The criticism reminds me of a friend from San Diego in southern California – he’s an insanely committed Leeds United fan. I wouldn’t dare tell him he’s not a real Leeds fan.

And to see how stupid it is to talk about non-Brits/non-Londoners not qualifying as “real” Gooners, just look at our players – not exactly all Holloway and Highbury boys are they? Even in the days I started going to games, only a minority were vaguely local – most of the first team were Irish, with plenty from northern England, Scotland or elsewhere.

Our best managers? Herbert Chapman was from the People’s Republic of Yorkshire, George Graham is a Scot and the Prof, well say no more. And the Hill-Wood family, so long connected with the club? They hail from Derbyshire.

Even the club itself isn’t even from North London, having its roots in far-off Woolwich.

“I gave my opinion and there is nothing personal in it and I completely understand other managers might have another opinion,” Wenger said.

“I am one of the few who really says what he thinks. I am not scared. I give my opinion without any aggression.” skysports dec 18

Is it just me, or is that the most beautifully arrogant check mate ever heard. That of course referring to Pulis just loosing his temper and head butting Beattie

The attack continues.
Johnny foreigner watch out.

As Rza from the Wu-Tang said once upon a time:

‘It’s War **********.’

It is most gratifying that Arsenal have so many fans from all over the world & I certainly would not want to say any of you are not true Gooners or Gunners (as it would be for my day).

The English PL has indeed become a global game because of the widespread tv coverage, giving almost the whole world, the opportunity to watch it, combined with so many players also coming from all the continents.

A difference, I think is, that for people in England, certainly for Tony’s & my generation, your club virtually chose you – it was Arsenal or Tottenham, the clubs you could easily get to or the one your dad supported, whilst the non local person, can now select who they want to support, for whatever reason, & probably at a later age in life.

In my country where 95% of poeole support Liverpool or Manu, it’s hard enough to pick a fight here. But I never ever encounter an Arsenal fan here who behave like those so called morons.

To me, it’s an act of stupidity, selfishness, and borderline incrimination.

I even have a friend who support Boro, would you believe, and I know a true meaning of real fan when I realize how much pain he was in when his team got relegated. And he’s still following the team everyday praying for promotion.

How lucky are us that we have this great team as our beloved club.

Some people are so spoiled. Being born there in close proximity is lucky…it doesn’t in any way automatically grant them the true/royal fans status.

I will try my hardest to make it to London in this lifetime to see Arsenal live. The cost for me would be enormous, but that’s just how much I love this team.

Am I not a real fan?

jamaican gooner nailed it. epl, now bpl – b for barclays bank, global powerhouse – is a global phenom. all the teams benefit from the global appeal of the sport. where would manutd, liverpool, esp. chels., or arsenal be without global tv revenues? or the CL? or, heaven forbid that AMERICAN sponsor Nike? yes, gunners pull big dollars from gate, but thats not the only source of cash.

and here’s a good one: the home ground is “emirates” stadium. an airline in the middle east! so denizens of dubai arent allowed to be true fans? ridiculous.

so hate all you want. at least accept the facts: absent global market, appeal, and cash flow, arsenal are just another burnley. at least at this point in history.

granted, new fans, i believe, have a responsibility to learn club history and culture. otherwise, they are embarassing posuers. and any fool wearing an arsenal kit and uttering words such as, “whos herbert chapman” should be instantly slapped, defrocked, and wedgie-ed.

happy christmas all!

To all those who are unable to attend matches, simply laugh if anyone ever says you are not a real fan. You know the truth. If you get that frisson of excitement in your gut before kickoff, that tingle of anticipation, and if you find yourself daydreaming about Cesc passing to RvP in the middle of the day, then you are probably a “real” fan. And I bet there are plenty of people that are season ticket holders that are lesser fans than you are. Having the money to afford tickets and the good fortune to live in London does not make you a fan.

Uh Mike, Utd already lost at Burnley this season. They are a good team at home. That was a good draw last night.

And who is saying “we havent got any money”? Where on this board did you last see that excuse used. We have 100million cash reserves sitting in our account right now and AW has 25million extra from the Adebayor/Toure sales. Who says “we havent got any money”? What people might be saying is that we shouldnt be spending money on crap. I imagine you would probably think spending 30million on Robinho, 25million on Adebayor, and 20million on Lescott is “good” business. Yeah right. Those three also have 8million a year EACH in salary. So that is 100million on those three players that City spent. Gee, they got value for money. Were you one of those people asking that AW sign Felipe Melo for 20million last summer, you know the guy just voted “Flop of the Year” by the Italian public for his abysmal displays for Juventus?

Mike, spending money is easy. Spending money wisely is difficult. Chelsea are still being rewarded for the wonderful 49million that Mourinho spent on Essien and Drogba. Without those two Chelsea always start looking like a very average team (playing without those two is what got Scolari fired last year). So tell us Mike, where is the equivalent of Essien and Drogba out there right now, as we will of course listen to yopur wise and sage advice?

Why do you come onto this board to rant like that? There are plenty of people who would agree with you on other blogs. Here we prefer to actually engage our brains. We realise that is the more difficult option and requires some patience and effort, but we feel that it is actually worth it and makes supporting our beloved Arsenal so much more rewarding. Try it sometime, simply breath and relax for a moment before doing something radical……….thinking.

I know its scary. But it can be very very exciting when you try.

Mike above, could be on every game, but I really wandering does he support Arsenal FC, or his own projection of what should Arsenal be.

But for the last 25 years or so I have lived in the Midlands (currently about 100 miles from the Ems).

When I meet people for the first time and we talk about our lives, I sometimes might say that my passion is football (especially at the moment when I want to tell everyone about my book on the Arsenal).

What often happens is people say, “Why do you support them when you live in the Midlands?” It is as if they feel that the bond between you and your local team which existed 100 years ago (another reference to my book) should continue now.

But why should it? I don’t feel a close bond with Tottenham, nor with Dorset or Devon, the other counties I have lived in, in England, nor with Algiers, where I lived for a year.

Just because you live or lived somewhere there is no relationship with who you support. If you live in London and support Arsenal then that’s a bonus. Just like having a season ticket or silver membership.

Tony