Arsenal fans around the world on the title race: ‘I feel panic, anxiety, everything’

I will be disappointed if we fail, but I was born to be an Arsenal fan. As long as I’m still alive I’ll keep cheering no matter where the team is.

Jeremy Docteur, France

As with many French football fans in their late 20s to late 30s, supporting Arsenal was the obvious choice because of the number of French players and Arsène Wenger. Henry was my absolute favourite player.

I don’t know what London-based Arsenal fans think of French supporters, but the passion and the intensity is similar. So many regularly make huge sacrifices to go to some games and it is extremely expensive. Most of them support Arsenal stronger than their French team and many don’t even have a French team.

Winning the Premier League is massive because so many fans of the younger generations have never seen Arsenal win it and for people like me the memories are starting to become a little blurry.

I believe it would be an incredible liberation and massive relief for everyone. For the fans, but also for the club overall, the players and definitely for Mikel Arteta.

French Arsenal supporters during a Champions League game in Marseille in 2011. Photograph: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

I have never been sold on the idea that the title race was done and dusted this season. After recent performances I am extremely nervous. It’s not just about the results, it’s about the style of play, the lack of ambition, how tired the entire squad seems to be, the individual errors, the uncharacteristic lack of defensive composure, the indifferent performances some players have put in …

Since January, the matches have been nothing but boring and I suppose as long as you’re winning you don’t really need to worry about it too much. But lately, the results haven’t been coming and that’s a big worry. Especially growing up with Wenger, what we’re seeing from the current team is so, so far from the football played back then.

This season, so many times I felt worried watching games and thinking to myself: “I’m not sure Arsenal will score one goal, but if they concede I have no idea how on earth they’re going to score two.”

If Arsenal don’t win the league, I it could have terrible repercussions. I don’t even want to imagine the meltdown and chaos it will create, especially because I’m not sure another golden opportunity like this season will arise any time soon again, with so many teams being inconsistent and City far from being at their best.

Laurie Laker, USA

Arsenal are one of – if not the – most popular teams in terms of supporter numbers in the US. Depending on how you source your data, it is mostly between us and Liverpool.

On the title race, I’m confident but terrified. Scared. Scarred. Hopeful. All of those things, simultaneously, and more. I won’t lie, it feels era-defining or redefining, potentially. That’s why the nerves are so raw, so real and so all-consuming – because we know what’s at stake and what we could win. It’s potentially so, so brilliant, but it could also be so, so brutal.

A young Arsenal fan during a pre-season friendly between Arsenal and Everton in Baltimore in 2022. Photograph: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

We’re well known for being “bite happy” when interacting with clickbait content. We’re a little sensitive, perhaps, but that stems from wanting real, big success so badly. There’s a real collectivism in that sensitivity, though, and I view it as a strength rather than something to be mocked or incited. What this indicates to me is that when we finally win one of the big things – which, I know in my bones, we will – the collective release will be unlike anything seen before. The party will be truly generational. I can’t wait.

I strongly believe there’s every chance we’ll succeed. To me, it’s about the squad seizing the moment with a positive mindset. Operating from fear never brings joy, so let’s go and do it. It’s there if we want it.

If we go to City with courage we can at a minimum earn a point. City have flattered to deceive until very, very recently this season and we’ve been the best team in the league until recent weeks. I think we’ll get at least a draw, if not a win.

I watch matches with fellow Gooners and friends at our home pub, The Local, in downtown Minneapolis. As a group, we’ve grown significantly in recent years, averaging 80 fans per match. Larger matches average more than 250. It’s a beautiful pub and the atmosphere is unique to our community. Songs are sung, pints are consumed and collective joy, grief, and togetherness are held so, so dearly.

Watching matches with friends and other fans makes every outcome more tolerable, especially the gut-wrenching defeats. You have someone to hang on to afterwards, to unpick what went wrong, to vent your spleen or to wail and gnash your teeth alongside. That joy of a big win, a late smash and grab, a moment that will live on – it’s heightened to the nth degree. I’ve been lucky to have a lot of footballing joy in my life in Arsenal pubs and bars down the years. Those moments may be the closest I’ve come to existing on another plane of joy, euphoria and absolute bedlam. I leave my body, we all do, for those moments. Sharing those together … it’s the best.

Aniefiok Essien, Nigeria

Arsenal is very popular in Nigeria. Most of my friends are Arsenal fans and sometimes more than 50 of us watch games together. I would say we are No 2, with Chelsea No 1, for now, and Manchester United third. There are not many City fans even if they win everything.

I started supporting Arsenal when I was five and I am 29 now. I used to love Thierry Henry and the way the team played. I love the history, how they had financial issues and struggled a long time ago and moved to north London.

Arsenal supporters attending a fan event in Lagos in 2012. Photograph: David Price/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

Arsenal will surely win the league. I am very confident, even though we lost to Bournemouth. Bournemouth are playing well, some of our players have been injured and have played many games. In the past, we have come back well after losing.

Against City, I would say Arsenal should be mindful as City are playing well right now, but we should go and win. If we win or even draw, then we get the league.

I don’t care about the way Arsenal play. Before, we played fancy football, but what did that get us? Nothing. There is nothing wrong with playing to win, just get the three points. I love it when people criticise us as it means we are doing well, they have hated us from the time we moved to north London. We have endured a lot as fans. I tell this to other fans: ‘Here we are, we can withstand anything and keep trying.’ We don’t know what will happen, but we have to try. I can’t imagine what will happen if we don’t win the title now.