I don’t think this can be considered “cheating” under the current rules. Cross-heavy playstyles may be frustrating, but they’re still part of the game mechanics. That said, I do believe EA should consider lowering the success rate of very precise crosses, as they can feel overly rewarding.
To counter cross spammers, using strong fullbacks and solid defensive cards helps more than changing to wide formations as they can ruin your own gameplay.
Regarding your defenders clearing the ball while his don’t, that could be related to you having being enabled auto-play
Passing between the CB and GK isn’t cheating either, but instead of chasing the ball, it’s more effective to block the next passing option and cut lanes. Many cross-reliant players struggle under organized pressure. For this, EA must improve teamwork among players to counter this type of situations.
And honestly, the best response to emote spam is to ignore it. Focus on your gameplay — that’s what really matters.