Arsenal fans named most disliked in Premier League social-media study
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The research, conducted by the betting platform British Gambler using the social listening tool Brandwatch, analysed hundreds of thousands of social media posts over the past six months to measure public sentiment towards Premier League supporters.
According to the data, Arsenal fans recorded a 43% negative sentiment rating, the joint-highest in the division.
Key takeaways
- Arsenal fans ranked most disliked Premier League fanbase.
- Nottingham Forest fans share the top negative sentiment rating.
- Liverpool supporters placed third in online negativity.
- Manchester United and Manchester City rank surprisingly low.
- Fulham fans considered the least disliked overall.
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Arsenal's position at the top of the ranking reflects the intense online scrutiny surrounding the club during a season in which they are pushing for their first Premier League title in more than 20 years.The study suggests that the combination of:
- A fierce title race
- Heated refereeing debates
- A massive global fanbase
- Viral social media discussions
The phenomenon often referred to as "Arsenal Twitter" has also played a role, with match decisions, VAR calls and post-match reactions sparking viral debates across platforms.
Because of Arsenal's worldwide popularity, every major moment involving the club tends to generate millions of online interactions, magnifying both praise and criticism.
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Perhaps more surprisingly, Arsenal were not alone at the top of the rankings.Supporters of Nottingham Forest also recorded a 43% negative sentiment rating, matching Arsenal as the league's most criticised fanbase online.
The increase in negative perception around Forest supporters has emerged during a turbulent Premier League season, where tensions around the club's performances and off-field discussions have intensified digital debates.
Liverpool, Everton and Crystal Palace also rank highly
Just behind Arsenal and Forest were several clubs with passionate and highly visible online communities.Supporters of Liverpool recorded a 41% negative sentiment rating, placing them third in the ranking.
Meanwhile:
- Everton - 40%
- Crystal Palace - 40%
Manchester clubs surprisingly low in negativity
Despite their global prominence, both Manchester clubs ranked much lower in negative sentiment.- Manchester United - 26%
- Manchester City - 25%
Clubs heavily involved in title races or refereeing debates often attract the most scrutiny on social media.
Fulham fans ranked the most liked
At the opposite end of the table, supporters of Fulham were named the least disliked fanbase in the Premier League.Only 20% of online mentions relating to Fulham fans were negative.
They were followed closely by:
- Aston Villa - 21%
- Sunderland - 23%
Social media driving modern football rivalries
A spokesperson for British Gambler, Alex Kostin, explained that football rivalries increasingly extend beyond the pitch.Football fan culture doesn't stop at the final whistle anymore, it plays out 24 hours a day online.The findings underline how the digital era has transformed football tribalism, with social media now acting as the main arena for fan rivalries.
When you combine a title race, refereeing debates and one of the largest fanbases in the sport, every moment is magnified.
Our data therefore suggests that the clubs driving the biggest online conversations are often the ones attracting the strongest negative reactions.
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