Arsenal F.C. supporters


London based Arsenal Football Club has developed a strong following since its founding in 1886. Since the 1980s, Arsenal's fans have often been referred to as Gooners, a derivation from the team's nickname, the "Gunners".
Many fanzines, blogs, podcasts and fans websites have been dedicated to the club and the fans have long-standing rivalries with several other clubs; the most notable of which is with near neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, with whom they regularly contest the North London derby.
The club and the fans have regularly featured in portrayals of football in British culture but Gunners fans come from far and wide; a 2005 report estimated Arsenal's global fanbase at 27 million, the third-largest in the world. A September 2011 report estimated Arsenal's fanbase at 100 million worldwide, still making them the third-largest team in terms of supporters.
Arsenal fans have long been stereotyped for the dissatisfaction they appear to feel - and express - towards their club. Sometimes the regular low-level grumbling will erupt, with severe criticisms and bitter feelings being aired. An example of this in the 2010s was a vociferous group - dubbed "The Anti-Arsenal Arsenal" - that had manager Arsène Wenger as the principle target of their dissatisfactions. However, the perception of Arsenal fans as being hard to please is an old one. Even at times of success antagonism was noted. Such was the experience of the title winning teams of 1953 and 1971. Not even the figure behind the legendary 1930s team successes was spared: Herbert Chapman complained of the activities of the "boo-boys" and title-winning George Graham was vociferously criticized over choice of players and tactical strategy.
In 2010 Arsenal supporters became the first fans of a Premier League club able to buy percentages of a stake in Arsenal through a "fanshare" scheme, therefore giving them rights to attend shareholders meetings.

Demographics

Arsenal's performance in home matches have resulted in them having the second-highest average League attendance for an English club during the 2007–08 season,, and as of 2006, the fourth-highest all-time average attendance. Arsenal have the highest proportion of non-white attending supporters of any club in English football, according to a 2002 report.
There are supporters' clubs worldwide. A 2005 report by Granada Ventures, which at the time owned a 9.9% stake in the club, estimated Arsenal's global fanbase at 27 million, the third-largest in the world.
The club's north London location, adjoining socially wealthy areas such as Canonbury and Barnsbury, mixed areas such as Islington, Holloway, Highbury, and the adjacent London Borough of Camden, and largely working-class areas such as Finsbury Park and Stoke Newington, as well as neighbouring Homerton, Clapton and Dalston, has meant that Arsenal's supporters have typically come from across the usual class divides. Much of the Afro-Caribbean support comes from the neighbouring London Borough of Hackney and a large portion of the South Asian Arsenal supporters travel to the stadium from Wembley and Harrow, in the north west of the capital. The NW London areas of Edgware, Hendon and Barnet are home to many of the club's Jewish supporters, who are also among the many Arsenal fans from adjacent Hertfordshire towns such as Borehamwood.

Songs

In addition to the usual English [football chants, Arsenal's supporters sing "One-Nil to the Arsenal" and also regularly sing "Who's that team they call the Arsenal", "Good Old Arsenal" and "We're the North Bank/Clock End Highbury". The fans also chant "Boring, Boring Arsenal" in self-deprecating reference to Arsenal's reputation during the 1970s and 1980s as an overly defensive, cautious team.

Rivalries

Arsenal's longest-running and deepest rivalry is with their nearest major neighbours, Tottenham Hotspur, with matches between the two being referred to as North London derbies.
Matches against Chelsea F.C., of west London, are also considered major derby matches. In addition, Arsenal and Manchester United have had a strong on-pitch rivalry since the late 1980s, which intensified in the 1990s as both clubs began often competing for the Premier League title.
A 2003 online survey found that Arsenal supporters most dislike Tottenham, followed by Manchester United and Chelsea, although both Chelsea and Spurs fans see Arsenal as their main rival.

Traditions

St. Totteringham's Day

Saint Totteringham's Day is a concept created in 2002 and first published on the fan website arseweb.com. It is supposedly marked as being the day when Arsenal have gathered sufficient points to be mathematically assured to finish ahead of Tottenham in the league table. In 2007, the concept was first mentioned in an Arsenal official match programme although there are suggestions that it has existed since 2005. St. Totteringham's day 2010 was the first time the celebration was acknowledged by mainstream media, with mentions from the BBC, and The Guardian newspapers.
The unofficial 'holiday' has not occurred since 2017, when Spurs' 2–0 win over Arsenal on 30 April ensured that Tottenham would finish above Arsenal in the league for the first time in 22 years.

Police and community relations

Arsenal supporters enjoy good relations with police forces around the country and especially the Metropolitan Police. The club and authorities work closely together to police fans, with both using their available powers where necessary.
Nonetheless, Arsenal fans have still had confrontations with the police, including over homophobic chants and materials directed at ex-Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole.

Notable supporters

Below is a list of well-known people who are known Arsenal supporters:

Royalty

Actors and actresses

Footballers

eSports players

Other academics