8 Life Lessons From An Arsenal Supporter

For a lifelong supporter of Britain’s greatest ever football club, I feel profoundly compelled to share lessons learned over the years

The Arsenal Stadium; photo by author

1. LEARNING TO WIN UGLY IS IMPERATIVE

Arsenal is especially known for playing attractive football, but since 2004, we have found winning titles while playing well, impossible to come by. The likes of Chelsea under Jose Mourinho and subsequent managers have mastered the art of winning ugly and gone on to dominate English football in ways in which Arsenal fans can only dream of. Some may call it pragmatism or defensive footy, but so long as it leads to increased silverware, nothing else matters but winning.

2. LOYALTY IS EVERYTHING

At the stadium supporting my team in April 2009 photo by author

In English football as well as in life, nothing is worse than being a fair-weather supporter. However, badly one’s team is playing, the football supporters know it is incumbent upon them to support the team. Being a long-suffering gunner, this is a salient point that I have come to appreciate, in a very big way.