Supporting Arsenal From Thousands of Miles Away: How Global Fans Build a Matchday Ritual

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There is much more to being an Arsenal FC supporter when you are based in a country other than the UK. Overseas fans need to plan their schedules to watch the matches, and find ways to build friendships with fellow supporters. There are traditions fans develop which make each match day exciting, and even without being able to attend matches at the Emirates Stadium, the fans are able to feel all the joys and the highs and the lows of being a fan of a premier League team.

In countries like the Philippines where matches may be shown late at night or early in the morning, supporting the team means making adjustments and showing real commitment. The inconvenience often adds to the matchday ritual.

1. Turning Different Time Zones Into Matchday Traditions

Kickoff times define the entire day for Arsenal supporters living outside England. Some Arsenal fans have to wake up early in the morning and others stay late at night in order to catch the game. However, this is part of life as an overseas fan. In the run up to a match, Arsenal supporters plan the food and check the team selection while simultaneously finishing any remaining work before the game. 

It is also during this time that match preparation rituals are developed. It could be wearing their Arsenal shirts, or it could be making their favorite food or listening to pre-match songs. 

Whatever ritual it is, it is essential in order for supporters to build a connection with their team.

2. Using Digital Communities to Feel Closer to Arsenal

These days, distances don’t mean anything to supporters when it comes to having a match day experience. Social media allows Arsenal fans to enjoy the matchday together. Supporters get to react to the match results in real time along with the goals that get scored and also take part in discussions. There are even supporters that get to hold conversations in the match threads of different online forums.

There are even online supporters’ clubs. A thrilling winner gets to be shared by friends who all get to react at the same time. There are some frustrating games as well. Thankfully, fellow supporters are able to empathize and share in the frustration.

With digital forums, there are a lot of negative aspects as well. The football game enjoyment gets lost in transfer news. Also, there are the inevitable heated debates and all the negativity associated with those things. Thankfully, digital football is at least avoidable by fans for the sake of the fans and the sport of football. There is the option to block out some news, and digital forum users get to take breaks.

3. Creating Entertainment Between Matches

Waiting is a regular feature of every football fixture list. While an Arsenal supporter waits, they might decide to look at past games or try out something completely different to fill the time.

For a football fan from the Philippines, online games can provide entertainment before and after a match. Take a game of Tongits on GameZone as an example. The draw is not the similarity of card games and football, but the ability of both to seamlessly complement one another as parts of a leisure activity.

An online game of Tongits on GameZone would appeal to Arsenal supporters, particularly Filipino fans, who like the international football team but still like to pursue other traditional games and activities. The most important thing is to keep these other games away from their match analyses.

There are rules to follow with online gaming. It is vital to set spending and time limits and play within these boundaries. Furthermore, players should not use games as a way of earning money. All of these points apply equally to the Tongits online game.

4. Making Matchday Special Without Being at the Stadium

Watching Arsenal at home is different than going out, but it can be exciting if you bring the right elements together, like hosting your friends to cheer for your team, or by making your home a matchday atmosphere. 

You can decide what you enjoy more, an evening full of fans in your house, or an evening to yourself with your favorite beverage and food, all while enjoying the match on headphones in a matchday group chat. As long as you decide on something, whether you are on your own or with friends, it’s all down to personal preference.

It is better to make sure that you are accessing legitimate sources for the stream and audio of your favorite match, as you don’t want the match to cut out on you at the worst possible time.

5. Staying Loyal Through Wins and Disappointments

Being an Arsenal fan when you live abroad can be pretty good in some ways. You get the thrill from wins during the week and then deal with the bitterness after a late loss. But it also makes you see that everything in football is relative. Seasons come with their own struggles. 

Having other fans to discuss the games with beats most things since there is always more than just the final score. That part stands out. 

Some people play Tongits online on GameZone and keep their hobbies moderate. There is no harm in a bit of light fun after a tense match. I think it helps but I am not totally sure how it all connects.

Conclusion

Football connects fans even when they live far away from their team. Arsenal supporters worldwide seem to build routines around game days. 

That shared feeling of winning or losing makes watching the match feel bigger than it is. Some get together with people they know while others join chats on the internet. They might play something quick to fill the time until kickoff. I think the key is keeping it from becoming everything you do.

The stadium might be out of reach because of how far it is but the link is still there. It seems like that connection is what keeps it going.

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