London based Arsenal Football Club has developed a very strong following since its founding in 1886. Since the 1980s, Arsenal's fans have often been referred to as Gooners, a derivation from the team's nickname, the "Gunners".
Many fanzines, blogs, podcasts and fans websites have been dedicated to the club and the fans have long-standing rivalries with several other clubs; the most notable of which is with near neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, with whom they regularly contest the North London derby.
The club and the fans have regularly featured in portrayals of football in British culture but Arsenal fans come from far and wide; a 2005 report estimated Arsenal's global fanbase at 112 million, the third-largest in the world. [1] [2] A September 2011 report estimated Arsenal's fanbase at 100 million worldwide, still making them the third-largest team in terms of supporters. [3]
Arsenal fans have long been stereotyped for the dissatisfaction they appear to feel – and express – towards their club. Sometimes the regular low-level grumbling will erupt, with severe criticisms and bitter feelings being aired. An example of this in the 2010s was a vociferous group – dubbed "The Anti-Arsenal Arsenal" [4] – that had manager Arsène Wenger as the principal target of their dissatisfactions. However, the perception of Arsenal fans as being hard to please is an old one. Even at times of success antagonism was noted. Such was the experience of the title winning teams of 1953 and 1971. Not even the figure behind the successful 1930s team successes was spared: Herbert Chapman complained of the activities of the "boo-boys" [5] and title-winning manager George Graham was strongly criticised over choice of players and tactical strategy.
In 2010, Arsenal supporters became the first fans of a Premier League club able to buy percentages of a stake in Arsenal through a "fanshare" scheme, therefore giving them rights to attend shareholders meetings. [6]
Arsenal's performance in home matches have resulted in them having the second-highest average League attendance for an English club during the 2007–08 season, (60,069, which was 99.5% of available capacity), [7] and as of 2006, the fourth-highest all-time average attendance. [8] Arsenal have the highest proportion (7.7%) of non-white attending supporters of any club in the Premier League, according to a 2002 report. [9]
There are supporters' clubs worldwide. A 2005 report by Granada Ventures, which at the time owned a 9.9% stake in the club, estimated Arsenal's global fanbase at 27 million, the third-largest in the world. [1]
The club's north London location, adjoining socially wealthy areas such as Canonbury and Barnsbury, mixed areas such as Islington, Holloway, Highbury, and the adjacent London Borough of Camden, and largely working-class areas such as Finsbury Park and Stoke Newington, as well as neighbouring Homerton, Clapton and Dalston, has meant that Arsenal's supporters have typically come from across the usual class divides. Much of the Afro-Caribbean support comes from the neighbouring London Borough of Hackney and a large portion of the South Asian Arsenal supporters travel to the stadium from Wembley and Harrow, in the north west of the capital. The NW London areas of Edgware, Hendon and Barnet are home to many of the club's Jewish supporters, who are also among the many Arsenal fans from adjacent Hertfordshire towns such as Borehamwood.[ citation needed ]
In addition to the usual English football chants, Arsenal's supporters sing "One-Nil to the Arsenal" (to the tune of "Go West") and also regularly sing "Who's that team they call the Arsenal", "Good Old Arsenal" (to the tune of "Rule, Britannia!") and "We're the North Bank/Clock End Highbury". The fans also chant "Boring, Boring Arsenal" in self-deprecating reference to Arsenal's reputation during the 1970s and 1980s as an overly defensive, cautious team. [10] The team's new (May 2022) anthem is The Angel (North London Forever) by Louis Dunford. [11] [12] [13]
One of Arsenal's longest-running and deepest rivalries is with their nearest major neighbours, Tottenham Hotspur, with matches between the two being referred to as the North London derby.
Arsenal also have a rivalry with West London club Chelsea, which is also considered a major derby. In addition, a strong on-pitch rivalry with Manchester United dates back to the late 1980s, which intensified in the 1990s as both clubs began often competing for the Premier League title. [14] Some fans consider Manchester United to be the club's biggest and most disliked rival, due to their constant altercations at the peak of English football.
A 2003 online survey found that Arsenal supporters most dislike Tottenham, followed by Manchester United and Chelsea. [15]
Saint Totteringham's Day is a concept created in 2002 and first published on the fan website arseweb.com. [16] [17] It is the day when Arsenal have gathered sufficient points to be mathematically assured to finish ahead of Tottenham in the league table. In 2007, the concept was first mentioned (mistakenly as 'St. Totteridge') in an Arsenal official match programme [18] although there are suggestions that it has existed since 2005. [19] St. Totteringham's day 2010 was the first time the celebration was acknowledged by mainstream media, with mentions from the BBC, [20] and The Guardian [21] newspapers.
The unofficial 'holiday' did not occur from 2017 to 2022; Spurs' 2–0 win over Arsenal in April 2017 ensured that Tottenham would finish above Arsenal in the league for the first time in 22 years. [22] In April 2023 Arsenal's 3–3 draw with Southampton mathematically confirmed their higher league finish ending the 6-year run without finishing above Spurs. [23]
Wearing a yellow ribbon, or symbolism pertaining to yellow ribbons or the colour yellow is a tradition often associated with Arsenal playing at Wembley Stadium (or other cup finals). It is thought to have originated in the 1950s and 70s, when Arsenal had considerable successes reaching the FA Cup Final. As a nod to Arsenal's iconic yellow kit used, fans sang a rendition of "Round Her Neck She Wears a Yeller Ribbon" as a chant. Originally, a US war poem, first published in 1917, it was popularised in 1949 by the film, 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon' starring John Wayne, where the Andrews Sisters performed the song. Since then, it has been established into fan folklore. [24]
Arsenal supporters enjoy good relations with police forces around the country and especially the Metropolitan Police.[ specify ] The club and authorities work closely together to police fans, with both using their available powers where necessary. [25] [ citation needed ]
Arsenal fans have been involved in a number of incidents of racist and homophobic abuse at matches over the years. They have been accused of making homophobic and racist chants and materials directed at ex-Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole. [26] In 2018, Arsenal announced an investigation into "discriminatory and violent" behaviour by fans during a match against rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Fans were alleged to have hissed (a reference to the gas chambers using during the Holocaust) and chanted about "gassing Jews". [27] Antisemitic abuse has been a longstanding issue at matches involving Arsenal and Tottenham, as the latter have historic links with North London's Jewish community. Fans have also come under fire for continued use of the word "Yid" in chants. [28]
A 2021 investigation found that Granit Xhaka had been racially abused by Arsenal season ticket holders online. [29] The same study found that Hector Bellerin was targeted with homophobic abuse. [30] Former Arsenal player Emmanuel Adebayor claimed he was racially abused by fans with a chant about his dad washing elephants after he transferred to Manchester City. [31] In 2019 Arsenal announced an investigation into racist abuse directed at Napoli player Kalidou Koulibaly after a Snapchat video shot during the Europa League match showed a fan using the n-word; the club pledged to find and ban the culprit. [32] An AFTV pundit was dismissed from the channel after he referred to South Korean Tottenham player Son Heung-min as a "DVD", a racial slur that is a reference to selling illegal discs. [33] Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace said he received racist abuse and threats to his family on social media after he was accused of diving to win a penalty during a 2–2 draw with Arsenal. [34] In February 2013 the Football Association launched a probe into allegations that an Arsenal fan had racially abused Newcastle United's Cheick Tiote. [35]
Fans of Arsenal and Manchester United were singled out for criticism after being recorded chanting sexist abuse at Chelsea's female club doctor Eva Carneiro during matches. [36]
Below is a list of well-known people who are or were Arsenal supporters:
eSports players
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional football coach, pundit, sports broadcaster and former player. He is currently the manager of the France national under-21 and under-23 football teams. He is considered one of the greatest strikers of all time, and one of the greatest players in Premier League history. He has been named by Arsenal as the club's greatest ever player. Henry was runner-up for both the Ballon d'Or in 2003 and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004. He was named the FWA Footballer of the Year a record three times, the PFA Players' Player of the Year a joint-record two times, and was named in the PFA Team of the Year six consecutive times. He was also included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI once and the UEFA Team of the Year five times. In 2004, Henry was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.
Patrick Paul Vieira is a French professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of Ligue 1 club Strasbourg. He was named in the FIFA 100 of greatest living footballers in 2004.
The Emirates Stadium is a football stadium in Holloway, London, England. It has been the home stadium of Arsenal Football Club since its completion in 2006. It has a current seated capacity of 60,704, making it one of the largest football stadiums in England by capacity.
Francesc Fàbregas Soler is a Spanish football manager and former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. He is the current assistant coach of Como in the Italian Serie B.
Mikel Arteta Amatriain is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Premier League club Arsenal.
Stephen John Hughes is an English former professional footballer and pundit.
Theo James Walcott is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. He represented England at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2012 and has 47 caps, scoring eight goals.
Bacary Sagna is a French former professional footballer who played as a right-back.
The 1998 FA Cup final was a football match between Arsenal and Newcastle United on 16 May 1998 at the old Wembley Stadium, London. It was the final match of the 1997–98 FA Cup, the 117th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, the FA Cup. Six-time winners Arsenal were appearing in their thirteenth final, whereas Newcastle United, having also won the competition six times, appeared in their eleventh final. It was the third time both teams faced each other in a FA Cup final; Newcastle won the previous two encounters in 1932 and 1952.
Henri George Lansbury is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Throughout his career, he played for Arsenal, where he ascended from the club's academy, in addition to spells with sides Scunthorpe United, Watford, Norwich City, Aston Villa FC, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Luton Town. He achieved consecutive promotions to the Premier League in 2010–11 with Norwich and 2011–12 with West Ham. Lansbury also played for England as a youth international.
The Arsenal F.C.–Chelsea F.C. rivalry is a rivalry between London-based professional association football clubs Arsenal Football Club and Chelsea Football Club. Arsenal play their home games at the Emirates Stadium, while Chelsea play their home games at Stamford Bridge.
Pierre-Emerick Emiliano François Aubameyang is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Marseille and captains the Gabon national team.
Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere is an English football coach and former professional player who played as a midfielder. He is the head coach of the Arsenal under-18 team.
The 2005–06 season was Arsenal Football Club's 14th season in the Premier League and their 80th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. It was the final season in which home matches were played at the club's Highbury stadium after 93 years; Arsenal intended to move to its new 60,000 capacity Emirates Stadium in time for the following season. The club ended their Premier League campaign in fourth, having pipped local rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the position on the final day. Arsenal became the first London club to reach a UEFA Champions League final, though lost 2–1 to Barcelona in Paris. In the League Cup the club was eliminated in the semi-finals on aggregate score by Wigan Athletic and knocked out of the FA Cup, against Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round.
Granit Xhaka is a Swiss Albanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and captains the Switzerland national team.
Carl Daniel Jenkinson is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Newcastle Jets in the Australian A-League.
Tomáš Rosický is a Czech former professional footballer who was the captain of the Czech Republic national team for a ten-year period. He played club football for Sparta Prague, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal. Currently, he serves at the sports director of Sparta Prague.
Mohamed Naser Elsayed Elneny is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Egyptian national team.
The 2013–14 season was Arsenal Football Club's 22nd season in the Premier League and 88th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. Arsenal participated in the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and the UEFA Champions League, after finishing fourth in the previous Premier League season. Despite an opening day 1–3 league defeat at home to Aston Villa, which exacerbated underlying anger at the club's inactivity in the transfer market, Arsenal's league campaign got off to a strong start. Early pace-setters in the title race, Arsenal led the table for much of the season, spending more time on top of the league than any other side. However, a combination of injuries to key players and heavy defeats away from home against other title challengers saw the Gunners' title ambitions evaporate by late March. Nonetheless, Arsenal achieved success in the FA Cup with a dramatic 3–2 win over Hull City in the 2014 Final, ending a nine-year trophy drought.
Bethany Jane Mead is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Women's Super League (WSL) club Arsenal and the England national team. A creative and prolific forward, she has all-time most assists and all-time second-most goal contributions in the WSL. Joint with Vivianne Miedema, she is the first player to reach a combined total of 100 goals and assists in the WSL. At UEFA Women's Euro 2022, she became the Golden Boot winner, Player of the Tournament, and top assist provider, leading England to win a major tournament for the first time. Later that year, she was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, becoming the first women's footballer to win the prestigious award; and finished runner-up for the Ballon d'Or and UEFA Player of the Year.
Arsenal's fans are well known for there good support but also bad and aggressive behavior.Please note that some pre-war attendance figures used by this source were estimates and may not be entirely accurate.