Finn McRedmond: It seems natural that Arsenal would become the club of the Irish diaspora

North London transformed into a sea of jubilant fans late on a Tuesday night, not for a political march, but to celebrate Arsenal winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years. The streets around the Emirates Stadium teemed with a "good-natured mob," a testament to the club's passionate fanbase and the significance of this long-awaited victory. While Arsenal has cultivated a reputation for attracting a more metropolitan and perhaps elite following, the reality, as the article argues, is far more diverse.

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And the roads around the Emirates Stadium succumbed to about the most good-natured mob I have ever seen.

The club's home borough, Islington, itself showcases significant economic disparity, proving Arsenal is not merely a "warm bath for the elite." This diversity was mirrored globally, with celebrations erupting in places as disparate as North London and a rural village in Uganda. This widespread joy serves as a potent symbol of multicultural Britain and the cheering effects of globalization, demonstrating how a shared passion for sport can transcend borders and backgrounds.

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But the point of Arsenal is the diversity, the spread, the broad church of it all. It is not just a warm bath for the elite.

However, the article shines a light on a less discussed, yet deeply ingrained, aspect of Arsenal's identity: its long-standing role as the club of the Irish diaspora in London. This connection began in the 1970s with the arrival of Irish players like Liam Brady, Frank Stapleton, and David O'Leary, alongside Northern Irish manager Terry Neill. Their presence made Arsenal particularly popular among young people in Dublin, fostering a devotion that persists today, evidenced by the tricolours seen in the stadium and a mural dedicated to Brady.

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In fact, it has been a good week for anyone wanting to trade well-meaning patter about the success of multicultural Britain and the cheering effects of globalisation.

The narrative extends beyond the pitch, delving into the social history of Irish emigration to London. In the mid-20th century, Irish emigrants settled in the city's northwest, finding work in construction and contributing to post-war housing projects. By the 1980s and 90s, as Ireland's economy improved, a new wave of young professionals moved to South London for white-collar jobs. These were the children of the original fans, now grown with mortgages, whose football team reflected their evolving middle-class aspirations. Today, the young Irish in London continue to shape the city's cultural landscape, with their football allegiances remaining a significant part of their identity.

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Underdiscussed, however, is the role Arsenal has valiantly played for decades as the club of Irish London.