At 8.15pm on Saturday evening, thousands of football fans up and down the UK erupted in jubilation. Neutrals or passers-by could be forgiven for thinking Arsenal had just lifted their first-ever piece of European silverware. Instead, it was the English anti-Arsenal brigade out in full force, celebrating as if their own team had lifted the prestigious trophy, when Gabriel blazed his spot kick high over the crossbar.
It was Paris Saint-Germain who had beaten the Premier League champions in a dogged, hard-fought match, ultimately prevailing on penalties. Weren't the state-owned club supposed to be the pantomime villains of European football? Yet for one night, they became the nation's second-favourite team.
Arsenal have not only dominated the Premier League this year, but they have monopolised the airwaves, social media discourse, and workplace banter. The Gunners have, unequivocally, been the story of the campaign. Despite winning the title by seven points, much of the conversation surrounding them has been strikingly negative.
Fans have been quick to criticise Mikel Arteta’s cautious approach to matches. His side have not played glamorous or attacking football, and rarely have they taken many risks. Instead, they have relied heavily on set pieces and corners to undo their opponents, resting on small leads and an incredibly sturdy defence to shut out teams.
It isn’t the most attractive style of play, particularly when Premier League fans have been treated to Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp battling it out for the best part of a decade.
But Arteta’s defensive focus is a pragmatic approach; his attacking talent, of which Arsenal boast significant amounts, has not stepped up this season.
Bukayo Saka has struggled to stay fit and has failed to post the same impressive numbers as two years ago. The same can be said for captain Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli.
Victor Gyökeres is starting to settle at The Emirates, but his substitute appearance in Saturday’s final shows that games of magnitude can still pass him by, while Kai Havertz, who put Arsenal ahead on the night, has featured in just 12 league games this campaign after suffering from a significant knee injury.
PSG beat Arsenal on penalties on Saturday to lift the Champions League for the second successive season
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The disappointment didn't stop Arsenal on their trophy parade in London the next day
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So, if the so-called “Arsenal hate watch” is down to their style of play, then it is misplaced. There is always a need for pragmatism – play to your strengths. Arsenal have absolutely done that this year, and the results speak for themselves.
Let’s not forget that Arsenal have won 45 games in all competitions this season. Only five sides in Premier League history have won more, and none have done so in the last five years. They also lost no games in the Champions League this season in 90 minutes.
Looking comparatively, during Chelsea's historic 2004/05 campaign - which is undoubtedly a much more complete side in every sense - José Mourinho's side scored just one goal more than Arsenal did in the league this year (72 vs 71).
And it isn’t as though Arteta hasn't gone for it when he can. Against Burnley, a game in which they won 1–0 and faced the music from opposition fans preying on their downfall as usual, Arteta started Ødegaard, Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard, Saka, and Havertz. That’s a pretty front-footed line-up, but the attack just didn't seem to click, so they relied upon their defensive assuredness to see out the victory; another crucial three points on their way to the title.
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Gabriel, who has been one of Arsenal's most important players this campaign, blazed his crucial penalty over the bar on Saturday
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English stars such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly all experienced more final disappointment
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Of course, there’s a second element to the nation’s hatred: the fans.
Whether it be their “insufferable” delight in having lifted the elusive Premier League trophy after 22 years, or their “embarrassing” reaction to losing in devastating fashion on Saturday – England just can’t seem to stand Arsenal supporters. But isn’t football supposed to be about emotion?
"You can see how it feels - everyone is happy," one supporter at the parade told GB News on Sunday.
"It means everything - this is the first time I've been able to properly see Arsenal win the league... It's a magical moment, really," another said.
Maybe they’re not all bad? Their fans have spent more than two decades waiting for a title triumph. If ever there was a time to celebrate, surely this is it.
Arsenal fans have gained a reputation across the country, and they were left devastated after Saturday's defeat
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Arteta never wanted his team to be likeable – no title challengers do. Even he himself is surely aware of people’s distaste for some of his actions (for example, has anybody ever seen him stand inside the technical area? Or his almost ironic plaudits for the referees during a year of lambasting them when his side were on the right end of a contentious VAR decision against West Ham). But they don’t care, so why should everyone else?
At the end of the day, someone always has to be the villain. Arsenal have flirted with that title for years, but this season, they were royally crowned.
The irony is that the anti-Arsenal movement has now become more exhausting than the club it claims to despise. Fans have become fixated with Arsenal's every result, every celebration and every setback – possibly as a distraction from their own side’s dismay this year.
They have earned the right to celebrate a long-awaited league title, and have comfortably been the best team in England over the course of the season. On Saturday, they just couldn't get it over the line - and their players were devastated, crestfallen.
Now, since Arsenal have won the title and the debate, maybe some fans should stick to focusing on their own team first, and just let them enjoy their deserved and long-awaited trophy celebrations.
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