fans set off fireworks outside ’s hotel on Monday night ahead of their crunch fixture with Tottenham, but there was just one issue: they weren’t actually staying there.
’s side travel to north London on Tuesday evening to face Spurs in a match that has .
Should City win the postponed fixture, they would reclaim a two-point lead at the top of the table ahead of the final round of matches on Sunday – with Arsenal at home to Everton and City hosting West Ham.
Any other result would hand the advantage to the Gunners, with Mikel Arteta’s side having one more point on the board – albeit having played a game more – and enjoying +3 better goal difference.
Not fancying the chances of their north London rivals doing them a favour, a small group of Arsenal supporters decided to take matters into their own hands by trying to give City’s players a bad night’s sleep before the game.
Early on Monday, it emerged on social media that City’s players would be staying at Delta Hotels Waltham Abbey, a venue often used by football clubs.
That prompted some of Arsenal’s ‘ultras’ to mobilise, with fans wearing ‘Ashburton Army’ hoodies – as well as balaclavas – filming themselves letting off fireworks just before 2am on Tuesday morning.
Around 45 minutes after that, the hotel fire alarm was also reportedly set off – much to the chagrin of guests staying there.
‘Gooners have saved up their pocket money for a display,’ wrote Spurs fan and hotel guest Craig Pankhurst on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, at 1.50am as he shared pictures of the fireworks.
‘Wonderful fireworks, lads. Bless them.’ Just before 3am he was posting again, writing: ‘2.45am, hotel fire alarm. Marvellous.’
There was just one problem with the shenanigans from Arsenal’s supporters, though: their hijinks had no effect on City’s players, with the squad staying in Manchester on Monday night.
The reigning Premier League champions had been alerted to the fact that their hotel location had been discovered and while some support staff as well as match gear and equipment did arrive, the players will not travel to London until later on Tuesday morning.
Although Spurs could potentially hand the title to their fierce rivals if they win or draw against City, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is adamant his players will take the game seriously.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he said: ‘You think the majority of our fans are not going to want us to win? I don’t see it that way.
‘I think the majority of our fans will create the atmosphere they always create at our games.
‘We’ve got a game of football to win and that’s what we’ll try to do. Man City haven’t won it yet and if you think they have, then it becomes an issue because we’re rolling out a red carpet for them and I’m not going to do that.
‘I’m not just going to sit there and watch them win. That doesn’t sit comfortably with me.’
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