What is it with Arsenal?
The only time I have been arrested at a football match was when sat in the Clock Stand at Highbury. I happened to be on the end of a row of boisterous lads from Gossy High Street, so was easy game for the boys in blue.
As well as myself, I know that many other Newcastle United fans dislike Arsenal, but why?
I have lived in London for thirty-five years now and Arsenal have never been a club I have any empathy with, never liked their style of football or the arrogance of many of their supporters.
Some thirty years ago I married my wife who is of Nigerian origin, though born in Camberwell. My mother-in-law came to England in the sixties with her husband, who became a lifelong Hammers fan while working at the Dagenham Ford plant.
My mother-in-law’s football team though is Arsenal.
I have done no research on statistics and only base my findings on my own experiences. That personal experience tells me that not only do more people of black ethnicity in London support Arsenal but so do the Irish (catholic) diaspora.
All the black kids who I teach, swear allegiance to Arsenal. Maybe I am wrong here but I think Arsenal’s connection with Ireland is also strong.
In theory, Arsenal should also be the London team that I feel most affiliated with. No. My Nigerian London family who I love, are all Arsenal, but I actually despise what Arsenal are.
I can’t stand their sad manufactured anthem that is laughed at by any supporter with intelligence, to the fact they are a club stolen from Woolwich, just like the disgraceful theft of Wimbledon to Milton Keynes, I have no time for Arsenal.
Their manager is a charlatan. The club was manufactured to make money by a capitalist entrepreneur from Kennington in the early twentieth century, much like the fraudulent so called businessmen we see hovering around clubs that have hardcore working class supporters to exploit.
Come the end of the 25/26 season there will be no one happier than me if Arsenal fail to lift the Premier League trophy. I love my Arsenal supporting family but…