Stephen Killen (Football writer, Liverpool Echo)
The integrity of the Premier League has been in question for a number of years and the recent spate of charges for financial breaches further extend the worrying trajectory of football.
Liverpool have enjoyed success in recent years under Jurgen Klopp and have fueled a title-rivalry with Manchester City. There has been an elephant in the room surrounding Manchester City since the 115 charges came to light.
From my perspective, there is a case of innocence until proven guilty. With the legal action against the Premier League for the Associated Party Transaction rules, further questions around the sport we know emerge. Should City be successful, the top-flight governing body will be undermined and there will be a free-for-all on sponsorship deals to inflate and provide an uneven playing field.
There have already been examples of Premier League clubs battling in-house and the threat of legal action towards the governing body could break new ground in a worrying, yet pivotal, moment for football.
Tom Canton (Arsenal writer, Football London)
The word best associated with Arsenal over the past half-decade is patience. Be that in their approach to squad-building and competitive strategy or in how it has spectated any of the legal tussles Manchester City find themselves currently involved in. This latest twist has not changed that for the Gunners, and while fan sentiment for City in North London continues to diminish, if it hadn’t completely evaporated some time ago, Arsenal themselves are happy to sit and wait.
Mikel Arteta has always been keen to distance himself whenever asked about it. Unlike the likes of Jurgen Klopp who has been outspoken on the topic, Arteta has adopted a standoffish approach and who can blame him?
"That’s something for the authorities to manage, it’s not for us,” he said when asked directly on the topic of the 115 alleged financial breaches. “If they are playing, it means they can play and they are entitled to play, and that’s it".
Despite all the noise, Arsenal have been able to gradually close the gap to their established title rivals. It has shortened now to just two points and while there is disappointment Arsenal haven’t overtaken City at the club, there is an understanding of it being something of a matter of time should they continue on this course regardless of the off-field ongoings with the Premier League.
Tyrone Marshall (Football writer, MEN)
To see what United, or at United's new minority shareholders and majority decision makers, make of City, you only have to look at their recent hires.
Ineos' first major move was to poach Omar Berrada from Manchester City to became the club's new chief executive. They hired Jason Wilcox as technical director on the back of a recommendation from Berrada and admiration for his work as academy director at the Etihad. Even the club's new chief communications officer spent eight years at City.
United know there is no getting away from the fact that in attempting to remodel their football structure, they are taking inspiration from the club once dubbed their "noisy neighbours." In private they will admit that they are looking towards City for staff because they are now the best in class when it comes to building a successful football club.
Amongst supporters, there is obviously chatter about the charges and the nature of City's success. United fans use it a defense mechanism to accept the success being achieved. It also helps that they've beaten Liverpool in a couple of close title races and that is a much more palatable outcome for United supporters.
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