Reaction to Arsenal’s win over West Ham and the VAR controversy that followed, and the Gunners won’t be popular champions if they end their title drought
Mikel Arteta within the title range (Image: John Walton/PA Wire)
In any other season, a different name on the Premier League trophy would be cause for celebration. However, judging by the impact of their win against West Ham, it feels like Arsenal are not the most popular champions.
And it feels like a real shame, because the players who finished 38 games at the top absolutely deserved it. No one disputes that the team didn’t earn it.
Manchester City have completely dominated the title during Josep Guardiola’s reign and are aiming to win their seventh title in nine years. That was remarkable.
Liverpool won the trophy, everyone loved Jurgen Klopp and there was a huge celebration for Arne Slott winning the trophy in his first season.
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This was classified as a breath of fresh air because no one wants the Premier League to be a one-on-one battle, even though City are so good and Guardiola is such a genius.
Look at what’s happening in Scotland. It’s an incredible story as Hearts have the chance to break the Old Firm’s grip.
Arsenal are by no means underdogs. It was a huge club and 22 years was the longest since the post-war period since winning the title.
But it’s very difficult to understand how we got to this point. Is it Arteta’s behavior on the touchline? His attitude and temperament make him difficult to like at times.
Arsenal’s tactics. At the beginning of the season, they played great football. They really did. But in some ways they are set-piece FCs and pretty dull.
The fan base, at least on social media, is loud, vocal, and extremely annoying. But come on, we’ll all do it. A rather staged City fan holding an Arsenal bottle happened to be caught on TV cameras, only to be interviewed the next day. Call me cynical…
However, the fans attending the actual match are different. Passionate, supportive, and no, I’m not nervous every week. That’s really a false narrative.
Mikel Arteta celebrates (Image: John Walton/PA Wire)
But it all makes fun of Arsenal’s recent misery, which has seen them finish in second place three times in a row and is becoming a national sport.
The game would have been a lot more entertaining had West Ham’s goal not been canceled out, and perhaps that’s why it felt like social media and some pundits were desperate for this goal to be conceded rather than VAR intervention.
Is this just paranoia? No, when former European champions Aston Villa reached the Europa League final, the BBC headline read: Lively and victorious – Villa are poised to end their 30-year trophy drought.
Celebratory police were called out after Arsenal reached the Champions League, BBC headline… Was Arsenal’s ecstasy justified or was it ‘a bit too much’?
I’m usually a media advocate, but I dismiss the media as nonsense. But even I struggle with this.
If Arsenal win the title, they will be worthy champions and deserve praise, not detractors. And yes, they should be able to celebrate.
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