Arsenal have once again missed out on the Premier League title and look set to finish second for the third consecutive season, with Mikel Arteta's men playing second fiddle to Liverpool this time around.
However, all is not lost, as they are into the semi-finals of the Champions League and are now just a victory in Paris away from reaching the final in Munich, where they would meet Inter Milan.
The atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium has been reinvigorated in recent years with the team’s on-field improvement. New chants have also come to the fore, with the Gunners supporters hopeful that they can inspire Arteta’s side to their first-ever Champions League triumph.
Here are the lyrics to some of the most popular Arsenal football chants currently, including ‘North London forever’ and Kai Havertz’ very own song inspired by Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka’.
Arsenal football chants:
The Angel (North London Forever) – Louis Dunford
Louis Dunford is an English singer, who was born in North London and is an avid Arsenal supporter. In February 2022, he released a single called ‘The Angel’, which was played before matches at The Emirates Stadium.
It was first played during the warm-up before Arsenal’s match against Leeds United on 8 May 2022. Since then, it has been played as the club’s anthem just before kick-off for home matches.
Lyrics:
North London forever,
Whatever the weather,
These streets are our own,
And my heart will leave you never,
My blood will forever,
Run through the stone…
Martin Odegaard Oi Oi
Sung to the tune of Chase the Sun by Planet Funk, Martin Odegaard has been given his own chant in recent years. It was first posted on various social media channels by Arsenal fan Dun Gunning in September 2023, and it gained traction quickly.
As James McNicholas noted in an article for The Athletic in April 2024, “Over the past couple of years, Arsenal supporters have penned an entirely new songbook. The success of the team, and the use of social media, have allowed chants to proliferate faster than ever before.”
Lyrics:
Been dreaming all day
of our number 8
Martin Odegaard, Oi Oi Oi
He’s f*****g magical
When he’s on the ball
Martin Odegaard, Oi Oi Oi
Martin Odegaard on Instagram about his song:
“??love it! Thank you all ? ❤️ “ pic.twitter.com/oTrjkOrfZe
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) September 18, 2023
Kai Havertz scores again
Kai Havertz joined Arsenal in the summer of 2023 and has proven to be a success following his mixed spell at London rivals Chelsea.
Sung to the tune of Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka’, which was the official song for the 2010 World Cup, ‘Kai Havertz scores again’ has become a popular chant for Arsenal fans home and away. With the German currently out injured for a prolonged period, the song isn't being aired as much as usual.
Lyrics:
Tsamina mina, eh, eh
Waka waka, eh, eh
60 million down the drain
Kai Havertz scores again
(Repeated)
ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ
Before the coronavirus pandemic brought a halt to live football, members of the Ashburton Army (an Arsenal supporters’ group) began singing a version of ‘Allez, Allez, Allez’.
It became well-known as a chant in England during Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final in the 2018/19 season. Not for the last time (more on that later), Arsenal fans faced plenty of criticism for stealing a chant made famous by Liverpool supporters.
Lyrics:
We won the league at Anfield,
we won it at the lane,
Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford,
no one can say the same.
Mikel Arteta’s army,
we’re Arsenal through and through,
we’ll sing it in the North Bank,
and in the Clock End too.
ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ
Do Do Do Saliba
Sung to the tune of ‘Tequila’ by The Champs, released in 1958, this chant has become a fan favourite in the last couple of seasons, given William Saliba’s imperious form in Arsenal’s backline.
In place of the word ‘Tequila’, Gunners fans have replaced it with ‘Saliba’, which is the only lyric change you need to know about to sing along. While it's not exactly the most imaginative football chant in the world, it's certainly one of the catchiest.
Lyrics:
‘Da da da da da da da da da.
Da da da da da da da – Saliba!’
Super Mik Arteta
Arteta took over as Arsenal manager in the 2019/20 campaign, winning the FA Cup in July 2020. The Spaniard overcame some struggles in the next couple of seasons as he looked to rebuild the culture at the club.
He has now established the North London club as one of the best teams in England. Although the Gunners are yet to win the Premier League title under his guidance, three successive second-place finishes suggest one could be on the horizon. Either way, Arsenal fans adore Arteta and have given him his very own song.
Lyrics:
We’ve got Super Mik Arteta,
He knows exactly what we need,
Kieran at the back, Gabi in attack,
Arsenal on the way to Champions League.
? Please take your seats for ?️ccess ?️ll ?️reas…
⏳ The show is about to begin! pic.twitter.com/rO9lYNjMbB
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 22, 2022
Rice Rice Baby
A popular chant during Declan Rice's first season, it became infamous for his appearance on a Twitter Space chat, where he sang the song himself. It's not a chant that Arsenal fans came up with themselves, but it is one you will hear on matchdays, especially if Rice scores a goal.
The chant has become more popular again since Rice scored two incredible free-kicks in the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid. A new and improved Declan Rice chant could be on the way if he can lead the Gunners to CL glory.
The song is set to the music of “Ice, Ice, Baby”,” which demonstrates the advanced levels of wordplay.
Lyrics:
Rice, Rice, Baby!
Rice, Rice, Baby!
Rice, Rice, Baby!
(Repeat)
His name is Gabi
Rather controversially, Arsenal fans have adopted a song for Gabriel Martinelli that Liverpool have been using for their own South American winger, Luis Diaz.
The chant has a samba vibe to it, so it perhaps works better for a Brazilian rather than a Colombian, but either way, Arsenal fans have been mocked for stealing yet another Liverpool chant.
Lyrics:
‘His name is Gabi,
He's from Sao Paulo,
And he plays for Arsenal,
La la la la la la la la'
(Repeat)
There are a number of other chants that fans will sing during a matchday and a few specific ones for Tottenham.
49 49 undefeated
Arsenal famously went a whole Premier League season undefeated back in 2003/04, and their unbeaten stretch carried on for a further 11 games into the following season. Although the run eventually came to a controversial end at Old Trafford, 49 league games undefeated is still something that Arsenal fans are understandably proud of.
As a result, they have donned a chant, which goes the same way as Man Utd's famous '20 times' chant. You can expect to hear this at most Arsenal away matches.
Lyrics:
'49, 49 undefeated,
49, 49 I say,
49, 49 undefeated,
Playing football the Arsenal way'
Arsenal chants aimed at Spurs
There are two chants you will likely hear when these two sides meet. One is simply a general f you to Spurs, while Arsenal fans taunt how they will win the league. The other is aimed at Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou.
There is also a historically famous chant about Tottenham that Jack Wilshere was once caught chanting during an Arsenal FA Cup parade. The lyrics for that are follows:
‘What do we think of Tottenhem?
Crowd – S**t!
What do we think of s**t?
Crowd – Tottenham!
Thank you!
Crowd – That's alright!
We hate Tottenham, we hate Tottenham, we hate Tottenham, we hate Tottenham'