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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Billy Haisley

Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius (second right) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with team-mates during the UEFA Women's Champions League final at Estadio Jose Alvalade, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Arsenal v Barcelona – UEFA Women’s Champions League – Final – Estadio Jose Alvalade

Soccer

Arsenal Met The Moment And Became Champions

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi-final First Leg football match between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Emirates Stadium in north London, on April 29, 2025.

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All PSG Needed Was A Half-Chance

Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Declan Rice during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Arsenal FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid C.F. v Arsenal FC – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg

Arsenal Was Perfect When It Had To Be

Mikel Merino of Arsenal celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 3-0 during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Arsenal Stadium on April 8, 2025 in London, England.

Arsenal FC v Real Madrid C.F. – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg

Arsenal Stepped On Real Madrid’s Neck

Arsenal striker Alessia Russo celebrates during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Real Madrid CF on March 26, 2025 in London, England.

Arsenal FC v Real Madrid CF – UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter Finals Second Leg

Alessia Russo Smashed The Real Madrid Pumpkin

Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City FC at Emirates Stadium on February 02, 2025 in London, England.

Arsenal FC v Manchester City FC – Premier League

Arsenal Did To Manchester City What Manchester City Used To Do To Everyone Else

Ashwin Rodrigues is a <a href="https://ashwinrodrigues.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ashwinrodrigues.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1736881844399000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2gTYrT5B9gKSQ8eCIDai5A">freelance writer</a> and Arsenal supporter living in New York. His work has been featured in GQ, Fast Company, Vice, Wired and other publications.

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Ashwin Rodrigues

An Arsenal fan wearing a shirt that reads "Mr. Gooner"

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Life's Rich Pageant

A Tale Of Two Gooners

Leandro Trossard of Arsenal leaves the pitch after being shown a red card during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City FC v Arsenal FC – Premier League

Arsenal–Manchester City Clash Ruined By Premier League’s New Focus On Delays Of Game

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Patrick Redford

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, acknowledges the home support after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on May 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Arsenal FC v Everton FC – Premier League

Arsenal Loses The League With Its Head Held High

Stefan Ortega of Manchester City saves from Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur with the score a 0-1 during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 14, 2024 in London, England.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City – Premier League

A Backup Goalkeeper Might Have Ended The Premier League Title Race

Arsenal's English midfielder #41 Declan Rice reacts to going two goals behind during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Aston VIlla at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 14, 2024.

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My Kingdom For A Premier League Title Race

Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Manchester City score goals in their Champions League quarter-finals.

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This Was The Champions League At Its Dramatic Best

Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper #22 David Raya, Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder #08 Martin Odegaard, Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's English defender #04 Ben White and Arsenal's English midfielder #41 Declan Rice celebrate after winning the penalty shoot-out session the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match between Arsenal and Porto FC at the Arsenal Stadium in north London, on March 12, 2024

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Don’t Forget About Arsenal

Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Manchester City at Brentford Community Stadium on February 05, 2024 in Brentford, England.

Brentford FC v Manchester City – Premier League

Manchester City Is Ready To Pounce

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Tom Ley

Luton Town's English midfielder #06 Ross Barkley celebrates after scoring his team third goal during the English Premier League football match between Luton Town and Arsenal at Kenilworth Road in Luton, north of London on December 5, 2023.

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Sometimes You Need An Old Dog To Fight The Big Ones

Johan Bakayoko of PSV celebrates 0-1 with Sergino Dest of PSV during the UEFA Champions League match between RC Lens v PSV at the Stade Bollaert Delelis on October 24, 2023 in Lens France

RC Lens v PSV – UEFA Champions League

The Champions League’s ‘RedZone’ Had Its Crowning Moment

Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder #11 Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 8, 2023.

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Gabriel Martinelli Is Built For The Big Ones

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Martin Oedegaard of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Arsenal FC and PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium on September 20, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal FC v PSV Eindhoven: Group B – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Arsenal’s Return To The Champions League Was Typically Stylish

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 18: Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States celebrates scoring during the first half of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Final against Canada at Allegiant Stadium on June 18, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John Todd/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

United States v Canada: Final – CONCACAF Nations League

Folarin Balogun Is Exactly Who The USMNT Has Been Waiting For

Granit Xhaka of Arsenal is held back by Alisson Becker as they argue with Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool who is held back by Ibrahima Konate during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on April 09, 2023 in Liverpool, England.

Liverpool FC v Arsenal FC – Premier League

The Winner Of Liverpool-Arsenal Was Manchester City

Ozil warms up before the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Semi Final match between Germany and Spain at Durban Stadium on July 7, 2010 in Durban, South Africa.

Germany v Spain: 2010 FIFA World Cup – Semi Final

Mesut Özil Would Dare

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring Arsenal's 4th goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on March 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal FC v Crystal Palace – Premier League

Bukayo Saka Is Arsenal’s Beating Heart

Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's second goal following the VAR check during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on March 01, 2023 in London, England.

Arsenal Is Back In Control

Martin Odegaard of Arsenal looks dejected during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 15, 2023 in London, England.

Arsenal FC v Manchester City – Premier League

Arsenal Found Out Just How Hard It Is To Topple Manchester City

Moussa Diaby of Bayer 04 Leverkusen controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart at BayArena on November 12, 2022 in Leverkusen, Germany.

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