Written by Dr Julia Ogunmuyiwa, Samuel Denedo and Toks Fashanu

At a time when division often feels more visible than connection, it is worth asking: what brings people together? Against a backdrop of political polarisation, global conflict, and rising awareness of the effects of social isolation on mental health outcomes, moments of shared belonging can remind us of something fundamental, our need for human connection.

For Arsenal supporters, 24 May 2026 was one of those moments. As someone who has never considered myself a football fan, what caught my attention was not the result itself, but what happened afterwards. In the days that followed, a sense of connection, pride, and collective joy seemed to spread far beyond the stadium. Across workplaces, communities, and social media, people were sharing stories, celebrating together, and finding common ground. For many, it appeared to represent something much bigger than football.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought the importance of social connection into sharp focus. Yet loneliness and social isolation remain significant public health concerns. Evidence consistently shows that loneliness is associated with poorer mental wellbeing, depression and lower life satisfaction (Wang, J. et al., 2018), and for some people, suicidal thoughts (McClelland et al., 2020). Large-scale longitudinal research further confirms that both loneliness and social isolation are linked to increased mortality risk (Wang, Y. et al., 2023). Social connection, by contrast, provides a sense of belonging, purpose and emotional support.

As a consultant psychiatrist working with working-age men living with severe mental illness, I was particularly interested in what this moment might reveal about connection and belonging. Shared experiences can create opportunities for men to connect in ways that conversations alone sometimes cannot.

So, I approached two friends for their reflections, with a simple question: what did this moment mean to you?

Thoughts from a Gooner…

Growing up in school, it felt like you either supported Manchester United, Liverpool FC or Arsenal. I don’t remember many other clubs dominating conversations amongst my friends at the time. Looking back, I can’t say exactly what drew me to Arsenal, but if I’m honest, it was probably the players I identified with most.

As a young black boy growing up in South East London, players like Ian Wright stood out. He had swagger, confidence and authenticity. There was something about him that resonated beyond football. Representation matters, especially when you’re young, and seeing someone who looked like you thrive on one of the biggest stages naturally creates connection.

Fast forward to adulthood, and when I now think about Arsenal, the first word that comes to mind is community.

This season I’ve had the privilege of attending around 70% of the home PL games, and it has been one of the most powerful reminders of what belonging can look like. Every matchday, you see people from completely different walks of life united by one thing. Young and old. Black and white. Families, lifelong supporters and first-time fans all sharing the same emotional experience together.

That sense of unity is rare in modern life.

In many spaces today, people are divided by politics, class, race or opinion. Football, despite all its flaws, still has the ability to cut through that. Inside the stadium, everyone celebrates together, suffers together and hopes together. There is something deeply human about that shared experience.

I think Arsenal embodies the idea of community particularly well. Whether it’s the diversity within the team, the fanbase, or the club’s wider community outreach, there is a sense that people from different backgrounds genuinely belong there. As a supporter, that makes me proud.

Supporting Arsenal over the last five to seven years has also been a real test of mental strength. In many ways, it mirrors life itself. There are highs and lows, periods of hope and periods of frustration. Some seasons felt difficult to endure, but even during disappointing times, there was always a shared sense of resilience amongst supporters.

That connection matters more than people realise.

One of the most interesting things about football culture is how it allows men to express emotion openly. In everyday life, many men struggle to communicate feelings honestly, whether that’s stress, disappointment or vulnerability. Yet during and after a football match, those barriers seem to disappear. We analyse everything. We speak openly about frustration, joy, anxiety and hope without even realising we are doing it.

Football becomes a socially accepted outlet for emotional expression.

Conversations after matches with friends, brothers and fellow supporters often become more than discussions about tactics or results. They become moments of connection. Shared disappointment after a loss or collective joy after a win creates emotional release and togetherness that can positively impact mental wellbeing.

That is why football communities matter.

They provide routine, belonging and connection in a world where loneliness is becoming increasingly common. For many people, attending matches or even simply watching with others gives them something to look forward to every week. It creates relationships and shared memories that go far beyond the sport itself.

Right now, as Arsenal fans, we are experiencing one of the happier moments in recent years. The optimism around the club feels genuine, and that positivity naturally spreads amongst supporters. But I think the real value of supporting Arsenal is not just about winning trophies. It is about what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself.

For me, being an Arsenal fan has never just been about football. It has been about identity, representation, connection and community. It has shown me how powerful belonging can be for mental health and wellbeing.

And in a world where genuine connection can sometimes feel harder to find, that matters more than ever.

Thoughts from a family man and lover of the game…

As a husband, a father and a working man, having time to myself after a long day or week to watch Arsenal play, whether that's sitting on my sofa at home or traveling to the stadium, is a great escape.

Hearing Louis Dunford's song blasting from my TV, a grown man singing out loud, ‘North London forever’ in his living room. Or better yet in the stadium surrounded by thousands of others doing exactly the same. In those moments, you realise football is far more than what happens on the pitch.

I find myself standing alongside men and women of all ages, backgrounds and races. People from different cultures, professions and walks of life. On a normal day, many of us would never cross paths, yet we are brought together by one thing in common. This is our Arsenal. This is our team. For 90 minutes it's just us and them. The things that often divide us matter far less than the thing that unites us. We are simply Arsenal supporters.

No outside distractions. No worries. Did I take the bins out? Did I use the right tone in my email to my manager? None of it matters. The stresses of everyday life are put on hold as we lose ourselves in the game.

Twenty-two years. Wow…Twenty-two years since Arsenal last won the league. How we took that last success for granted. So much has changed since then; the London streets, our jobs, our responsibilities and our social status. Yet one thing has always remained constant, taking time out to watch our team with hope.

Hope that we'll win this game, then the next, and eventually enough games to give us moments like the one we experienced this weekend. London was covered in different shades of Arsenal football shirts, but mainly red. It felt completely joyous.

The hope of moments like these is what keeps us coming back. In many ways, it's the same hope that keeps us going in life. The hope that we'll get the new job offer. The hope that we'll find love. The hope that things will work out. Even the hope that the sun might finally come out and stay out during an English summer.

Scrolling through social media after the parade and seeing so many people happy, so many moments captured from different perspectives. Our individual stories are different, but our emotions were the same. We saw our team. We celebrated with them, and they celebrated with us.

My wife doesn't understand why I spend my time watching 22 men in shorts running around kicking a ball. But this moment has given her a glimpse of the euphoria it brings to my life. I need these moments. I need the escape, the hope, the belonging and the connection that football gives me. It helps me switch off, recharge and return to her and my son with a clearer mind and a fuller heart.

More Than A Trophy: What Arsenal’s Parade Taught Me About Belonging