Why do many people want Arsenal to fail?

The statement by coach Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton) after the recent loss to Arsenal inadvertently reflects a rather common sentiment in English football today: It seems very few neutral observers want Arsenal to win the Premier League.

This is somewhat strange. Typically, a team that has endured a long period without a title would receive considerable goodwill when they return to contention. But in Arsenal's case, the atmosphere surrounding the title race carries a different tone. Apart from their own supporters, or those who simply do not want to see Manchester City continue their dominance, very few fans appear excited about the prospect of Arsenal becoming champions.

In football, successful teams often become targets of dislike. History has witnessed this with Manchester United when they won 13 titles from 1993 to 2013, or with Liverpool during their golden era in the late last century. But Arsenal does not fall into that category. They have not won the Premier League since the 2003-04 season, so it cannot be said that fans are weary of their dominance. The real reason likely lies in the unique context of English football over the past decade.

From 2018 to 2024, Manchester City secured six Premier League titles. With immense financial resources and a quality squad, City gradually became the "default" contender in the title race.

Therefore, Arsenal's rise generates a different psychological reaction. If Arsenal can overcome Manchester City to claim the title, it also implies that many other major clubs must question why they haven't achieved the same.

Besides psychological factors, Arsenal's style of play is another reason why many neutral spectators find it hard to empathize. Mikel Arteta's team is known for tactical discipline and high pragmatism. This helps them maintain consistency throughout the season, but sometimes makes matches lack openness or emotion.

During Manchester City's peak period, their typical goals often came from multi-touch combinations. Arsenal is different. One of their familiar scenarios is a curling corner into the box for Gabriel to rise high and score with a header.

Additionally, the club's cultural image contributes to this particular perception. Arsenal has long been viewed as a team embodying the "elite" stature of English football. The Emirates Stadium is located in the Islington area of London, often associated with the image of the intellectual middle class. That image makes many fans of other clubs feel Arsenal is somewhat excessively proud of itself.

Of course, Arsenal can fully argue that football is primarily about winning. No trophy is awarded to the team that plays the most beautifully. If a pragmatic approach helps them secure the Premier League title after more than 20 years of waiting, Arsenal fans certainly will not be overly concerned about whether they are liked or not.