SPIKE Lee has teamed up with Arsenal Football Club for the first time to direct Who Are Ya?, a new short film starring a host of actors, players, supporters, and legends – including Thierry Henry, Rachel Yankey and Aaron Pierre.
At first glance, it portrays the kind of conversation heard in pubs up and down the country. Opinions flying, voices rising, debate ensuing. But as the discussion unfolds, it becomes apparent that this isn’t about tactics or players. Instead, the characters dive deep into financial jargon, a nod to modern supporters’ deep understanding of the business behind football.
This film is about that voice, that culture, and that community
Directed in Spike Lee’s signature style, and featuring his iconic ‘double dolly’ technique with Thierry Henry, Who Are Ya? blends humour, cultural references and sharp dialogue drawn directly from Arsenal culture. The end result is a film that feels both cinematic and unmistakably authentic – tapping into the unexpected fact that football supporters are among the most passionate and informed commentators on finance anywhere in the world.
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A who’s who of Gooner greats, alongside Thierry, supporters will also enjoy cameos from Arsenal legend Martin Keown, actor Jasmine Jobson, and current players Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães and Viktor Gyökeres.
Academy award winning director Spike Lee said: “I’ve been riding with Arsenal for years—it started with Thierry. But what really stayed with me is what the club stands for—its history, its culture, the way it reflects the world beyond the pitch. With ‘Who Are Ya?’, I wanted to capture that real supporter energy—the passion, the debates, the humour.
We decided to introduce our Arsenal partnership in a way supporters couldn’t ignore
“Fans today don’t just follow the game, they understand everything around it too. Bringing Airwallex into that conversation felt natural, because the film plays on how fans now talk about the business side of football just as much as what happens on the pitch. This film is about that voice, that culture, and that community.”
Matt Jennings, Global Creative Director at Airwallex added: “Let’s be honest – most Arsenal supporters haven’t heard of Airwallex, and we didn’t want to be a random logo on a perimeter board; so we decided to introduce our Arsenal partnership in a way supporters couldn’t ignore.
“Football isn’t just 90 minutes on the pitch – it’s the talk about money, business, and tactics that happen at the pub every week. We hope our ‘Who Are Ya?’ film brings those conversations to life in an entertaining way, and ensures no Arsenal fan will ever have to ask, “Air-who?”
Arsenal Chief Commercial Officer, Juliet Slot, said: “Our partnerships are at their best when, together with partners like Airwallex, we lift our supporters and bring them closer to us. Who Are Ya? is a celebration of the incredible passion of our community, and how we can use our shared platforms to connect us wherever we are in the world. We love Spike’s passion and understanding for our club which shines through our film.”
www.arsenal.com