to be without him for an extended period of time, whether it's because of injury, betting on football games, or biting someone's ear off. City with and without him are two different teams. He's their invincibility talisman, their invisible ray of confidence. Some people argue that they want to have the strongest City. History won't remember that Rodri was missing for most of the season. History didn't remember that we lost Saliba and Tomiyasu and played Holding for the decisive part of 22/23 campaign. History mostly remembers who won the title.
To summarise the feeling after the game, as it was greatly notice by Arseblog: on Sunday the dynamics has shifted. We are not being patted on the back anymore, we are not being praised for our development. We are showing teeth on their ground, they feel it, these games get under their skin and they will go to fight us using all available means, including media.
League cup squad
Tomorrow we have a League Cup game against Bolton. I would expect the outfield team to contain 5 senior players and 5 youngsters to strike balance between development and stability. Arteta said today that one or more players are injured and going to be out, but since I don't know their names my senior five is: Jesus, Sterling, Jorginho, Kiwior and one of main central defs, probably Saliba. Nwaneri and MLS should also get their starts and the rest of positions can be given to youngsters we see potential in. We should aim the PL title this season and it definitely doesn't worth risking the injuries of main players for a League Cup. Even winning a League Cup would not be an achievement matching maturity, skill, versatility and passion of this team. But we would benefit from a couple more youngsters names who can strengthen our squad during the season.