Growing Arsenal hatred means only one thing

Some wins mean more than others. There are victories in derbies that have an additional spice to them, while there are scalps that have huge ramifications in the context of a season. The 2-1 win over Wolves had both for Arsenal.

As the campaign has progressed Arsenal have had a growing number of admirers coupled with an increasing amount of ill-wishers. The latest in a long line of antagonised rivals came after the side battled adversity to secure a 1-0 win over Wolves at Molineux.

The policing of celebrating has got out of hand. Just because one victory doesn’t historically have as much meaning as others does not mean it shouldn’t be relished. That’s what football is about: enjoyment.

Another bizarre backlash to Arsenal doing something every other team in the land would have repeated under the circumstances for no apparent reason ensued. Suddenly the team were ‘over celebrating’ three points. Three points, it needs to be added, that came at the home of a top four rival despite playing with ten men for 25 minutes.

The growing hatred towards Arsenal means Mikel Arteta’s side are relevant again – everyone wants to beat them

That added some spice to Thursday night’s reverse meeting with Wolves. Just like Aston Villa had tried their hardest to forge a faux rivalry with Arsenal over their failed attempts to sign Emile Smith Rowe in the summer, Wolves sought to construct a long distance rivalry with the Gunners over the small matter of savouring three points.

There is a trend emerging. All of a sudden matches against Arsenal have some needle about them. Any motivation needed to beat Mikel Arteta’s side has unearthed an extra edge.

And that is nothing but positive, because it means Arsenal are relevant again. Spending seasons drifting away from the Premier League and Europe’s upper echelon, all of a sudden this club means something again.

Becoming the scorn of England after following the rules to have the north London derby postponed, this team has embraced the hatred of others, channeling it into a fight and determination unlike that seen at the Emirates for a painful length of time.

Teams now want to beat Arsenal more than they have in years. When that is the case outside of local derbies it means there is an element of fear involved. It goes beyond wanting to win the game for yourself and extends into hating the thought of the opposition basking in success.

That is what this club has needed. Arsenal want opposition sides to feel they that raw emotion and anger towards them.

It means Arsenal are going somewhere. They’re on the right direction. These remaining 14 matches may feel like cup finals internally, but they now evoke similar billing externally.

Satisfyingly so, too.