With Arsenal flying high at the top of the Premier League table, thousands of fans gathered in the town of Okene in Nigeria to affectionately celebrate Arsenal Day. Here's a look!
The story
The Gunners have had an excellent start to the season, as they sit on top of the EPL summit with eight wins in nine league games so far. This past weekend, the team beat Merseyside giants Liverpool 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium as they continued their winning run, which has only been dented by a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
With so many reasons to celebrate, a large number of Arsenal-loving Nigerians gathered at an event in Okene this week to pay tribute to their club's 136-year history.
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According to Africa Facts Zone, this dedicated group of supporters has never missed honouring the occasion since 2006. Images show a massive crowd gathered in their numbers wearing the club's regalia.
Arsenal fans celebrate Arsenal Day in Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria every year.
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) October 11, 2022
They haven't missed a year since 2006. pic.twitter.com/mQtOpLL8Pv
The celebration also seems well-coordinated as those wearing red and white home jerseys are seated in one area of the venue, while those rocking their alternative colours, including yellow, are also neatly placed in their own section. While we're curious to know what exactly happens at this gathering, it seems pretty clear that on the agenda of the annual meeting is the status and history of the club.
By the looks of things in this day and age, this collective can be considered to be a movement given that they share a common goal, which is to maintain and expand the brand in their region and across Nigeria. Arsenal are known to have solid ties in Africa, as one of their former partners was Rwanda's tourism ministry, with the words 'Visit Rwanda' featuring on their kit's sleeves over the last four years.
Did you know?
Only three Nigerian players have represented the London outfit, namely Alex Iwobi, Nwankwo Kanu, and Semi Ajayi, although the latter never made an official appearance for the club.
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