Gooners
Arsenal fans have been called Gooners since the 1980s, from the club nickname "the Gunners".
Arsenal supporters have often been called Gooners since the 1980s, a name taken from the team's nickname, "the Gunners". The club has built a large following since its founding in 1886; a September 2011 report estimated its worldwide fanbase at 100 million, the third largest of any club.
Quick Facts
- Nickname origin
- "the Gunners"
- In use since
- the 1980s
Lore & Background
The fans' deepest rivalry is with near neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, met in the North London derby. Arsenal supporters have a long reputation for grumbling at their own club: even the title teams of 1953 and 1971 drew criticism, Herbert Chapman complained about the "boo-boys", and in the 2010s a vocal group targeted Arsène Wenger. In 2010 Arsenal fans became the first at a Premier League club able to buy stakes in the club through a "fanshare" scheme.
Did You Know?
- Arsenal fans sing "One-Nil to the Arsenal" to the tune of "Go West", and "Good Old Arsenal" to the tune of "Rule, Britannia!".
- A 2002 report found Arsenal had the highest proportion of non-white supporters at matches of any Premier League club.
More in Stadiums & Fan Culture
Elsewhere in Arsenal FC
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