Suppose you are a football fan and a follower of the English Premier League, especially Arsenal FC. In that case, you might wonder how the “Gooners” made it to the United States with such popularity…

English Premier League fandom has taken hold among certain Americans, which is why it’s not surprising to see so many of them using their Iowa sports betting bonus codes by ClutchBet on their games.

In fact, if you access Arsenal’s webpage, you are going to be prompted to choose between accessing Arsenal.com/USA and Arsenal.com. Even the website provides a viewing guide on where to watch future matches as well as information on numerous Arsenal fan clubs in various American cities.

The World Football Classic was held in the United States in the early 2000s, and major European teams Chelsea, Inter Milan, and AC Milan all traveled here. Then, Manchester United completed a whole tour throughout North America, playing matches in cities like Toronto, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Houston in front of an audience that numbered close to 71,000 for a match versus the MLS All-Stars.

But let’s look deeply close at why would a Californian support Arsenal, though? Or say a resident of New York who is an ardent Cardiff City supporter… Why is Arsenal so popular in the USA?

Arsenal Fandom in the States

Although the US census does not yet inquire about Premier League memberships, a number of different metrics place Arsenal at the top of the American fan standings for the premier division of English soccer. For instance, Twitter found that among its American and Canadian users, Arsenal had the most admirers, beating out Chelsea and Manchester United.

According to Chris Harris, managing editor of Arsenal Digital Group, which is in charge of the club’s online presence, 3.36 million Americans account for 10% of all visitors to Arsenal’s website globally.

Some could even argue that there are too many American Arsenal supporters, particularly those of Tottenham Hotspur, their archrivals and opponents in the 2017 MLS All-Star game.

For effect, author Jonathan Clegg overstated this in an infamous Wall Street Journal piece from June 2014 about American soccer supporters: “For unfathomable reasons,” he wrote, “90 percent of soccer fans in the US seem to root for Arsenal.”

However, the self-described “Gooners” do not find the causes to be at all illogical. Arsenal supporters have a variety of ready-made responses for Premier League newcomers who are unsure about whom to root for.

With 130 years of trophy-filled success, the club mixes social media savvy amid a welcoming national fan base with a visually appealing playing style (which extends, for some, to the EA SPORTS FIFA video game).

Additionally, it provides the team with a distinct identity for supporters who enjoy a little struggle because, despite the centuries’ worth of decorations, the team is still viewed as an underdog among the group of enduring powerhouses that compete for the Premier League championship every year.

Fellow Arsenal America

Since the club’s establishment in 1886, Arsenal has amassed an outstanding collection of trophies, which Premier League fans view as a gauge of success. There are 12 FA Cup victories, which they share with Manchester United, and 13 league victories, which are only surpassed by Liverpool’s 18 and Manchester United’s 20.

Approximately 2000 superfans formed Arsenal America in 2013, and Jeremy Chasey, a fan in Pomona, California, assisted in restructuring and reviving the group with the goal of fostering relationships between the supporters and the team. This included assisting members in obtaining match tickets when they go across the Atlantic to see Arsenal in person and supporting a number of chapters across the country that organize watch parties in pubs.

Since then, American Arsenal supporters are increasingly congregating at non-game-related activities. In recent years, the customary pub watch parties have given rise to the even larger regional fan gathering occasions that are unmatched by those of other American supporters groups for Premier League teams.