ARSENAL FANS, WE asked you how you were feeling ahead of the double run-in.
Ecstatic, nervous, hopeful, stressed, sick. You name it.
Some of those emotions may have eased since Arsenal secured their first Premier League crown in 22 years after Manchester City’s midweek draw with Bournemouth.
The 42 sought your stories, plans and views over the last 10 days, and the responses, both from Ireland and further afield, have been brilliant.
Most of them arrived when Arsenal were still on the brink of domestic glory, with Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace since turning into a title party.
The double is now well and truly on, ahead of the Champions League final against PSG on Saturday 30 May.
“The next two weeks may make up for 22 years of torture,” says Colman from Limerick, who will probably watch the matches from the comfort of his home.
55-year-old Dave Dilling from Austin, Texas, will similarly take solace on his balcony for the Premier League finale against Palace, but will venture to local Arsenal bar The Tavern for the Champions League final.
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“I feel ecstatic Arsenal are in a position to win a double,” says Dave. “That itself is amazing. However, the stress of being an Arsenal fan comes from a feeling that we struggle to dominate or close out towards the end of a campaign.”
Another Gooner, who didn’t include personal details so may prefer to remain anonymous, also outlined their thoughts.
“As an Arsenal fan since 1991 I’ve seen good, I’ve seen bad, I’ve seen amazing and I’ve seen the unthinkable. I’ve never, however, seen us be so close to the famous double.
“I’ve seen Tony Adams bury it to wrap up a 4-0 win versus Everton in 1998, I’ve seen us go unbeaten and win the league at the home of our biggest rivals in 2004. I’ve seen (Sylvain) Wiltord put the icing on the cake at Old Trafford in 2002.
“Now the pain. More recently I’ve seen too many close shaves: losing to Galatasaray in ’00, Barça in ’06, Chelsea more recently in 2019 and even the Cup winners in 1995. The song, ‘Nayim from the halfway line, Seaman he was off his line’ still rings in my ears.
“I’ve seen too many examples of why we could still throw this away. How am I feeling? I don’t even know. Nervous, afraid of failure, too scared to admit success is close.”
Paul Mullally has been an Arsenal fan since he swapped childhood allegiances in 1993.
“I started off as a Liverpool fan just because my brother was, but by the age of seven, I needed to pick my own team and Arsenal were in the FA Cup final and the League Cup final so that was who I chose and have been a devoted fan ever since,” Mullally, who is originally from Kilkenny but has called New Zealand home for the past 15 years, explains.
“I, like most Arsenal fans at present, am nervous. I feel the team is nervous and we all just want them to get over the line as I think once that is achieved this team can go on to do great things.
“Other fans love to poke fun at us as soon as any little thing goes wrong and the reason has to be jealousy as there is arguably not a better run football in England.”
Mullally loves “nothing more than a disrupted Saturday night’s sleep to wake up and watch the Gunners” from Auckland.
“The Champions league is there for the taking, it will be difficult but not impossible and I can’t wait to lay on my couch at 4am to watch it,” he adds.
Colman’s affinity also stretches back to his childhood – and someone else’s fashion choice at the age of seven.
“My mother bought me the yellow away jersey because she liked it in 1987,” he recalls.
“Since then, I have seen the 1-0 Arsenal era of Geogre Graham and the wonder years of (Arsène) Wenger to a huge rebuild of the club.
“The next two weeks may make up for 22 years of torture. 22 years of always being in the top four, but never quite making over the line.
“With a young family, making it over to the Emirates does not happen often so I will probably watch the matches at home. Risking the hurt of losing in public may be a bit too (much).
“Filled with hope, bring on the next two weeks. I may never speak to my family again if it goes wrong.”
Back to Dave Stateside, what would success mean?
“It would be of major significance to win the Premier League or Champions League alone, but if we win a double, I will be over the moon.
“I’ve been an Arsenal supporter since right after the Aaron Ramsey-FA Cup winning season in 2014. That said, I’ve seen two FA Cup wins. Those were huge but after all the time that has passed, we are way overdue for a Premier League win. (Mikel) Arteta is a great fit for the club as manager. We have been in the ascendancy since his arrival, so things have got better each year. He deserves a title.”
With one wrapped up, what about the Champions League final? “Honestly, I’m super proud we are even in this match. I know everyone expects PSG to blow us away or embarrass us, but I suspect the team will show up that day and make us proud.”
Some quotes have been edited for clarity and brevity.
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'The next two weeks may make up for 22 years of torture': Arsenal fans eye double
ARSENAL FANS, WE asked you how you were feeling ahead of the double run-in.
Ecstatic, nervous, hopeful, stressed, sick. You name it.
Some of those emotions may have eased since Arsenal secured their first Premier League crown in 22 years after Manchester City’s midweek draw with Bournemouth.
The 42 sought your stories, plans and views over the last 10 days, and the responses, both from Ireland and further afield, have been brilliant.
Most of them arrived when Arsenal were still on the brink of domestic glory, with Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace since turning into a title party.
The double is now well and truly on, ahead of the Champions League final against PSG on Saturday 30 May.
“The next two weeks may make up for 22 years of torture,” says Colman from Limerick, who will probably watch the matches from the comfort of his home.
55-year-old Dave Dilling from Austin, Texas, will similarly take solace on his balcony for the Premier League finale against Palace, but will venture to local Arsenal bar The Tavern for the Champions League final.
“I feel ecstatic Arsenal are in a position to win a double,” says Dave. “That itself is amazing. However, the stress of being an Arsenal fan comes from a feeling that we struggle to dominate or close out towards the end of a campaign.”
Another Gooner, who didn’t include personal details so may prefer to remain anonymous, also outlined their thoughts.
“I’ve seen Tony Adams bury it to wrap up a 4-0 win versus Everton in 1998, I’ve seen us go unbeaten and win the league at the home of our biggest rivals in 2004. I’ve seen (Sylvain) Wiltord put the icing on the cake at Old Trafford in 2002.
“Now the pain. More recently I’ve seen too many close shaves: losing to Galatasaray in ’00, Barça in ’06, Chelsea more recently in 2019 and even the Cup winners in 1995. The song, ‘Nayim from the halfway line, Seaman he was off his line’ still rings in my ears.
“I started off as a Liverpool fan just because my brother was, but by the age of seven, I needed to pick my own team and Arsenal were in the FA Cup final and the League Cup final so that was who I chose and have been a devoted fan ever since,” Mullally, who is originally from Kilkenny but has called New Zealand home for the past 15 years, explains.
“I, like most Arsenal fans at present, am nervous. I feel the team is nervous and we all just want them to get over the line as I think once that is achieved this team can go on to do great things.
“Other fans love to poke fun at us as soon as any little thing goes wrong and the reason has to be jealousy as there is arguably not a better run football in England.”
Mullally loves “nothing more than a disrupted Saturday night’s sleep to wake up and watch the Gunners” from Auckland.
“The Champions league is there for the taking, it will be difficult but not impossible and I can’t wait to lay on my couch at 4am to watch it,” he adds.
Colman’s affinity also stretches back to his childhood – and someone else’s fashion choice at the age of seven.
“My mother bought me the yellow away jersey because she liked it in 1987,” he recalls.
“Since then, I have seen the 1-0 Arsenal era of Geogre Graham and the wonder years of (Arsène) Wenger to a huge rebuild of the club.
“With a young family, making it over to the Emirates does not happen often so I will probably watch the matches at home. Risking the hurt of losing in public may be a bit too (much).
“Filled with hope, bring on the next two weeks. I may never speak to my family again if it goes wrong.”
Back to Dave Stateside, what would success mean?
“It would be of major significance to win the Premier League or Champions League alone, but if we win a double, I will be over the moon.
“I’ve been an Arsenal supporter since right after the Aaron Ramsey-FA Cup winning season in 2014. That said, I’ve seen two FA Cup wins. Those were huge but after all the time that has passed, we are way overdue for a Premier League win. (Mikel) Arteta is a great fit for the club as manager. We have been in the ascendancy since his arrival, so things have got better each year. He deserves a title.”
With one wrapped up, what about the Champions League final? “Honestly, I’m super proud we are even in this match. I know everyone expects PSG to blow us away or embarrass us, but I suspect the team will show up that day and make us proud.”
Some quotes have been edited for clarity and brevity.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
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