What is it That Makes You A Gooner? A Call To Arms
by Jamie Dalton:
I’m not going to write a lot about West Brom, just to say thank you to Alan Cleverley and Bob Taylor for sorting me out with tickets for the game.
What I want to write about is what happened after, and what will probably happen until the International Break is over.
We are all hurting after watching Arsenal’s demise in three competitions, I actually emerged from The Hawthorns MORE positive, coming from 2-0 with 20 minutes to go showed some character, character I thought was lost weeks ago.
We need to stick together through these times, When Liverpool were going through the Hicks & Gilette saga, the fans stuck together, re-grouped, channelled energies in the right way, and have come out better for it. When Manchester United go through a “mini-crisis”, the fans regroup, get behind the team and other fans, and come back stronger. When Arsenal go through a crisis, all anyone looks is for someone to blame.
The bile and vitriol that is spat out on Social Media following a below-par Arsenal performance is horrendous. Players subject to vile abuse, player’s relatives on Twitter receiving abuse even though the sibling isn’t playing. It really is the last place I ever want to be.
There is always a niggling undercurrent of resent from some fans directed at Season Ticket holders. Holding a season ticket holder at Arsenal is rarer that Rocking-Horse Droppings, a thing to cherish, whether it is because they get preference for the big games, or some assumptions that ST holders think they are better than the rest, there is this nasty feeling you get from others less fortunate.
What people don’t seem to take into mind is that Arsenal have the most expensive tickets in the league, and certainly the most expensive Season tickets. Before a ball is kicked in anger, some Gooners will have paid anything from £1,300 to £5,000 for the honour of watching Arsenal. With Britain teetering on the edge of Recession for a second time, with the cluster of Home games that have occurred straight after Christmas, Can you blame some people who simply can’t afford it for not making the trip to The Emirates on a Wednesday night for The Orient game? I don’t like the thought of it, but I understand it. What the club needs to do is remove FA Cup games from the ST list, charge Carling Cup prices or introduce an opt-out scheme for ST holders who could log on and say they aren’t attending, meaning the ticket can be sold to a more willing person.
Yesterday was a pretty bleak day for all the Gooners on Twitter, some UK based tweeters were casting aspersions on how much of a “Real Fan” some people who just happen to be born outside the UK are. I tell you what, I’d find it bloody hard to stay up or wake up for 1 Arsenal game that kicked-off at 2am, 3am, 4am in whatever timezone I was in, yet these Gooners religiously set their alarms 40-50 times a season and watch, maybe not live, maybe not even on TV, some find a scrambly, jagged internet stream just for the satisfication that they aren’t missing out. I’ve met some wonderful Gooners that have never made it to Islington, that set up fan clubs in places where they live, to commandeer pubs at all times to watch Arsenal. These people are as much of a Gooner as a guy born 5 minutes from Highbury and been watching live for 40 years, and I’m proud my club’s support reaches worldwide.
But we should be allowed to criticise, now probably isn’t the best time, but people who pay their hard earned money in whatever way to support Arsenal deserve a voice, Arsenal are by no means a perfect club and if sometimes your mistakes aren’t pointed out to you, you never learn from them.
9 games to go. 810 minutes. We’re 2nd, not 12th. Everybody needs to pull together for 810 minutes AND THEN we can run the rule over the season and the post-mortem can start. We can win this league and we can be the 12th man. Players can hear the booing and the fractious atmosphere and it rubs off on players.
We are all in this together for another 810 minutes. Let’s win together, lose together or draw together. But let’s be together.
Victory through Harmony. Never have three words sounded so true.
Until next time.
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Actually, The term “Gooner” comes from a legendary fan round Highbury way called Denton. Denton had heard on the grapevine that some Spurs fans had intended to start calling Arsenal fans “Gooners” as a insult. Instead of that, Denton immediately started referring to Arsenal fans and himself as a “Gooner” to turn a negative into a positive. He was the original Gooner and certainly no hooligan. Sadly lost his life in a car accident in Moscow a few years ago.
@Jamie Dalton,
I’ve read so many things about the origin of Gooner. Most times, that it came from The Hard (the hooligan story) and as far flung as having to with Swedish fans inability to pronounce Gunner (related to Anders Limpar?).
I kind of like that there’s no one explanation that seems universally accepted. It underscores the idea that no one person owns the definition of what it means to be a Gooner.
Nice article. Obviously articulating the thoughts of some Gooners.
But ummm…
yes… getting behind the team and showing it support IN THE STADIUM is one thing…
on the internet or 6000 miles away… does NOT help or hinder the team, in any way, shape or form.
In terms of being a REAL FAN.
I’ve heard it all.
Folks who say you have to be from Highbury or you’re not REALLY a fan…. or from London… or from England…
There are those that think if you’re not in the UK, you aren’t REALLY a fan…
When you go out of your way… change your schedule around matches… MAKE your daily schedule around matches… travel to matches… travel across the world to watch matches… you’re a fan.
You’re a supporter.
If you only follow or come around when we’re winning… I don’t think you deserve props.
We all want the team to win… some people are OK with us just playing nice football, or being “entertaining”…
With the fans being soaked by the highest ticket prices in England, Europe, or perhaps the world… for soccer…
I personally believe the fans deserve a bit more for their money, than the club winning the Profit League.
Yes. I want the team to win the last 8 matches and win the league.
But in reality… we are HIGHLY unlikely to do so, and there IS someone who deserves the majority of the blame… and he runs the show.
Nice article. Obviously articulating the thoughts of some Gooners.
But ummm…
yes… getting behind the team and showing it support IN THE STADIUM is one thing…
on the internet or 6000 miles away… does NOT help or hinder the team, in any way, shape or form.
In terms of being a REAL FAN.
I’ve heard it all.
Folks who say you have to be from Highbury or you’re not REALLY a fan…. or from London… or from England…
There are those that think if you’re not in the UK, you aren’t REALLY a fan…
When you go out of your way… change your schedule around matches… MAKE your daily schedule around matches… travel to matches… travel across the world to watch matches… you’re a fan.
You’re a supporter.
If you only follow or come around when we’re winning… I don’t think you deserve props.
We all want the team to win… some people are OK with us just playing nice football, or being “entertaining”…
With the fans being soaked by the highest ticket prices in England, Europe, or perhaps the world… for soccer…
I personally believe the fans deserve a bit more for their money, than the club winning the Profit League.
Yes. I want the team to win the last 8 matches and win the league.
But in reality… we are HIGHLY unlikely to do so, and there IS someone who deserves the majority of the blame… and he runs the show.
Welcome new posters and nice article Jamie….a breath of fresh air is always appreciated….
What makes me a Gunner/Gooner is the fact that I lived (very briefly) at 17 Highbury Terrace and saw the passion of the club and the supporters up close and personal. Being placed at this address (while my wife taught exchange students) was as close as I will come to believing in a deity…..
It was in the Fall of ’06, the exchange rate was 2-1 (dollars to pounds) and I am a dirtbag. I’ve always been interested in soccer/football and I’ve tried to attend matches when I traveled (even saw Maradona play in Naples in 1990) but the int’l game (on TV, that was all we got) always left me flat….Once I figured out what that bright light was and discovered the stadium (literally 200 yards away) it was on for me….. I tried to get tickets from the touts but there were none to be had….Others were coming up to ME offering 100 pounds (per ticket) and this was against the likes of Watford, Everton and CSKA Moscow….In retrospect, I wish I had tried harder and been willing to have spent more…..
Instead I watched in the pubs with the other displaced locals, some grizzled from too many years in the rain, others just priced out….And the passion was INTENSE. I had one guy kiss me with the 2nd goal (vs Liverpool) and announce to the assembled crowd that I was his (American) good luck charm with the 3rd….. He also drew back a fist at the fellow behind us who was criticizing the team and they eventually went chest to chest: “Are you a Gunner?” “I’m a Gunner, mate. I’m a Gunner….” Whoa…..
At the smaller pub where my son (then 4) and I rather became locals (the Compton Arms) I was astonished to see Rosie (about 45 and over her glass of white wine….) scream at the TV set for her boys to “Go on”…..It was not your stupid American Sports bar scene, not in the least….
From then on, I was hooked and I took a liking to the more “cosmopolitan” elements of the team, the French manager, plundering the Francophone world for talent, obviously trying to play a better brand of football in a very modern venue, etc., etc, swimming against the tide of the English lump it or leave it game….
Obviously it was a disappointing season and the hits just kept coming. Somehow I stumbled across Arsenal America and read the “debate” and learned A LOT about football and the history of the club and more….And I saw the hope (irrational, I thought) that the team could win the title in the 07-08 season….and then the disappointment when we limped in.
Again I see the hope and again I say it’s irrational. Still, I don’t think Mark Schwarzer nor the great unnamed 10 million pound CB we should have bought in January will do the trick. And I think Voychek Sneezy and LK6 will be solid contributors, if not Arsenal legends, and I’ll sacrifice a Carling Cup to give them playing opportunities. But that’s just me.
Hopefully our boys recover from their injuries, find a little spirit and do enough to hang on for a guaranteed CL spot (top 3) while the Sugar Daddy clubs (Chelsea, Man City) beat United in the cups. IMO there is a new big 4 (for the moment) and we’re (at least somewhat) in there. Who knows, with an odd bounce of the ball or 3, things might go even better….Feeling the rivalries as I do, I also really, really hope that we can at least not lose to Spurs at WHL and United at the Grove…..
I realize that this is not enough for some, but I think Arsenal as a club is rock solid and that the future is strong. Who knows how long I have on this earth, but I hope to be a Gunner (Gooner?) til I die…..
@highburyterracesteve,
Great story Steve.
2nd that emotion Steve. Great story and great read.
I loved this article because it feels me with pride when I hear about Arsenal fans passionate about the club even though they come from other Countries. It’s like we are one big family spread all around the world. I feel privileged to have a season ticket and will never take that for granted
Thank you for this. I’m one of those non-UK-based Gooner who gets up at 1, 2, 3 or 4 am (depending on the kick-off and whether it’s already BST or not) and I do resent those who insinuate that I’m not a real Gooner based on my location.
Yes, we have issues but hey like you said, despite these, we’re at 2nd place. Not at 12th or God forbid, fighting relegation.
@Adek,
We have the highest matchday gate takings in WORLD football … yet you are thankful we are not in the relegation zone?
Strange.
Strange. What I said is that while we do have issues, we’re still in 2nd place, not fighting relegation. The way people have been moaning about, it’s as if we’re in the bottom half of the table instead.
@Adek,
False argument.
If we ever dropped to the bottom half of the table Wenger will deserve to be shot out of a cannon back to Strassbourg.
False argument? False argument? I don’t think you even understand my point.
We will NEVER drop to the bottom half of the table with Wenger at the helm.
@Adek,
Yeah, false argument. Like the argument Wenger was making the other day about how “nobody expected Arsenal to make top four at the start of the season”.
Delusional and false argument from the French master of spin.
Arsenal, with the highest gate takings in the world and one of the highest player wage bills in Europe, will never drop to the bottom half of the table with ANY other manager either. Again, false argument.
@Adek,
This goes back to a point that started coming up on AA around 4 seasons back. Is 2nd (3rd? 4th) the new 1st? Are the quarter-finals the new semis? Is making the final just as good as taking home the trophy?
People are not moaning about 2nd place. People are frustrated because, once again, Arsenal is simply not good enough. Because the club appears built to satisfying people like yourself for whom ‘almost good enough’ is the new high standard. People who say things like “At least we’re not fighting relegation!”
Well, no. We’re not in the lower half of the table. We’re not W.B.A, either. Is that really the standard you think AFC should be measured by? (Forgetting for a minute that we couldn’t even beat them this season.)
Or is Arsenal among the Elite? One of the richest, most resourceful clubs in the world? Should a rare, well positioned club such as Arsenal not actually be a Winner? Or, I dunno, maybe have more than one or two World Class players? Or even a top class, experienced GK?
When you lower the standard to the point when you’re happy we’re not a perennial also-ran, fighting for our Premier League life–an absolute doomsday scenario–that’s what Fred means by False Argument. It’s not based on reality.
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Fred, nobody is saying that thecsquad is perfect and nobody us in denial but it is closer to perfection than the squads of Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs or City plus the rest of the English clubs and most of the rest of the world because the league is the best guage of that. In terms of potential the squad is much better than the Man U squad. Not to mention the injury problems this year. What’s all the whinging about ? and don’t say 6 years without a trophy because we’re looking at the present, not the past.
@Charlie,
Okay the present season…
We just lost the CC final to B’ham City. And scrambled to save a point from W.B.A. (A team we failed to beat this, present year…despite their languishing near the relegation zone.)
This season we also gagged away a Prem record four-goal lead against Newcastle (and a two-goal lead against Spurs).
This season, we drew Leeds and Leyton Orient, lost to Ipswich. I guess none are a gauge, though, since they’re not even in our League?
This season we failed to shore up our defense, again, most glaringly at keeper. (Among other transfer shortcomings.)
This season, there is still no column in the table for ‘potential’–despite hearing how we’ve led the PL in potential 6 years straight. So this season, United has once again proven better than us by every actual, real life, tangible statistic.
This season, like the last few, injuries are a lovely excuse. Except that every club deals with them. Meanwhile, how many have called themselves challengers and flamed out in March three years running? (And check the rear-view mirror. Here comes Chelsea.)
So, there’s the present. Can’t blame some of us for noticing how much it looks like the recent past.
@vibe4arsenal,
As Paul Merson would say, that post was “top top draw”.
I believe our winning streak this season is three or four games and to win the league we’ll need to win at least eight. So it looks like we’ll have to make history while ignoring it at the same time.
@Charlie,
Hahaha! Vibe completely rebuted your argument. But I’ll add some more ….
“In terms of potential the squad is much better than the Man U squad.”
Hahahahhahhahahaha …. what potential? Denilson, Diaby, Eboue and co? Nasri and Fabregas that might be leaving? More potential than Man U? That is just plain false and backed up by thin air.
“Not to mention the injury problems this year.”
Like we ALL did not see that coming. You’ll will keep blaming injuries for the next 10 years.
Wenger will never win anything again. He needs to be sacked ASAP.
This is exactly my sentiments, sir I salute you. No doubt the frustrations of 6 years without a trophy cause some people to demand wholesale changes but as you say, this is not the time. Now is the time to get the best out of the players that are on the pitch and the seasons’ performance can be analysed when we know whether or not we are champions.
It should be gunner not gooner,the word gooner originates from the hooligan element,all arsenal fans that call themselves gooners should stop doing so….
The season finished against birmigham,we can’t even beat sunderland or westbrom,so what makes people think that this bunch of chockers will beat.liverpool,stoke,united,spurs,bolton…..
@dan,
i think the word “gunner” is even more macabre than “gooner”.
I always imagined gunners were the players and gooners were the fans.
its just a nick.
@dan, ummm.
Dan. Every Brit I know that supports Arsenal … are GOONERS. Arsenal’s hooligans…. oh yeah, they were quite notorious!
We’re Gooners. That’s the history. The team are the Gunners.
But whatever.
“We need to stick together through these times, When Liverpool were going through the Hicks & Gilette saga, the fans stuck together, re-grouped, channelled energies in the right way, and have come out better for it. When Manchester United go through a “mini-crisis”, the fans regroup, get behind the team and other fans, and come back stronger. When Arsenal go through a crisis, all anyone looks is for someone to blame.”
1) So when there is a problem (the SAME problem area for 6 years) there is nobody to blame? Isnt that problem denial?
2) Man U fans all get behind ManU and all against the Glazers.
Liverpool fans all get behind Liverpool and against the Hicks and Gillettes! They also got together against Rafa and Roy.
How about the AKBs get a realistic and unite against the French Ego on legs.
@Fred,
Fred if there is a groundswell against Wenger it is only still a minority – many fans still see things like injuries and what not as the primary reason why there are issues with the club.
They do criticize Wenger for players like Denilson but they do not see him as the primary reason to the teams ills.
Now, that being said there definitely is a rising current in the movement to thank Wenger, give him montblanc pen and move him into a big office with the board. But it is still not the majority of fans I contend.
It actually is the subject of my next article – which is a series of three surveys targetting 1000 Arsenal fans – each survey is a set of 10 questions. The first will be 10 questions on the manager, the second the players and the third is the organization in its entirety.
ill tell you what makes me a gooner…ive watched arsenal for about 11 years now and what makes me a true gooner is that no matter how much im let down by the team and the manager, even when we loose vital games and finals, even if we have not won a trophy for almost 6 years now! i still contine to hold my head high and when people ask who i support i say arsenal with a smile on my face and then watch them on the tv the next week and i get that weird feeling in my stomach, like butterflies you know? so yeah thats why im a true gooner and through the easy times and most importantly the hard times i will still support the arsenal and so should all the other arsenal fans because as the great jock stein once said ” football is nothhing without the fans”
Perfect timing wit this article…BRAVO:)
This article? Just about perfect. I have no time for fans who just say things like “we suck, I give up”. We MUST get behind the team or they’ll achieve absolutely nothing.
Myles (@MylesBurrell)