Arsenal fans fill Bengaluru venues in emotional title celebrations

Bengaluru

Fans of Arsenal F.C. filled screening venues across the city in an outpouring of joyous celebration as the club lifted the Premier League trophy on Sun day night after defeating Crystal Palace F.C. in the final match of the season. According to the Arsenal Bangalore Supporters Club, more than a thousand people attended screenings or ganised across four venues.

The supporters club arranged screenings at Dave & Buster’s, The Beer Café in Koraman gala, and two branches of Studs Sports Bar. Ankur Sengupta, joint secretary of the supporters club, said fans had even requested additional venues. However, due to the short notice, organisers were unable to make further arrange ments.

“We had fans from Whitefield asking if we could arrange some thing in that area, but be cause we had very little time — about two days — we couldn’t do anything more,” he said. Celebrations at the venues were, by all accounts, raucous. At Studs Sports Bar and Grill in Sahakarnagar, no seats were available once the match began, with fans arriving in red and white while waving scarves and flags.

In Koramangala, fans litred flares. However, the loudest celebrations came dur ing the trophy presentation ceremony, as each player walked past the trophy to collect their medal. Every player received huge cheers, and when the trophy was finally lifted, the venues erupted in celebration. Shashank of the Hebbal Gunners said after the celebrations, “It all worked out.”

He was referring to the signing of Eberechi Eze, whose transfer to Arsenal from Crystal Palace was an nounced alongside a soundtrack by Sampha, reflecting the player’s emotional journey back to his childhood club. Fans also credited manager Mikel Arteta, whose appearance dur ing the trophy lift drew some of the loudest cheers of the night.

“He’s brought us back to the top after 22 years. He’s brought the club back to where it belongs,” said fan Adil. Vinod, owner of Studs Sports Bar and Grill, said he anticipated the turn out, as many had called in advance to reserve tables or RSVP for screen ing. “The bar is generally packed whenever a major sporting event is screened, like the ICC World Cup.

There was no place even to stand that night,” Vinod recalled. For many Arsenal supporters, the occasion was deeply emotional. “I started supporting Arsenal around 17 years ago, and we saw the club go through ups and downs. There was the banter era when we struggled, then some FA Cup wins and strong league campaigns.

But only now are we seeing the club win the Premier League again, and it has made grown men cry,” Sengupta said. “I have seen people support the club when they were young, and now they are grown up and starting families. Words cannot express what we are feeling at this moment,” he added