Premier League look weaker than they think with latest Man City U-turn

In 2022, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters was at the Etihad.

Liverpool could have won the title on the final day but, with Manchester City holding the advantage, knowing that victory over Aston Villa would guarantee them the title, it made sense that Masters would be in Manchester. In 2023, after the Premier League had charged City with 115 breaches of their competition rules, Masters was at the Etihad to help crown City champions again.

It made for an uncomfortable scene, but when an enormous brand and business lays down such complex and serious charges against one of its biggest assets it is always going to be awkward. It would have been more awkward if Masters hadn't turned up.

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Which brings us to this year, where City are in exactly the same position as they were in 2022 but with Arsenal and Masters will be at the Emirates rather than the Etihad. There could be a good reason for him doing that – maybe he has a dinner reservation in London that evening, maybe he prefers the Arsenal food, maybe he wants to celebrate how well the Gunners have done, regardless of whether they win the league – but no explanation has been given for why the most important person representing the Premier League isn't on site for what's expected to be the climax of their flagship competition.

Nobody inside the Etihad will care whether Masters is there or not, but it is still odd – especially since nothing appears to have changed since last year when he turned up for the trophy presentation.

Is there something Masters knows that nobody else is aware of?

Because there is no explanation for