West Ham ‘s televised clash against title chasing Arsenal this afternoon will draw huge audience: Not merely from supporters of the two sides but from millions of Manchester City fans who, like the claret and blue masses will be hoping to see th ere-emergence of the ‘bottlers’ as Arteta’s side find their lead reduced to two points at the top of the table.
Millions of neutrals will be hoping to see the hammers put a spanner in the works of Arsenal’s title aspirations – not least because of Mikel Arteta’s weekly touchline histrionics which, shall we say, doesn’t win him many friends amongst neutrals.
However the Arsenal boss has found himself the recipient of an unlikely apology this week following an (in my humble opinion) entirely understandable outburst from ESPN presenter Dan Thomas who did take his criticism of Arteta a little too far by suggesting the Arsenal Manager ‘deserved a punch’ for his touch line no nonsense. As per footballlondon.co.uk:
“ESPN presenter Dan Thomas has been forced to apologise after astonishingly suggesting on live television that Mikel Arteta’s antics against Atletico Madrid deserved a punch.
Thomas believed Arteta’s touchline conduct merited a ‘punch’, with supporters condemning the presenter across social media.The ESPN presenter was subsequently compelled to apologise. He said: “I just want to make reference to something I said yesterday, an off-hand comment that landed literally.”
Fifty thousand West Ham fans will be on hand to witness for themselves Arteta’s pitch side histrionics this afternoon which will be amplified ten fold if-improbably- the Hammers can get their noses in front.
Even Pep Guardiola has been offering his support to West Ham with his ‘come on you Irons‘ press release ‘encouragement’ – the Irons taking points from the Gooners would enable his Manchester City side to take the contest to the last weekend..
We can but hope.
Millions of Man City fans, really?