Will Arsenal benefit the most from Manchester City’s woes?

Manchester City could face punishment over financial doping, with several possible sanctions being discussed. Many expect the club to face relegation and possibly be stripped of league and cup titles if the guilty verdicts stand.

The case concerns the period between 2008 and 2018, one of the most successful eras in City’s history. The club became even more successful in the years that followed, but the financial breaches are said to have helped build the team that established City as one of the biggest clubs in world football.

That is why there have been calls for City to lose some of the trophies they won during the period under investigation. Arsenal were among the clubs affected during those years, as they struggled to compete with City’s financial power and failed to challenge consistently for major honours.

Arsenal Could Miss Out

The possibility of compensation raises questions about whether Arsenal could benefit if City’s titles are removed. It has already been established that the Gunners would not be awarded a league title, but there is still debate over which club would gain the most from any punishment.

ESPN journalist Mark Ogden does not believe Arsenal would be the biggest beneficiaries. He said on The Good, The Bad and The Football via Team Talk:

“I disagree with that (Arsenal being biggest beneficiary) because I think the biggest team to benefit from this is Utd because, I know it sounds daft at the minute, but Utd have been a different club since 2009.

“I think City just… Their confidence was shredded by the spending.

“The Glazers started to bring the money in.

“It was almost like they couldn’t handle this massive threat on their doorstep.”