Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has suggested that widespread public opinion is leaning against the Gunners as they enter the final stretch of their Premier League campaign. Mikel Arteta’s squad currently holds a significant nine-point advantage over defending champions Manchester City with only seven fixtures remaining. While the North London club appears closer than ever to terminating their 22-year wait for league glory, Henry believes that the narrative surrounding their success lacks the typical support often granted to title contenders.
Speaking during his appearance on Monday Night Football, the former French international reflected on how fans and pundits often align themselves with specific historical quests or “underdog” stories. He drew a comparison to his own past feelings toward other rivals to illustrate how personal connections or the desire to see long-standing droughts end often dictate who people “root” for, though he noted that this sentiment does not seem to be working in Arsenal’s favor this year.
Sharing his perspective on the current atmosphere surrounding the Emirates, Henry remarked:
“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.”
Despite the perceived lack of external backing mentioned by their all-time leading scorer, Arsenal’s consistency remains the primary story of the season. The gap at the top of the table suggests that Arteta’s side is focused on their internal objectives rather than outside approval. As the season nears its conclusion, the pressure will be on the Gunners to ignore the “noise” and finalize a historic campaign that would see them crowned champions for the first time since the “Invincibles” era.
