Man City leave Arsenal fans with egg on their face after cunning plan backfires

After a plan almost as cunning as Baldrick's in Blackadder, Arsenal supporters have been left feeling a sense of embarrassment after setting off fireworks outside the London hotel that they thought Manchester City's players were staying in.

As if having to support Tottenham for the night wasn't bad enough, the Ashburton Army supporters group have also seen their firework display outside the Marriott Hotel in Waltham Abbey at 2am go viral. The fans aimed to disrupt the sleep of Pep Guardiola's superstars ahead of a defining night in the title race.

There was only one problem. The City squad were fast asleep in Manchester, 200 miles away from the fireworks display disturbing guests at the London hotel the Ashburton Army had congregated outside.

City always intended to travel down to the capital on the day of the game, with the fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium not kicking off until 8pm. They enjoyed a relaxing sleep in their own beds and work refreshed ahead of a day in which they can strengthen their grip on the title race.

Ashburton Army posted on X at 9am on Tuesday: “Oh, man, I had a great night’s sleep. Hope you all did as well."

The Blues are a point behind Arsenal but know wins against Tottenham tonight and at home to West Ham on Sunday will deliver them a fourth successive Premier League title. After Aston Villa's late comeback against Liverpool on Monday night Tottenham know only victory will keep their slip homes of a top-four finish alive.

City have never won a Premier League game at Spurs' new stadium and their only goal at the venue came in the FA Cup this round earlier this season, when Nathan Ake scored a late winner.