It has been a long, arduous season for Arsenal, and the feeling at its conclusion is one of relief more than anything that it is indeed coming to a close. A campaign that many had hoped would finally end the wait for the title and instead became something else, something much more challenging.
If you step into the minefield, which is the online space surrounding the club, you’d perhaps be convinced that the state of the Arsenal landscape is at one of its lowest points, despite the fact that a win over Newcastle on Sunday would all but confirm a third runner-up spot in three seasons. In addition, the sentiment for manager Mikel Arteta is one that, when either trawling through posts online or even listening to broad corners of the media, is diminishing.
Yet, I know now that is simply not the case. I was in attendance on Saturday evening for what has been something of an annual highlight: the Arsecast and Arsenal Vision Post-Match Podcast live show, this year again held at Union Chapel near Highbury and Islington tube stations. Having, on a much smaller stage, held live podcast events with an audience, I can attest that they are truly the pinnacle of any host’s career.
They break away from the online noise, and you get to speak in front of those who have dedicated their time and resources to listening and supporting what you’re all about. In the case of the Arsecast and the Arsenal Vision, however, it goes much further than anything I am certainly aware of.
For several years, led by Elliot Smith (the host of Arsenal Vision), both podcasts have worked extremely hard to raise money for The Arsenal Foundation, with the goal of supporting their collaboration with Save The Children. Over the years, well over £1million has been raised by listeners of both podcasts and beyond, and much of that has been dedicated to supporting the Za’atari refugee camp on the Syrian Border, which helps improve the lives of children made refugees by the war in the region.
It never ceases to amaze me what the Arsenal community can achieve, and this fundraiser, in particular, always takes me aback at the level of care, love, and genuineness in their dedication to helping. The club certainly recognises it because on the night of the live show, that audience, and those unable to attend but watching online, received a visitor.
During the second part of the show there was a pause to answer the question of whether a special guest would be in attendance. This is not unusual, two years ago legendary striker Ian Wright joined the cast to rapturous applause in yet another highlight of enjoying this pair of podcasts’ amazing journeys.
Yet, when Elliot stood up to say, “Please welcome the manager of Arsenal football club, Mikel Arteta”, it would be fair to say I was speechless. Now, I sit in press conferences, and the press box and ask the man himself questions on a weekly basis.
It numbs you in some ways, that level of access to the Arsenal manager, and it can be easy to detach from just how much of a privilege it is to get that access. Never have I felt that more than in the moment Arteta walked onto the stage.
My goodness me, what an amazing reaction. Naturally in the stadium he hears the chants, the responses and the noise but in that environment with everyone so much closer, all standing, all singing, it was eye-opening.
A post by Tim Stillman on social media shows the shock of the crowd. Looking to the bottom left of the picture is one fan in complete disbelief at what he was witnessing, brilliant!
You could see the emotion even on Arteta’s face, the gratitude. I imagine it was incredibly humbling and grounding to know that despite the challenges of the season, this is still how people feel.
Should it be that surprising? Probably not, Arteta has taken Arsenal back into title and Champions League relevancy after so many years away, and while frustrations exist that silverware remains out of reach, Arsenal go into every competition now with a great chance of lifting it, and that is down to Arteta’s work in collaboration with the club.
In that moment, hearing the tangible, visceral support and adoration in the room, in person with actual people around you and not the tapping of a keyboard angrily allowing any bile to come through without much, if any, reflection, thought or consequence. What was seen on Saturday was the feeling.
At the end of the match on Sunday, Arteta will be expected to speak to the crowd again. At the end of last season, Arteta told supporters not to be satisfied with second, and they, we, are not.
I am intrigued to hear what the message will be this time and the plans that are coming this summer to realise his and the club’s ambitions to win the league. But what I have no intrigue about anymore, because I know, is what the true feeling is around Mikel Arteta and having heard it in person, it is still very strong indeed.
You can find the fundraiser for The Arsenal Foundation and Save the Children here.
Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!
By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.
To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!
If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.