Arsenal through the generations

How much are football perceptions coloured by age? To what extent is the football experience consumed and digested differently according to how new or old you are to the game?

These questions came up when one of our Arsenal correspondents, Art De Roché, had what he described as an “existential” conversation with his friend in the wake of the week which virtually extinguished hopes of a Premier League title. Art is in his mid-20s. Arsenal last won the title when he was five, so there is no strong memory of such an achievement. It made him wonder to what extent this shapes his Arsenal world compared to older fans who were there to see major trophies and iconic eras from the club’s story.

So, The Athletic decided to pull together a multi-generational gathering to compare notes and feelings, to establish what four generations share in their Arsenal experience, and what differs, based on when they happened to be thrust into this world.

The conversation flowed between four supporters whose first game ranged from the 1950s to the 2010s. The cast is Arthur, who represents the teenagers, Art, the 20-somethings, Amy in the middle-aged bracket, and Richard, the veteran.

Produced by Jay Beale.

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