It was a very strange Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
I'm sure you all know what the problem was, but anyway, let's start here. Liverpool's draw with Aston Villa last night gave Tottenham a top-four boost. The result gave Arsenal the advantage they needed in the Premier League title race, where champions Manchester City take on Ange Postecoglou's side on Tuesday night. Fans were left extremely conflicted as anything other than Spurs' victory and Champions League dreams were thrown into the bin and avoiding defeat would leave Arsenal in control ahead of Sunday's final.
Spurs fans are telling themselves on social media that it's okay to lose, Sky Sports are pandering to that, and real ex-pro footballers are telling themselves that the players win because their stupid little neighbors might win the league. He suggested that he might not want to. What nonsense was overshadowed by the performance of Tottenham's players against Arsenal's title rivals, and of the team that stood between them and stayed on to qualify for the Champions League.
The most interesting part of this story is the suggestion that Tottenham actually had a choice, and that Arsenal's fate was entirely in their hands, like some kind of evil puppet. As if if he wanted to win he would win and if he wasn't pissed he would stick his finger at his rivals while the champion rioted. Against the best performance of the season by Coach Postecoglou's players, there was a strong possibility that Man City would win by three or four.
But as expected, the atmosphere was very strange and calm. That was until instinct took over.
The biggest chant in the first half was the home fans singing “If you hate Arsenal, stand up”, but when the referee and his assistants gave a decision against them, Spurs fans lashed out at the referee. Once the counter-attack started, they encouraged their team to attack. No matter how you feel about your rivals, your soccer instincts always kick in.
It was as if Spurs fans stood up after 30 minutes and realized they could definitely win this game. City didn't care. And as it was written in my notes at 20:30, Spurs fans stood up and shouted the same chants as before. Maybe not.
The fans in white didn't know what they wanted, but the players in all white were full of motivation. Radu Dragusin's superb block to keep Bernardo Silva at bay received more praise than Erling Haaland's two (potentially) title-clinching goals.
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Spurs had a pretty good opening 45 minutes, but it took just six minutes of the second half for Haaland to break the deadlock. It was a move made on the practice field and executed over and over again on game day. Kevin De Bruyne took that late run all the way to the byline and brilliantly crossed the goal. Touches from defenders were more likely to go into their own goal, and unavoidable touches from Haaland on the line always went into goal.
Spurs' reaction was great, with the fans cheering as Dejan Kulusevski added a spark to Postecoglou's attack. He was arguably the team's most dangerous player on the night, despite coming on after 55 minutes and having a few goals denied by Stefan Ortega, who came off the bench to replace the possibly concussed Ederson. became.
While Guglielmo Vicario, Kulusevski and Dragusin shone, Son Heung-min and Pedro Polo thoroughly proved that they truly are COYS.
In the 85th minute, Spurs captain Son was given a well-deserved one-on-one chance thanks to a poor touch from Manuel Akanji, and as Arsenal fans around the world held their breath, he was able to equalize. Unable to do so, he meekly took a shot to Ortega's right. leg.
Four minutes later, Polo was awarded a penalty after fouling Jeremy Doku in the box, with Haaland clearly converting the spot-kick, meaning Big Ange failed to qualify for the Champions League in his first year and City finished 1-1. They entered the final day of the season with a point. Pick up the Premier League trophy. Arsenal supporters were devastated, Spurs players were disappointed, City officials were all overjoyed and Spurs fans were neither there nor there.
Incidentally, the home fans were at their loudest all night after going 2-0, a complete change from anti-Arsenal chants for the last home game of the season.
Spurs fans obviously won't be too depressed if they lose their last home game of the season. This result means Spurs will probably qualify for next season's Europa League. So, as a die-hard Arsenal fan, I hope you enjoy your tournament earnings. And I hope you spend them with grace and courtesy. And shooting boots for Son Heung-min.
The title picture doesn't bode well for the Gunners, with City closing in on an outrageous fourth successive Premier League title. Maybe the bitterness is taking over again, but maybe it's a bit boring, innit?
Its dominance in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 has belittled the standards of these divisions, but for far too long this league, arguably the best league in the world, and arguably the wealthiest league in the world, has , was too predictable.Unfortunately, City's biggest rival has an even bigger rival, so no one can actually win. that I was excited when they won everything. Until you become a fan on the receiving end of their inevitability. Go away, Pep! please!
This is one trophy away for City, an interesting footnote to a strong season for Tottenham, and as for Arsenal, they will do their best to beat Everton on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta's former Everton manager David Moyes I hope it brings him victory. His team's biggest rival could not support it.
However, that is highly unlikely. In fact, Spurs will manage to pick up something against City on Tuesday. Ah, to be continued on Sunday. Get X's profile picture changed to a West Ham badge, you smart Arsenal fans.
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