Joe Hurd

Arsenal fan. Clock End inhabitant 🔴

[Joe Hurd @Hurdy93]

FA CUP finals 2003 and 2020. Come on boys!! @Arsenal

[Charles Watts @charles_watts]

🚨 Hi everyone. To celebrate Arsenal’s title win I'll be giving away THREE 'Champions' prints by the brilliant @matthewjiwood to three random winners

- Simply repost this to enter

Winners picked on Saturday.

(If you're not feeling lucky the prints - and loads of others - can be found here: https://t.co/718xYZwECf)

[Joe Hurd @Hurdy93]

Fans who hate Arsenal have been dreading this week for a long time. Calling us "unbearable, cringe etc" is a big smokescreen, because they are scared of what's happening. The club has been a sleepy giant for a long time. It's finally awake & the potential is absolutely limitless

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Arsenal are Premier League champions and they thoroughly deserve to be. They’ve waited so long for this, they’ve worked so hard for this, withstood so much frustration and so many jibes. They’ve put up with 22 years of title hurt, going close, drifting back, fighting back, building the squad, building the team, building the momentum. Believing in the process, believing in Mikel Arteta. And now, to the Gunners, the glory.

So much praise is due Arteta, for gradually shaping this team, for turning them into champions. The football his team plays is not the most breath-taking Arsenal have ever produced, certainly not in the creative class of Arsene Wenger’s champions. Arsenal need to become more expansive. Arteta's artists, one day. It’s not been a great season in the league for quality but it’s certainly been good for the league to have different champions for a change.

For Arsenal, this was about getting over the line and, helped by Nicolas Jover’s honours degree in the set-piece arts from the college of cunning, they did. They also got away with plenty of grappling in getting their grip on the title trophy. Manchester City, a more attractive side, pushed them close but Arsenal showed their resilience. One-nil to the mindset.

And glory for Declan Rice, the best player in the Premier League, the player who defined the destiny of the title with his driving runs, leadership without needing the armband, shielding the back-four, covering back, and also starting attacks from the back. Rice received this reporter's vote for FWA Footballer of the Year, and last night's immense display against Burnley showed why. This title win showed why. The game is about glory.

Glory, too, for Arsenal’s strong spine of David Raya, Gabriel, Rice and Viktor Gyokeres. Glory for Hale End, producing so much talent, not least the wonderful Bukayo Saka. And credit to the Arsenal board who backed Arteta when so many questioned him. Backed him with words of support. Backed him with players, and with time and patience.

And, finally, joy to the fans. When Arteta called on them to greet the coach, to raise the roof, to carry the team home, they delivered. A party 22 years in the making has now broken out, Arsenal fans taking to the streets around the Emirates to celebrate. They are worthy champions. #AFC

[Arsenal @Arsenal]

This belongs to all of us.

[Nirel @Nirel01]

Arsenal can't beat Bayern
Arsenal can't beat Leverkusen
Arsenal can't beat Inter
Arsenal can't beat Sporting
Arsenal can't beat Athletico Madrid
Don’t forget that Athletico/Simeone has never lost a knock out game to an English club
Athletico Madrid will go through at the Emirates
Arsenal got the easiest routes to the final
Arsenal can't beat either Bayern or PSG in the final
Arsenal can't win the league
Arsenal will drop points
This is the worst season ever
Corner FC
Set-piece FC
Haram FC
Bottlers FC
Let's wait till December
January
February
March
April
City topped
Arsenal have bottled the league
Manchester City will never drop points again
This is the best season ever
Manchester City dropped points
If Arsenal wins the league, it'll be the worst season ever
Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal

[Joe Hurd @Hurdy93]

Beautifully put

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

It’s up for grabs now. Once again, an Arsenal side stand on the edge of history. There have been far more acclaimed Arsenal sides than this, of course. The 1930somethings, the Double winners of 1971, 1998 and 2002, the Immortals of 1989 and 1991, the Invincibles of 2004. This 2026 vintage of huge passion and promise has won nothing. Yet.

They will not be favourites against Bayern Munich or Paris St-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest. Manchester City could still turn the Premier League title race and the title odds upside down. Apart from Bukayo Saka this Arsenal lack the star factor of most of their more celebrated predecessors. But with Saka’s clever goal and victory over Atletico Madrid, they have given themselves a shot at glory. And that’s all that fans ask. A chance to dream. A glimpse of a trophy.

It's up for grabs now. Arsenal fans partied like it was 1989. Like the players, they gave their all. In an era when some fanbases feel increasingly disconnected from clubs, when boards don’t understand, the Arsenal of Richard Garlick and Josh Kroenke oversee harmony and respect, the fans onside, working together.

Redaction Gooners set the mood, setting up the epic scenes outside the stadium as the coaches approached. Flares and invective for Atletico. Diego Simeone and his players will have seen far worse negotiating that roundabout outside the Bernabeu. Flares and songs of praise for Arsenal. For Mikel Arteta and his players, the welcome must have been uplifting. They knew the belief the fans had in them. Now go out and show the world.

And they did. Arteta’s side share the quality of resilience with their forebears. They have players who play for the shirt, who stand up to be counted. Saka ran at Matteo Ruggeri. Ben White dominated Ademola Lookman. Gabriel was a formidable barrier in the air and on the ground. Declan Rice bestrode midfield. Myles Lewis-Skelly brought youthful energy that highlighted Atletico’s ageing parts. Viktor Gyokeres brought a physicality and almost a swagger that scared Atletico’s experienced sentries. He still needs to finesse the finish.

Arteta got his selections, tactics and subs right. He got the mood right. He got the better of Diego Simeone. Atletico’s legendary coach cut a frustrated figure as the life ran out of his team, of his season. Arms flapping, his face like thunder, Simeone ranted into the rain like Macbeth knowing he was losing control, losing the battle. The game was up. Atletico went meekly. Arsenal went on.

Simeone spoke of Arsenal’s “stronger financial power” but two of Arteta’s strongest players were Saka and Lewis-Skelly, Hale End kids. Simeone, the highest paid manager in the world, could more legitimately bemoan that Julian Alvarez wasn’t fully fit and that the great Antoine Griezmann, now 35, is no longer the force of old. What a player he was, though.

Simeone couldn’t deny Arsenal a deserved victory. They are unbeaten in Europe this season: played 14, won 11, drawn three. 29 goals scored – one every 43 minutes. Six goals conceded – one every three and a half hours. Can they remain the Unbeatables? Budapest on May 30 will be a test but Arsenal, players and supporters, will travel hopefully. They could even be English champions by then.

“We’re on the cusp of history,” proclaimed the Emirates announcer before kick-off. Even closer now. Three weeks, four games. West Ham United, Burnley, Crystal Palace then Bayern or PS-G. Focus, channel the adrenalin, maintain this level of performance and reach out towards greatness. It’s up for grabs. #AFC

[Joe Hurd @Hurdy93]

This is the cultured version of Mike Bassett's "four, four, fucking two" speech. Come on you rip-roaring Gunners!!

[Sky Sports News @SkySportsNews]

🗣️ ''Fire. I'm on fire. I'm dreaming so much, I have done so much to be in this position.''

Mikel Arteta on the emotions he's feeling ahead of Arsenal's quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP.

[Hayters TV @HaytersTV]

Eberechi Eze is not interested in what rival fans think of Arsenal 😅

"No, I don’t care. I’m not interested in what people think and how they feel about us winning. I just know that we’ve got a team that is more than capable and has proven that we are of the highest level. And when we do win, it will be down to everyone else to deal with that." 😏

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Arsenal have nothing to fear but fear itself. Fear cripples a good group of players. And they are good players, we’ll see that at the World Cup, three have a very realistic chance of winning it (Raya and Zubimendi with Spain, Saliba with France). Rice and Gabriel are contenders for FOTY/POTY, Dowman for YPOTY.

It’s just fear holding Arsenal back. That was clear with their nervy response to a more confident Bournemouth. Fear inhibits attacking instincts; wide players check back rather than attack, midfielders pause before releasing, defenders pass the ball between them rather than progress it quicker. Fear stalks the crowd. Fans can help dispel the fear by staying to the end and not booing a team top of the table. But really it's down to Mikel Arteta to confront this fear threatening to ruin Arsenal's season.

How? Partly through body language: Arteta looks almost anxious in the technical area, transmitting doubt rather than defiance. Partly through selection: give the fearless Max Dowman a start wide, believe in Eberechi Eze more (nb injuries).

Partly tactical: adopt a more front-foot philosophy, tell wingers to take on their full-backs, tell Raya to distribute the ball quicker; attack, make the opposition fearful, get Viktor Gyokeres in behind. Partly messaging: make it simpler, stating belief in the players, and less scripted “bring your dinner”; learn from Pep's mastery of press conferences. No need to panic. Still top. Still have good players. Just have to fight the fear. And believe. #AFC

[Joe Hurd @Hurdy93]

@pinkyr29 Absolutely infuriating tonight. Had the misfortune of listening to his analysis. The stuff about Raya in particular is insane

[Joe Hurd @Hurdy93]

Irish Arsenal fans - is Kenny Cunningham always a miserable twat?

[Joe Hurd @Hurdy93]

Honestly, today is the least of our priorities. Obviously sad & disappointing. But beating Bournemouth in 2 weeks time & taking another step towards the title is more important. Got to hope they respond now - which we have every time after a poor result all season #Arsenal

[Andy Ha @AndyHa_]

“How many times have you watched Max Dowman’s goal?”

[now.arsenal @now_arsenaI]

The best moment of the Emirates era? 🏆�

[george @StokeyyG2]

Mikel Arteta on Fabian Hurzeler’s complaints about Arsenal tonight:

"What a surprise!"

😂😂😂

[@BeanymanSports]

[Adam Keys @adamkeys_]

Man City have one Premier League win in six, and it came at home to Wolves. At the start of that run, #Arsenal were two points clear. We’re now six clear, but there is only one team and one manager being questioned. Block out the media noise; our players are here for the title.

[Joe Hurd @Hurdy93]

This will get shot down, but with the Merino injury, if we can't get anyone in on loan, why not sign Oxlade-Chamberlain for 6 months? Pay as you play contract, nobody would lose from this.

[Joe Hurd @Hurdy93]

This is up there with Hugh Grant's speech as Prime Minister in Love Actually

[Arsenal @Arsenal]

💬 “We’re going to live and play with enjoyment and with a lot of courage.”

Fresh mindset, same focus 👊

[Laura Kirk-Francis @LauraKirk12]

Right lads, I always get asked if I can help get people tickets for Arsenal and usually the answer is no...but

COMPETITION TIME...

🎁 Win 2x Arsenal Tickets for upcoming game of choice*
🎁 Win £150 Club store voucher

FOLLOW @freebets_com to enter and RT + like this post

Winner announced 5th Feb, 18+ GambleAware

Good luck and see you at the title parade x

[Piers Morgan @piersmorgan]

Now that Martinelli has apologised, it might be nice if you did too @GNev2 . I don’t think commentators should be urging players to punch each other.