Gooners had to leave early to deal with their emotions and clear their heads by Dan Smith
I need to defend my fellow Gooners who chose to leave the ground early on Sunday.
It’s a shame, as it really wasn’t supposed to end like this, was it?
One of the highlights of the season has been the atmosphere at the Emirates.
Yet once Brighton made it 2-0, many decided they had seen enough, with Sky showing thousands outside before the final whistle.
Context is of course needed.
The result was the final nail in the Arsenal coffin, essentially ending out title hopes.
Some had waited nearly two decades to be back in a race like this, others not old enough to remember when this was our usual standards.
Many realised we might not get this chance for a long time again. With Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea all likely to improve there is zero guarantee the next time we will be in this position.
As supporters got on the tube, they would have asked ‘what if?’
What if Saka converts his penalty at West Ham?
What if Ramsdale doesn’t pass the ball to Alvarez?
That’s a lot of emotion to deal with.
Too much to process in a short amount of time.
So, when you are over emotional and distressed what’s the best thing to do? Walk away …. clear you head …. get some perspective …. come back later …….make no mistake gooners will come back …. they always do.
It’s no different to other relationships. If you disagree with your partner sometimes, instead of arguing, you need some space …. go for a walk, get a latte, and by the time your back in the house you’re friends again.
For many, the Gunners is their love, the badge their passion, the shirt their mistress.
For some it’s their comfort, their escape, their one constant.
Fans didn’t leave early at the weekend because they were angry with the players, they were heartbroken. There’s a big difference.
Hearts had been shattered, imaginations ruined, innocence corrupted, dreams were simply illusions.
Of course, it hurts.
On that day the players who gave so much joy was unable to comfort anyone.
Mikel Arteta admitted ‘his people’ had been let down.
He was shocked by how bad we were, the players will carry this with them into the summer, while fans just want this to end now.
No words could excuse that performance.
No explanation makes you feel better.
It was better to walk away and reflect.
I have no doubt that when the last whistle is blown against Wolves, the majority will stay and applaud the players for their efforts, and the players likewise will thank fans for their support.
That’s the moment we can take some perspective.
That’s the time to block out outside noise, and as one family, come together and pat us all on the back and put a collective arm round our shoulder.
Seconds after the bleed started wasn’t the time to do that.
On and off the pitch Arsenal are hurting right now and just need a breath, time to heal, it was right to just walk away.
Whisper it quietly, we will come back in August, loving the crest unconditionally.
Dan
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It will be boring without Arsenal games to watch, but the transfer window will be interesting
Dan, a masterpiece that Gary Neville would never understand, never having been an Arsenal supporter.
We have had seasons in the past that seemed like the end of the world, but we all came back the next season, full of hope and desire.
The fans will give our manager and his players the send off they warrant, after a fantastic season – great article!!
Thank you lol
I stayed to the bitter end when Arsenal snatched an unlikely draw against Palace in the dying moments.
That said, many of us have ducked out a few minutes before the end so as to make a difficult journey home a little easier and less crowded on public transport.
Watching the stadium emptying was a horrible sight on tv. It wasn’t as if the season had been dismal or we were on the brink of relegation
I wonder how much the last home game tickets will cost now?
Leaving the stadium before the final whistle was a wretched decision the Arsenal supporters took. Absolutely horrible!
Compare this to marriage. You have a wife u love so much, u get her pregnant but when gives a stillbirth, u walk away and leave her all by herself in the cold! No way!
When u support a club, u stick by it through thick and thin.
And given the kind of season Arsenal have had, deserting the stadium at a time the players needed them most was wicked!
Please, don’t defend evil!
Did you just compare walking away from a game early to walking away from a wife who’s just lost a child
One of the most pathetic comments i have ever read
I pray you never have to lose a child to still birth
I ensure you the pain is worse then leaving a football stadium early
I must say that you’re talking absolutely crap. How will you compare a lost football match to a dead child? When you don’t know what it means to travel far to watch a match after paying heavily for a season ticket, you will sit in your house and write crap. Most detestable comment I’ve seen on this platform.
That was a most underwhelming way of showing their frustration! Just goes to show how fickle-minded many of us Arsenal fans really are.
Exactly, my views too. Well, the writer mentions a 2 decade long wait, de he walk out during those 2 decades ? Or was he content with the self proclaimed “Top Four Trophee Hehehe”? Or were the 8-2, 15-3,10-2 sweeter than the the 0-3 loss when there is nothing more to play for? The lads are stretched, the back ups are no good (ESR, Nelson, Eddie, Elneny, Holding) and lets stop being emotional, the back ups are paid handsomely, they are doing us no favor or charity. Get them out before August! Those on loan except Flo are useless too, get them out too! Stop flogging the horse that has sloughed the most, its unfair. Flog the horse that’s done the least work.
Coming second again eh Loose Cannon?
When all the other clubs were struggling, apart from city, with a 9 point lead and we blew it!!
After spending nearly a quarter of a billion pounds, losing to city three times, the squad being Arteta’s choices and you still drag up the past.
Bitter pill to swallow LC, especially as you said we would win the PL this season under MA – never mind, we’re back in the CL….. but I forgot, you didn’t see that as an achievement either!!I guess you’ll be calling for him to go then?!?!
Half a billion pounds * Ken
Let’s not forget Arteta is starting to pile up his own deadwood ,not to worry I’m sure he will give them all away for free as per normal .
@ken1945
If you’re referring to the amount of money our club has spent since our current manager arrived in Dec 2019, then you don’t have the figures right. He has spent about £500m and not “…nearly a quarter of a billion pounds”
Sorry, my error, but you get the point I’m sure.
It’s very easy to criticise the fans and had we not been at the top all season, doggedly fought every game, the capitulation would’ve been easier to take, but to lose in the way we did with very little fight, was not what we were used to, especially as a win meant so much to the fans in the position that we were in. There must have been a reason for it, maybe the news Xhaka was leaving?
The disappoint is real and some of us will struggle to hold our composure.
All in all things are looking good despite the disappointment, have never seen so many fans wearing Arsenal shirts in a given campaign all my life time.
The campaign will conclude soon and the faithfuls will turns up in the tens of thousands at MetLife, and will starts all over again.
Dan for all the criticism that comes your way, you write really well and put things in proper perspective. A proper article and a proper arsenal fan you are.
I was indeed shattered. We go again next time
Agree or disagree with some fans decision to leave early doesn’t really matter.what I want to say is that I can understand their disappointment,heartbreak…. whatever you want to call it.this has been a long season for the fans too.let’s not forget how invested fans are, emotionally, financially …as we all know being an Arsenal fan is not easy and can be very exhausting!!
I do agree Siamois
My son and his friend have had access to 3 season tickets over the last 2 years so I’ve been fortunate to go occasionally. It’s been fantastic. Now that the team has been doing better this season, the guy wants them back for next and my lad is desperately trying to get a pair.
Equally, my son says, and this is frequently the case, that the seats around him are not filled by regulars. I just wonder how many of those pouring out of the ground were dyed in the wool fans?
Ah sorry to hear that @SueP,I just hope your son manages to get them . that’s exactly what I meant by invested,some fans have to go through a lot to get tickets.to hear about those seats,it makes me angry,if those seats are not occupied by regulars,by whom are they then??as for the guy who wants them back now because we’re doing better, I’m not sure what to think of him.should you be grateful for the last 2 years? Be angry that he wants them back now that we’re doing better??tough one.
Siamois, a friend of our family, who also lives in Scotland, tried to get a ticket for the Brighton game via our official website, but was told there were no tickets.
He went on line and was able to purchase one, but for £250!!!
How can this possibly be happening – the club needs to sort this out and make ANY purchasing of tickets only available via it’s website and ONLY to registered red and silver members, who have to have identification that matches the details given when purchasing said ticket.
It’s really not rocket science, but I wonder if the club really are concerned, as long as they are sold out for every game?
I know 250 is a lot of money but I’m sure some are going for much more.I’m guessing that as long as the club is not really affected and games sold out,nothing will be done!!.
It is. Both he and his friend were on the club waiting list and believed that the season tickets were ‘theirs’ for as long as they wanted within reason. Will now have to start at the bottom again. 😔
Starting from the bottom again? doesn’t sound/look good.😞😡
They gave up paying- silly billies
A lot, where I sit, different people each time except for about eight of us, I stay to the end for every game, Sunday was no exception, I sing to the fans leaving early.”Is there a fire drill?” and “I can see you sneaking out”, I get some stick but I don’t care
Same here FEIOS, but I ask them how they got tickets and, in my experience, they are all red or silver members who have got the tickets through the club…. unlike my friend I mention above.
Have been top of the league for more than 220days to lose it like we did was too painful for most fans..
I know few fans that started preparing for the title celebration as early as in February, saying that it’s arsenal season nothing will stop it from happening. Deep down myself I wasn’t convinced arsenal won’t bottle it because arsenal have let me down more often than not, when I try to tell some that when hopes are high on arsenal they have the culture of failing apart, but people said they pain of what happened last season will be their motivation to see this season out in victory… I never wanted to sound not optimistic about our chances but I never still believed in the team to not capitulate, so u wasn’t surprised or too emotional about how the title challenge ended, but I can understand the pain of those who had a very high hope on the team, some that live around me have been emotional for days now
I fully believe that everyone who saw we were still top in March and suddenly were convinced it was going to happen and were saying it out loud, jynxed it.
I was never convinced.
I will believe it when I see it, and it will be that much more satisfying whenever it happens.
Maybe the fans sensed early that the played lacked a fighting spirit that day. Brighton were fantastic on the day, I give them credit.
Unfortunately we never rose to their level, and many fans sensed the title run was over. We have been teetering for weeks now, and Sunday was the confirmation it was over.
We have been magnificent for most of the season, but collapse yet again when pressure mounts.
Learn and come back stronger next year.
Well said Durand – we actually threw the title away however and city must be amazed at how it has turned out.
@Ken1945,i remember when we finished 2nd to Leicester.a lot of fans were angry and blaming AW for a missed opportunity.how do you think they should feel about this year?the same way??
Siamois, there is a certain “Loose Cannon” who has been doing EXACTLY what you are saying with regards to our 2nd place under AW.
Strangely, he sees the situation today in a completely different way.
Yet, we beat Leicester home and away, while losing three times to city.
We were 9 points ahead under MA, never in that position under AW and he claimed we would win the PL and banish the wasted years of Wenger!!
His view on qualification for the CL under AW was seen as a mere nothing, while, under MA, it’s seen as an achievement.
What goes around comes around and, while taking no pleasure from it, I have to say his moving of the goalposts amuses me greatly.
We have had a great season and Mikel Arteta will win the PL one day, just as Arsene Wenger did.
I usually do not respond to his posts cos they always lack any meaningful statements.
@Ken1945:i really hope MA does it too someday.That’s exactly what it is”moving the goals posts!!
As far as LC is concerned, it’s “different strokes for different folks” eh!!
Of course it is disappointing and frustrating to lose in the way we did. However, walking out on your team in this situation is poor form and smacks of petulance and a sense of entitlement. Given the overall improvement the team has made this season one would have expected more support from fans.
David, do you attend any games?
If so, you will have noticed that fans ALWAYS leave early, some even 10 or 15 minutes before the end.
I have no idea why, but it must be remembered that we went from a 38,000 ground to a 60,000 ground, with no improvements to the infrastructure around the ground.
It can sometimes take an hour to get into the underground and fans might have trains, coaches etc to catch.
There definitely was a bigger exodus away after the 2nd goal, howecer and I put that down to the football served up to us on this occasion, quite frankly.
What puzzles me, is that sky has never filmed this at any other ground and why did they do it at The Emirates?
I’ve seen grounds like chelsea, spuds and liverpool this season, emptying much earlier, but it didn’t seem to be worthwhile showing THEIR fans walking away and I believe Talksport found it so incredible they had a session discussing the merits of Arsenal fans – strange don’t you think?
It’s I have always felt an agenda against Arsenal since the arrival of Wenger who put a lot of people’s noses out of joint from the FA to the red nose of Fergie, to the refs and media because he didn’t play ball. Remember when Wenger got fined for doing training sessions with ten players when we were picking up a few red cards, there has always been a lot of bias, and when I read Arsenal fans joining in doing their jobs for them, you wonder about some of the fans we have.
Ken you say it puzzles you WHY Sky, has never filmed this at any other ground, so why at the Emirates”!
IF, which I DO NOT ACCEPT, that truly puzzles you, then you are not the worldly wise man I know you to be.
SKY as you well know KEN, is long on hype and sensationalism but extremely short on balanced truth by showing what happens NORMALLY at most grounds where getting away afterwards is difficult.
So why did you not simply point out that fact and instead say it “puzzles you”.
IF it truly HAS puzzled you, then you have gone though life with your eyes and ears closed.
But you have NOT in reality, as we both know.
.As for TALK SPORT, you are possibly, unlike myself, NOT a listener to it.
But it is also long on hype and short on balance But so is ALMOST ALL mainstream media in print and broadcasting, even this very JA site too, unfortinately.
I would have left as well ,cannot blame them one bit ,an all to familiar situation ,bottling when there’s a bit of pressure .
The problem is,,,, there is no prizes for second place. There should be consequences for throwing away a title when having an 8 point advantage in the beginning of April, and then pissing it stupidly downthe drain. People leaving the Emirates Stadium early,,, so bloody what,,, it could have been worse,,,, the players, manager and coaching staff could have been chased into the dressing room like it happens in other European countries by upset supporters. Been in that position myself in Germany playing for HamburgerSV,,, it doesn’t hurt being put into that position. English supporters are so soft( fake puppy dog emotions). The major problem with Arsenal Football Club is,,,, they left their class at Highbury Stadium. They just have not regained that class since then. The culture hasn’t changed,,, and is no where near the class act they were once upon a time. FACT,,,, since Leicester City won the Premier League, Arsenal have spent ONE BILLION POUNDS on players. It’s been the same old story,,,, lose important winnable matches when it counts. Wenger introduced that losing mentality culture years ago. People are so blind sighted and just what to hang on to yesteryear. Another FACT,,, Based on UEFA rankings, Arsenal are likely to be in POT THREE in the seeding system for the Champions League draw. And that’s because of Arsenal’s lack of involvement in the Champions League of 6 years. Hopefully, that is a major wake up call to Edu and Arteta. Any educated football person can see it happening,,,, Arsenal will be back into the Europa League before we stop singing the Champions League anthem. And will happen if decent major signings don’t happen. I was all for Mikel Arteta right from the outset. Now,,,, the man needs to grow some testicles,,, grow up as a coach/ manager, and start being that leader he is employed to be. He has to grow out of that phase of having his PET FAVOURITES. That’s not not how big football clubs win titles. Arsenal are not a big major club in EUROPE ( theyhaveslippedmiserablydownthe footballrankings). They are very very far from it. They maybe,,, but only in your secret private wet dreams
I am not giving up on the title just yet. It is not over until God says it’s over.
Funny enough I feel the same when it is mathematically impossible then I will concede, but I would love it if Chelsea and Brighton beat City, I know it probably won’t happen, but imagine if it did. I have enjoyed our season all the talk about bottling is rubbish, we simply were not strong enough to hold off City who have been doing this for a few years, didn’t hear any one saying RM or Bayern Munich bottled it against City, just Arsenal, I sometimes wonder if a lot of posts have any idea about true support, just a lot of half empty glass fans