The Unlikely Underdogs? Why the Public Isn’t Rallying Behind Arsenal’s Title Charge
For 22 long years, the Premier League trophy has eluded Arsenal. Yet, as Mikel Arteta’s charges have surged to the top of the table, looking increasingly like genuine contenders, a curious sentiment has emerged: the neutral fan, it seems, isn’t quite ready to back the Gunners. This observation comes from none other than Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who believes that despite their underdog status after a prolonged title drought, a significant portion of the footballing public isn’t exactly rooting for an Arsenal victory.
The Gunners’ impressive 2-0 win against Everton at the Emirates recently propelled them to a commanding 10-point lead at the summit. This advantage was further bolstered by Manchester City’s unexpected draw against West Ham on the same evening, a result that plunged the Hammers deeper into the relegation battle. With only seven matches remaining in the season, Arsenal’s chances of ending their Premier League title drought appear stronger than ever. Moreover, an immediate opportunity to clinch silverware arises this Sunday with the Carabao Cup final against none other than Manchester City.
However, during a recent appearance on Monday Night Football, Henry didn’t shy away from expressing his candid opinion. He pointed out that in both the high-stakes title race and the upcoming cup final, Arsenal aren’t exactly swimming in widespread popular support.
“A lot of people are like, anything but Arsenal winning the league,” Henry stated. He drew a parallel to his own past desires for Liverpool to win the league, not necessarily out of pure team loyalty, but to see players like Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard achieve that ultimate prize.
“Whether I like Liverpool or not, you root for the underdog, the team that couldn’t do it, or failed to win the league. (But) a lot of people don’t want Arsenal to win the league,” he elaborated.
Jamie Carragher, co-presenting with Henry, found this sentiment “strange.” He echoed Henry’s thoughts, suggesting that this unusual lack of neutral backing might extend to the Carabao Cup final.
The “Strange” Case of Arsenal’s Unpopular Ascent
“I think it’s very strange, and maybe it’s the same with the Carabao Cup final,” Carragher mused. “When you have a team like Man City, who have dominated the past era, most neutrals want the underdog – the team who want the battle.”
However, Carragher observed that this typical inclination towards the underdog doesn’t seem to apply to Arsenal. He speculated on the reasons behind this, suggesting that fans of rival clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool might even find themselves leaning towards Manchester City, despite City being their direct competitor.
“But it doesn’t feel that way with Arsenal. Maybe there’s a lot of Man United, or Liverpool fans, even though City is the local rival, and Liverpool have been competing with City for the title (in recent years), they’re looking and thinking, ‘maybe I want City to win it’.”
Carragher posited that there might be something intrinsic about Arsenal’s current approach that alienates neutral observers. “There is something about Arsenal, and the way they’ve gone about it, whether it’s the style of football, whether it’s Arteta on the side of the pitch, there is something about them – maybe it’s the fanbase, they get a bit of criticism – that maybe rubs people up the wrong way.”
Accusations of “Dark Arts” and Winning at All Costs
As the season enters its crucial final stages, Arteta and his squad have faced a barrage of criticism regarding their style of play. Detractors have labelled their approach as “winning at all costs,” suggesting a willingness to employ less-than-sporting tactics to secure victories.
One particularly vocal critic was Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler, who, after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal earlier in the month, hinted at the Gunners employing “dark arts” to gain an advantage.
“There was only one team who tried to play football today,” Hürzeler stated pointedly after the final whistle. “There was so many actions (of time-wasting). In the end, it’s about the rules. If the Premier League, the referee, allows everything, then it is difficult. They (Arsenal) make their own rules. At the moment I have a feeling that they do their own rules, no matter how they are playing.”
However, not everyone shares this critical view. Everton manager David Moyes, who previously managed Arteta during his playing days at Goodison Park, defended Arsenal’s approach. Moyes insisted that criticising a team for winning by any means necessary is misguided.
A Strong Defence of Arsenal’s Winning Mentality
“Arsenal have been excellent,” Moyes remarked recently. “From the first game of the season. Probably maybe outside PSG, the biggest favourites for the Champions League. It’s amazing people have been critical, who are the people who have been critical of them?”
Moyes continued to champion Arsenal’s season, highlighting their consistent performance and strong league position. “They’re in a great position, have been all season, winning the games. Unless the referees do more on set-pieces – which they really should be doing, to be honest – you’d have to say they are taking all the advantages they can get. They have an incredible squad.”
As the Premier League title race intensifies, the debate over Arsenal’s style and their place in the hearts of neutral fans is likely to continue. While their on-field success is undeniable, the question remains: will the public eventually embrace their pursuit of glory, or will they remain the team that many, for reasons yet fully understood, would rather see falter?
