At a Glance:
Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions last week.
Manchester City won a domestic cup double this season.
The Citizens had their trophy parade on Monday, and here’s what Gunners fans had to say about it.
While Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title this season, Manchester City concluded Pep Guardiola’s tenure at the Etihad with a domestic cup double.
The Citizens beat the Gunners in the Carabao Cup final in March, before edging past Chelsea in the FA Cup final a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, Arsenal were crowned champions of England last week when Guardiola’s team failed to beat Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Wild celebrations subsequently unfolded on the streets of North London, and a hectic trophy parade is set to take place on Sunday. As for City, the north-west club said goodbye to Guardiola on their own parade through the streets of Manchester on Monday.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 19, 2026
Arsenal and City have developed a heated rivalry over recent years. The two teams have been competing with each other near the top of the league for four consecutive seasons, and this has inevitably resulted in animosity between the two sets of fans and players.
Gabriel Magalhaes sent a subtle dig to Erling Haaland in his celebration of Arsenal’s title triumph, while Gunners supporters made a mockery of City’s notorious bottle fan in some of their celebrations.
This conflict between the two fanbases has extended to comparisons around the respective parades. Over a million people are expected to disperse onto the N5 streets on Sunday when Arsenal flaunt their Premier League title, while City reportedly had around 100,000 people out to celebrate their domestic cup double.
Taking to social media, many Gunners supporters pointed out the disparity in the passion between the two clubs’ fanbases.
One fan wrote on X: “Manchester City had 100,000 fans turn up for their parade, Arsenal had 100,000 fans turn up outside the Emirates Stadium on a random Tuesday night when we weren’t even playing. The Metropolitan Police is predicting one million Arsenal fans to turn up on the 31st. We are massive.”
Manchester City had 100,000 fans turn up for their parade, Arsenal had 100,000 fans turn up outside the Emirates Stadium on a random Tuesday night when we wasn’t even playing.
The Metropolitan Police is predicting one million Arsenal fans to turn up on the 31st. We are massive. pic.twitter.com/XfduywBkg3
— Tommo (@Only1tommo) May 23, 2026
Another posted a video of the City parade, and wrote: “Take a look at the Manchester City ‘parade’. This is so embarrassing.”
Take a look at the Manchester City “parade”
This is so embarrassing 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/FMi6M9bS8t
— Ballot News (@ArsenalBallots) May 25, 2026
Meanwhile, one supporter posited: “Arsenal fanbase is worldwide, not just local!! That’s the significant difference.”
Arsenal Fan Base is Worldwide not just Local!!
That's the significant Difference
— Emmycredible (@emmycredible) May 26, 2026
Elsewhere, one fan page posted two pictures side by side, and wrote: “Manchester City’s parade for their domestic cup double & Pep Guardiola’s farewell, compared to a spontaneous celebration last Tuesday night when Arsenal became Premier League champions. We are not the same.”
Manchester City’s parade for their domestic cup double & Pep Guardiola’s farewell, compared to a spontaneous celebration last Tuesday night when Arsenal became Premier League champions.
We are not the same. ❤️😏 pic.twitter.com/nCAN1iJ5Vo
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) May 26, 2026
Finally, another added: “There are levels to this thing and for sure, City can never come close to us.”
There are levels to this thing and for surely city can never come close to us
— LëX⚓ (@AFC_lexville) May 26, 2026
These supporters are right; City will never come close to Arsenal’s level of global appeal and prestige. The Gunners simply boast a much wider and more connected fanbase who can trump almost any club on the planet in terms of engagement and celebration.
That said, there are some factors which explain why City’s parade appeared somewhat muted and why Arsenal’s will be so significant. City have won the Champions League and six league titles in the last eight years.
Winning a domestic double, while still an impressive feat, isn’t likely to garner a huge audience for a fanbase used to success. While you might have expected a greater turnout to bid farewell to the club’s greatest ever manager, it’s clear at this point that City don’t have the most engaged fanbase on the planet.
Meanwhile, Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for a trophy more grand than an FA Cup. This was a staple moment in the Gunners’ history, and their fans were desperate to experience something this meaningful.
Arsenal will always pull in huge audiences for celebratory occasions, but this is likely the most jubilant it will ever get around North London.
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