Thierry Henry Claims Neutral Fans Don't Want Arsenal to Win Premier League Title
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has made the surprising claim that neutral football fans do not want to see his former club win the Premier League this season, despite Mikel Arteta's side appearing as underdogs after going 22 years without claiming the top-flight trophy.
Arsenal's Commanding Position in the Title Race
After securing a convincing 2-0 victory over Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Gunners extended their lead at the summit of the Premier League table to an impressive ten points. Their title credentials received a further significant boost later that same evening when their closest rivals, Manchester City, could only manage a draw against West Ham United, a team deeply embroiled in a fierce battle to avoid relegation.
With merely seven matches remaining in the current campaign, Arsenal look increasingly poised to end their prolonged championship drought at the conclusion of the season. Furthermore, they have an even more immediate opportunity to secure their first piece of silverware this term when they face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final this Sunday.
Henry's Frank Assessment on Monday Night Football
However, Thierry Henry did not hold back during his appearance on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football programme, bluntly pointing out that Arsenal seemingly lack popular support in both the Premier League title race and the upcoming Carabao Cup final.
'A lot of people are like, anything but Arsenal winning the league,' Henry stated candidly. 'I wanted them (Liverpool) to win the league because I wanted Jamie (Carragher) to win the league, Stevie G (Steven Gerrard) to win the league. Whether I like Liverpool or not, you root for the underdog, the team that couldn't do it, or failed to win the league. (But) a lot of people don't want Arsenal to win the league.'
Jamie Carragher's Agreement and Analysis
Jamie Carragher, who was alongside Henry for the broadcast, concurred with this assessment, describing the phenomenon as 'strange'.
'I think it's very strange, and maybe it's the same with the Carabao Cup final,' Carragher noted. 'When you have a team like Man City, who have dominated the past era, most neutrals want the underdog - the team who want the battle. But it doesn't feel that way with Arsenal. Maybe there's a lot of Man United, or Liverpool fans, even though City is the local rival, and Liverpool have been competing with City for the title (in recent years), they're looking and thinking, "maybe I want City to win it".'
Carragher speculated on potential reasons for this sentiment, suggesting: 'There is something about Arsenal, and the way they've gone about it, whether it's the style of football, whether it's Arteta on the side of the pitch, there is something about them - maybe it's the fanbase, they get a bit of criticism - that maybe rubs people up the wrong way.'
Criticism of Arsenal's Playing Style and Tactics
As the crucial final stages of the season intensify, Arteta and his Arsenal squad have faced mounting criticism regarding their style of play, which some detractors perceive as prioritizing victory at all costs.
Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler was particularly vocal in his criticism following Arsenal's narrow 1-0 win earlier this month, hinting that the London club employed questionable tactics to secure the result.
'There was only one team who tried to play football today,' Hurzeler asserted after the final whistle. 'There was so many actions (of time-wasting). In the end, it's about the rules. If the Premier League, the referee, allows everything, then it is difficult. They (Arsenal) make their own rules. At the moment I have a feeling that they do their own rules, no matter how they are playing.'
Defence from Former Manager David Moyes
In contrast, Everton manager David Moyes - who previously worked with Mikel Arteta when the Spaniard was a player during Moyes' first tenure at Goodison Park - defended Arsenal and insisted it is incorrect to criticise a team for striving to win by any legitimate means.
'Arsenal have been excellent,' Moyes stated last week. 'From the first game of the season. Probably maybe outside PSG, the biggest favourites for the Champions League. It's amazing people have been critical, who are the people who have been critical of them? They're in a great position, have been all season, winning the games. Unless the referees do more on set-pieces – which they really should be doing, to be honest – you'd have to say they are taking all the advantages they can get. They have an incredible squad.'
The debate surrounding Arsenal's style and public perception adds an intriguing layer of narrative as the club approaches what could be a historic end to their long wait for Premier League glory.
