Arsenal fans rally at Patkai Gate, Chümoukedima, on May 24, celebrating the club’s first Premier League title since 2004. The event was organized by Arsenal Nagaland Supporters Trust (ANST). (Photo Courtesy: ANST)
From fathers to sons, Arsenal’s triumph rekindles memories and emotions among Nagaland supporters
Rebecca Kits Jakhalu
Kohima | May 24
For thousands of Arsenal supporters in Nagaland, the club’s long-awaited Premier League triumph was more than a football victory — it was the emotional end of a 22-year journey filled with heartbreak, ridicule, loyalty and unwavering belief.
Arsenal FC finally secured their first English Premier League title since 2004 after Manchester City, the only remaining challengers in the title race, were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth on May 19. With one game still remaining in the season, Arsenal were officially crowned champions of England again.
The victory sparked celebrations across the world, but in Nagaland, where football fandom runs deep, the occasion turned into a state-wide emotional celebration for generations of loyal “Gooners”.
The Arsenal Nagaland Supporters Trust (ANST) spearheaded the celebrations with giant banners and displays installed at prominent locations in Dimapur, including Supermarket and Clock Tower.
“Painting Dimapur red because why not?” the supporters’ club posted on social media ahead of the celebrations.
On Sunday, the streets of Dimapur turned into a sea of red and white as Arsenal supporters from different districts gathered for the “Premier League Champions Rally” organised by the ANST.
The celebrations began at the Clock Tower, which had been illuminated in Arsenal colours. A car and bike rally later proceeded from City Tower Junction towards Patkai Gate, where supporters from various parts of Nagaland joined the procession before heading to The Garden at Supermarket for a live screening of Arsenal’s final league match.
Dressed in club jerseys, waving flags and chanting songs, supporters celebrated what many described as the culmination of years of faith despite painful setbacks and constant mockery from rival fans.
“For fans, this victory is the culmination of years of loyalty through difficult moments, setbacks and seasons of disappointment,” the ANST said in a statement.
The supporters’ club also thanked the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, for facilitating the smooth conduct of the rally.
ANST chairman Orenthung Ovung expressed gratitude to supporters for their enthusiasm and commitment in making the celebrations successful.
For many fans, however, the victory represented much more than football. Speaking to The Morung Express, Arsenal fans across Nagaland described the club’s historic Premier League triumph as emotional, unforgettable and worth the 22-year wait.
Talimoa Pongen recalled how he first fell in love with Arsenal during childhood while watching the famous “Invincibles” era team.
“I fell in love with football young. I have a faint memory of The Invincibles and that is when I started carrying this love for Arsenal,” he said.
“The wins, the losses, the mental trauma every season was hard. But winning the title after 22 years? I couldn’t be happier,” he added.
Another supporter, Abeto K Achumi, said he initially began supporting Arsenal simply because he liked the club’s badge during his school days.
“Soon, it became a lifelong romantic relationship between me and the badge,” he said.
“The long years of heartbreak, the agonising near-misses and the cruel jokes from rivals are officially over. We are champions once again,” he added.
Bibemo, another supporter, compared Arsenal’s journey with his own struggles and aspirations.
He said Arsenal’s triumph reminded him of his aspirant days filled with setbacks and disappointment.
“Many a time, Arsenal and I were falling short together. But it’s a reminder that persistently pursuing your dreams eventually pays off,” he said. Kiyeto described the title victory as “incomparable” after almost two decades of enduring ridicule from rival supporters.
“As an ardent supporter for almost two decades, facing all the abuse and humiliation, this feeling is incomparable,” he said.
Moa Longz called the triumph “emotional, special and truly deserved”, while supporter Rinsit Benjamin admitted that “trusting the process” had at times become frustrating before the club finally achieved success.
Among the most emotional stories was that of Imlisanen Jamir, who connected Arsenal’s victory with memories of his late father.
Jamir recalled watching his first Arsenal match in 1997 as a seven-year-old alongside his father in Nagaland.
“They lost 3-1 to Blackburn Rovers, but I still remember Ian Wright reacting defiantly to the crowd. Somewhere in that moment, I fell in love with Arsenal,” he said.
Jamir said football later became one of the strongest emotional bonds he shared with his father.
“My father has been gone for almost twenty years now, but every Arsenal match still carries those memories with it,” he said.
“That is why this title feels emotional. Football is not only about trophies or money. It is about memory, belonging and the strange ways a club can connect people across generations and continents,” he added.
ANST general secretary Mordecai Chase shared similar emotions. Chase said he inherited his love for Arsenal from his father.
“I became a Gunner because of my dad and I believe he is also celebrating Arsenal’s victory up in heaven right now,” he said.
Another supporter, Yudang Ao, said he too inherited his passion for Arsenal from family.
Ao recalled how he began watching Arsenal matches with his elder brother during the early 2000s.
“Those 22 years of uncertainty, frustrations and mockery were not easy but we stuck through,” he said, adding that this year’s title win became even more special because he celebrated it alongside his five-year-old son.
Arsenal’s title triumph comes after three consecutive runner-up finishes and signals a major resurgence for the club under manager Mikel Arteta.
Nagaland’s supporters are now looking forward to another major challenge as Arsenal prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna on May 30.
For Nagaland’s Arsenal faithful, however, the Premier League title itself was enough to heal years of disappointment. As chants echoed through the streets of Dimapur late into Sunday evening, one message stood above all others — “London is red again.”
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