Being the Supportive Wife of an Arsenal Fan

Let’s start with a disclaimer – I know only little about football, and when I say little, I mean that I know Christiano Ronaldo has four children, Lionel Messi is from Argentina, there is something called ‘the table’– little enough you’ll agree? Anyways, I have always loved the thrill and excitement in the eyes and voices of people who love football, and the contagious frenzy in the air during football seasons. Strangely most of my soccer loving friends enjoyed discussing the sport with me. It seems football lovers enjoy showing & sharing their knowledge, and here I was ever ready with questions.

He wasn’t unlike other Arsenal fans I knew – blatantly unbothered, forever hopeful whilst keeping expectations at the barest minimum.

When my husband and I first became friends, it was one of those football seasons, and even though he isn’t exactly a die-hard football lover, he only follows up on twitter and newsfeeds, we talked about the matches and outcomes most evenings. I got to know he is an Arsenal fan, and I would tease him, taunt him and express sarcasm-laden comfort whenever his team got their usual loss. He wasn’t unlike other Arsenal fans I knew – blatantly unbothered, forever hopeful whilst keeping expectations at the barest minimum.

I mean as a ‘good’ wife, the right thing would be to support his team

Well, being casual friends with one, and wife to one, are quite different dynamics and require different skill sets. I mean as a ‘good’ wife, the right thing would be to support his team – especially since I am not a fan of any other football club, share his hope for wins, show concern when Arsenal sits at spot 20 on the table, and join him to criticize the coach or player that was messing up. Omooo! Good wife ko, good wife ni! Theheheehhehe! I’ll be like – “babe, where is Arsenal on this table?” He’ll say “number 20”, and I’ll respond “oh that’s something yeah? Bruaahahahahahah!” Our most recent conversation was on relegation: “Babe, what does relegation mean?” “when a team finishes the season at the bottom of the table and…” “Hmm… that sounds like Arsenal” “No ma – Arsenal has never entered relegation” “I see – I wonder why I thought so. Bruaahahahahah!”

Several years back, Arsenal had just won a match and surprised many folks. By morning the next day, I saw a meme of an elephant atop a tall tree, the text read: “Arsenal on top of the EPL table is like an elephant on top of a tree. Nobody knows how it got there, but everybody knows it will fall”. This still ranks as the most savage attack on the Arsenal football club I have ever seen. I mean, have some mercy please – some people’s husbands love that club!

I am the supportive wife of an Arsenal fan

Sighs, how does anyone deal with the constant heartbreak? It is such a toxic relationship. Anyways, like the title of this post suggests – I am the supportive wife of an Arsenal fan; I’ll make my dear SA, some Amala and Ewedu wey no dey disappoint, and then laugh some more!