Many Arsenal fans have now taken issue with how Manchester City are treated by sections of the media.
Having battled for the title in each of the last two seasons, Arsenal and Manchester City are expected to go toe-to-toe for the Premier League crown once again this time around.
Mikel Arteta’s side sustained a blow on Saturday, though, as they suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Bournemouth.
Not only did the Gunners lose that match, but William Saliba will now miss facing Liverpool next time out having been sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity against the Cherries.
Discipline has been a problem for Arsenal this season, as they have now had three players shown red cards in the Premier League already.
On Sunday, Manchester City made the North London club’s weekend even worse by snatching a last-gasp winner against Wolves.
Former referee gives verdict on Manchester City goal
There was a great deal of controversy surrounding Manchester City’s winner, which was initially ruled out on the pitch but then allowed to stand following a VAR review.
John Stones headed home a corner, and when he connected with the ball Bernardo Silva was in an offside position, having just been seeking to unsettle Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.
However, it was decided that by the time Stones connected with the cross, Silva was no longer putting off Sa or obstructing his view.
Ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, said: “It’s really clever. It’s so, so clever… It’s so smart, but now what you’ve got to do is you’ve got to get another player in front of your goalkeeper to shift that player out of the way and stop them having that impact.”
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher then added an explainer as to why Silva wasn’t deemed offside when the corner delivery was initially played in: “The key issue there… is the fact that it’s a corner, so he has an amnesty from offside. That’s the key issue. He can literally go up and down and do whatever he wants.”
Arsenal fans hit back at former referee
Many Arsenal fans on X were infuriated by Warnock and Gallagher’s comments, convinced that the Gunners have been given far harsher reprimands for the same, and similar, issues in the past.
One said: “Arsenal taught the league how to to distract the GK in corners last season, they saw that, made a rule to disallow it and now this season they’ve allowed City to do the same, and Sky Sports say it’s CLEVER from City LMFAO.”
Another stated: “But why is it CLEVER when Man city does it and CHEAT for when Arsenal do.”
One claimed: “When it’s man city – it’s clever, it’s so smart When it’s Arsenal – This is not football, they shouldn’t be anywhere near the keeper.”
Another added: “Clever from Man City. Dark arts and cheating when it’s Arsenal. Make that make sense. It’s sheer corruption at this stage.”
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