Why being an Arsenal fan is so pleasant in 2023.

By Tyler Mulvaney

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Photo credit: Arsenal.com (https://www.arsenal.com/season-schedule-premier-league-fixtures-europa-league-world-cup)

Contextualizing the past 20 years as an Arsenal fan

Let's face it: being an Arsenal fan has not been the easiest thing since the 2003/2004 season (post Invincibles).

There have been several challenging seasons since that glorious achievement - particularly in the premier league. The next 12 seasons would see Arsenal finishing in various positions between 2nd and 4th, at least maintaining their presence in the Champions League. During this time, there was relative success in the cup competitions, with the team winning 5 FA Cups, and 5 Community Shields (an accomplishment that's merit lies in the eye of the beholder).

The 2016/2017 season was the first time that Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League since the tournament gained its prestigious title in 1998/1999. Prior to being named the Champions League, Arsenal's presence within Europe's top tournament was almost non-negotiable.

The 2016/2017 season felt like the beginning of a downfall for Arsenal Football Club. The pride of the club rested on statements such as "We play beautiful football", and "We have a golden premier league trophy". It simply wasn't good enough.

Photo credit: Daily Post https://dailypost.ng/2017/07/18/arsenal-failed-qualify-next-seasons-champions-league-wenger/)

But the problems lay beyond the footballing pitch.

Arsenal's approach to the transfer market was not looked upon favorably. There was a growing understanding that none of the players were certain to stay at the club, with notable departures such as Francesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, and Samir Nasir (the latter 2 players being sold to rival clubs with Fabregas' later return to another rival).

Similarly, the recruitment strategy of the club did not seem to have much foresight. Players with the wrong profiles were brought in to plug holes that they simply were not capable of doing.

It was a mess. Moving on from Arsene Wenger was looking like an unscalable mountain looming large on the horizon of the club's future.

Enter Mikel Arteta.

Photo Credit: Arsenal.com (https://www.arsenal.com/news/arteta-press-conference-every-single-word)

The young Spanish coach moved from Manchester City to Arsenal in December 2019 to take over from Unai Emery.

It was difficult to judge the club's progress in his first season. The team finished 8th in the premier league which was their worst finish since the 1994/1995 campaign. He did, however, manage to lead the team to silverware in the form of the FA Cup.

Opinions were divided on his approach to managing the team but everyone could safely agree on one thing: he was going to do things his way.

The 2020/2021 season was probably one of the most difficult seasons to watch. There were signs of good football but the club finished 8th once again and every decision made by Mikel Arteta and his team were under intense scrutiny. The fan base was divided. The players seemed disillusioned by the club. Even our previous "We play football" suit of armor was losing its' shine.

The 2021/2022 season was the season where real changes were becoming evident within the club. Although the club narrowly missed out on the highly sought-after place in the Champions League to their bitter rivals, Tottenham Hotspurs, it was clear that the club had grown in leaps and bounds. And that the future was looking bright.

But it was not all sunshine and roses. Many fans believe that, had the club recruited a striker in January after expelling their captain and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal would have gotten over the line and back into the Champions League. A lack of movement and magic in the January transfer window had certain fans calling for Edu's head. There were questions that needed answering.

Photo Credit: https://sportune.20minutes.fr/sport-business/football/arsenal-salaires-saison-2021-2022-270325

And here we are in 2023. The campaign has started off exceptionally well for Arsenal and, regardless of the outcome of the season, it is one of the best times to be a fan of this immense club. Certainly within the context of the past 20 years or so.

But what is it at this point in time that makes us feel so proud? Arsenal have yet to win anything significant in terms of silverware. There are some key factors that have contributed to these feelings of pride and joy.

A genuine connection to the fans

During his first interview at the club, Mikel Arteta highlighted some key factors that he wanted to focus on. He spoke about changing the energy, building a culture, and engaging the fans.

The first two targets have undoubtedly been achieved. There has been a definite shift in energy, with players buying into Arteta's plan and the direction in which the club is moving. The culture around the club has also changed. Arteta has consistently imposed his ideas of what the right culture is. Sometimes with questionable decisions in cases such as Mattéo Guendouzi and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. In both of these cases, however, the evidence shows that the dedication to this new culture has reaped some reward.

The connection to the fanbase has been one of the most exceptional parts of being an Arsenal fan. There has been a serious commitment from the big wigs at Arsenal in this regard. As an Arsenal fan, I feel heard. I feel valued. I feel appreciated.

That doesn't mean that everything has been perfect. In fact, the management team (led by the Kroenke Sports and Entertainment group) made a critical error with the Super League fiasco in 2021.

So what happened? Well, there were several plans and actions implemented by Arsenal Football Club that contribute to this fan connection.

The most obvious one being an improvement in the style of football being played by the team. This one speaks for itself: playing good football makes fans happy. Take Manchester United for example. When their level of football is down, social media is bombarded with "Glazers Out" posts. When they are playing well, the blaming the Glazers becomes almost obsolete and most fans forget about it. It is similar with Arsenal. Good football = happy fans.

But it runs deeper than that. The club has done some really clever things to improve relations with the fans. The first example of which is the All or Nothing documentary.

Image credit: https://www.amazon.com/All-Nothing-Arsenal-Season-1/dp/B0B5KCJ9YX

The basic premise of the show is that the Amazon Prime documentary crew has access to be behind closed doors for the duration of the season. In Arsenal's case, viewers were able to see behind-the-scenes footage of the 2021/2022 season. Which, as previously mentioned, was one of the best seasons for the fans over the past 20 years.

So what did this documentary do to improve relations with the fans? Well, on a superficial level it gave us an opportunity to see our favorite players within the context of the club. With various interviews and flattering footage of them. Of course, the documentary was always going to be positioned in a beneficial way for Arsenal Football Club.

But beyond these cameos and tidbits lay the real benefits of the documentary: understanding and closure. As fans, our understanding of the club deepened as we got to 'meet' people like Edu Gaspar, Vinai Venkatesham, and Josh Kroenke. We got to see a tiny window into how the club is run. We gained a bit of an understanding of who Josh Kroenke is. We even got a slight explanation as to why the club got involved in the highly controversial European Super League. In terms of closure, the fans were given more of an explanation as to why the club parted ways with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. We also got closure in terms of the season as a whole. The culmination of the season was very difficult for Arsenal fans, especially due to how the club narrowly missed out on the Champions League. It was a great remedy and offered meaningful closure. Overall, the documentary was a success.

But the connection to the fans lies much deeper than in a well-positioned documentary. That connection is epitomized in the form of the newly-revealed artwork at the Emirates stadium. And no, the connection is not simply the inclusion of different flags from different countries - although that is pretty awesome.

Image credit: https://www.arsenal.com/news/take-closer-look-our-new-emirates-artworks

Instead, the connection to the fans lies in the process undertaken to come up with the ideas behind the stadium artwork. Clive Palmer and Tim Stillman from The Arsenal Vision Post-Match Podcast explained what it was like to be involved in the process. Various fans from various backgrounds were called on to participate. According to Clive, participants were given a blank piece of paper and a pen and asked to explain what they would like to see on the Emirates Stadium. Ideas such as diversity, inclusion, and tradition were common amongst fans. And while this may seem somewhat predictable, the challenge for the club lay in ensuring that these ideas are translated meaningfully rather than simply a PR stunt to make the fans happy. When the club revealed the designs, something miraculous happened: Arsenal fans were united across all mediums. And so, the connection to the fans deepened. A moment to be proud.

Recruitment strategies and Hale End

Many Arsenal fans' nightmares are haunted by decisions made by the club when it comes to recruitment: both in terms of incomings and outgoings. Our history is littered with questionable acquisitions and painful sales. And, although many fans are divided on Edu Gaspar's approach and results, it is clear to see that there is a recruitment strategy in place. Rather than scratching open old wounds such as Robin Van Persie and Francesc Fabregas, let's focus on the transfer windows since the 2020/2021 season, looking at incomings and outgoings.

In terms of outgoing players, there was a feeling that Edu and his team were really trying to 'clean up' the books. Fringe players on high wages were moved on and the club seemed to move away from the idea of selling their assets - possibly because there were so few high-value assets to begin with. Players such as Kolasinac, Sokratis, Mkhitaryan, Torreira, Bellerin, Lacazette and Cedric Soares said their farewells. Although these players served purposes within their time at the club, the time had come for them to move on and for the club to move on from them. Players like Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, and Guendouzi were also shipped off, with an understanding that their dispositions may not have been quite the right fit for Mikel Arteta's team.

The recruitment strategy can also be considered successful, especially from the 2021/2022 window onwards. Players such as Ben White, Martin Ødegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, and Takehiro Tomiyasu came in and stabilized the team. And, although these signings were not what one would consider 'glamourous', they were just what was needed and they would go on to become significant players in the club. The 2022/2023 summer transfer window saw signings such as Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Fábio Vieira - signings that could indeed be considered 'glamourous'. The age profile of these incomings showed that Arsenal was building for the present but also very much for the future with the current average age of the squad sitting at 25 years old.

It is, however, important to talk about the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 January transfer windows. During the 21/22 season, there was a clear understanding that Arsenal needed to sign a striker. And, although there were links to players like Dušan Vlahović, the club did not bring anyone in. As previously mentioned, several fans believe that this lack of action is the main reason that Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League. However, both Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have expressed the importance of not panicking and only signing players that would be the right fit. This approach seems clear within the context of the 22/23 January transfer window. Arsenal were heavily linked to both Mykhailo Mudryk and Moisés Caicedo for exceptionally high transfer fees - fees that the club seemed willing to pay. Just like the window of one year prior, Arsenal refused to be bullied and would only go to a price that they felt was fair. In the end, the club missed out on both players. However, unlike the previous January transfer window, the club had lined up very suitable alternatives with the likes of Leandro Trossard and Jorginho being brought in. Once again, the club had shown that they had grown and learned from past experiences.

Not only has the club shown that there is an eye on the outside world, but there is also serious attention to detail paid to growing our own players in Hale End. Arsenal has always been well-known for producing young talent within the academy and moving them up into the first team. Tony Adams. Ashley Cole. Jack Wilshere. Francesc Fabregas. These are just some of the standout players from Arsenal's decorated youth. Currently, players such as Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe are representing the first team - a serious point of pride for the fans. Players like Folarin Balogun and Charlie Patino are currently on loan, chomping at the bit for their opportunities to rejoin the team and help build success. As a fan, there is undeniable pride knowing that the club is not only able to recruit smartly, but that there is genuine dedication to investing in the youth.

Image Credit: https://www.goal.com/en/news/hale-end-smith-rowe-saka-academy-arsenal-future/a63gbegn1z6b1tf2bcm09aio8

An Identifiable Identity

During Arsène Wenger's reign as manager, Arsenal developed a real identity within the world of football. He was known to have revolutionized the game, leading teams to playing some of the most attractive football ever seen. And, although his final few seasons were not covered in glory, his departure left a real void within the club. His successor, Unai Emery, had a difficult time at the helm. For various reasons, the Spaniard was sacked just 18 months after his appointment. The club was in trouble. Difficult times lay ahead.

Prior to coming to Arsenal, Mikel Arteta worked underneath one of the most influential managers in modern football: Pep Guardiola. And, although he was highly spoken of by both managers and players alike, there was concern attached to his lack of experience. This concern did hold some truth, with the young Spaniard facing real adversity as manager. Be that as it may, one thing was clear: he had a clear vision of what he was trying to achieve within the club. In the early days of his managerial career, it was said that he was trying to turn Arsenal into a "Manchester City Lite". And, although the comparisons were inevitable, he has shown that he has his own tactical and managerial styles that he brings to the game.

So what is this identifiable identity within Arsenal Football Club? Is it as simple as having a good manager who is able to implement a game plan? Perhaps. But it runs much deeper than that.

Being an Arsenal fan right now is a true point of pride for a lot of people. We have overcome various challenges and we have done so in a way that we can hold our heads high. Yes, there have been mistakes. But everything feels clean. The club has owned up to their mistakes. The club has acted in a manner that allows fans to point and say "look at how we did it". We have invested smart. We have taken care of things that matter. We have shown that there is space for youth and experience. We have done things the right way.

We are Arsenal Football Club and we are proud.