WHAT a week. It’s not often you can say we’ve all lived through history.

It’s rare to say that the inspiring union of humble solidarity has routed billionaires in sport. Stirringly, these last few days have demonstrated that football lovers united will never be defeated. 

Of course the fight is still ongoing with many battles yet to come, but the unity displayed by everyone who genuinely cares about our game was as awe-inspiring as it was powerful, and as vital as it was beautiful to see. 

How wonderful was it to witness resolve crumble from craven billionaires who were forced into a humiliating climbdown, their subsequent apologies as embarrassing as they were empty. 

Yes, of course we should be just as angry about faceless hedge funds owned by uncaring billionaires getting their claws into NHS contracts and much more besides — but with this week’s heartening realisation by many that rapacious operators can be hunted down, then maybe a few more people will get angry about emerging scandals away from sporting spheres.

As it was, all hell broke loose in the football world on Sunday evening. Following a run-of-the- mill game I covered for this paper between Arsenal and Fulham, news started to emerge of the so-called “Big Six” issuing notice they were breaking away, to form something called the European Super League. 

Unsurprisingly, it all kicked off. Because you didn’t want it. I didn’t want it. No-one wanted it. It was all about money. Utter greed from the owners, including Arsenal’s Stan Kroenke, who cared not a jot about loyalty, tradition and history. It was shameful. 

Or as I put it in an angry tweet on Sunday evening as the story broke: “Disgusting. Disgraceful. Contemptible. Scandalous. Detestable. Dishonourable. Shady. Disreputable. Cowardly. Immoral. Shocking. Obscene. Embarrassing. Greedy. Vile. Corrupt. Shame on you Stan Kroenke, shame on you.”

Yet the tremendous response from Arsenal supporters and the wider football world since that moment was one of unified opposition. The solidarity was heartening to see from those who care about our game. 

There have been so many heroes. As I tweeted before the billionaires crumbled, I have never been more proud of the fact that I voted for Jordan Henderson as Footballer of the Year last season, as a fully paid-up member of the Football Writers’ Association.

How gratifying was it to see the Liverpool captain become the first player to break ranks and basically tell the owner of his club and the rest to stick it. 

Stephen Fry perhaps summed it up best when he tweeted: “Six football clubs have achieved something that no politician or public figure has managed in these times of fracture, fission and feuding.

“They have brought together the whole divided nation, indeed of all of Europe — everyone united in disgust and revulsion at such greed and stupidity.”

What also became apparent was that events since Sunday have shown that it has never been more important for supporters to have a voice.

We’ve certainly been running a number of strongly worded Gooner Fanzine articles that we know for a fact people at the club read. We’ve been condemning Kroenke for years and, rest assured, we will continue to do so. 

Another impact was that Dial Square FC — a grassroots club formed by Arsenal supporters disgusted by the greed at the top of the game — saw a record number of enquiries and applications to join their membership.

As Gooner editor I signed up for the club in January after speaking with their passionate chairman, and I can’t wait to get down there for a few games next season. 

Speaking of memberships, one of the first things I did when taking over as Gooner Fanzine editor was to sign up to the Arsenal Supporters Trust. 

Their tireless work this week in haranguing Tory politicians — as well as sticking it to Josh Kroenke in their Zoom call with the son of the Gunners absentee owner on Thursday — has been outstanding, so take a bow Akhil Vyas, Tim Payton et al as well as Peter Host (also of the Arsenal Denmark parish.)

Other supporter groups have been equally as vocal and influential. A big well done to Red Action for their ceaseless campaigning and live tweeting Kroenke junior’s Zoom event, as well as “chapeau” to Black Scarf and the Arsenal Independent Supporters’ Association, not to mention She Wore for calling for their own banner to be removed from the Emirates — in a principled move which saw others follow suit. Not to mention every single Gooner who fought the good fight in their own way. 

The war is yet to be won by any means, but, my word, what a victory for the will of the people this week. The revolution starts now. 

…….

PS Save The Gooner update

Events have proved that informed, intelligent, irreverent comment and writing by knowledgeable and passionate supporters has never been more important. So why not get on board for the best Arsenal writing — as well as to help us send a message to Kroenke and KSE that we want them out of our club as a consequence of his actions this week.

I promise that the Gooner Fanzine, under my editorship, will keep the pressure on the powers that be through powerful discussion, persuasion and solidarity.

And we will keep letting them know we, as supporters, will simply not accept any disruptive future plans based on shameless greed.